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Innovative Technologies and Management Practices for Sustainable Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2025 | Viewed by 2591

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Technology, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal
Interests: computer science; computer architecture; cybersecurity; health information systems; smart cities

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Guest Editor
Design School, Polytechnic Institute of Cavado and Ave, 4750-810 Barcelos, Portugal
Interests: innovation; innovative technologies; patents; quality management; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

(1) Countries can become developed by building their own technologies and designing their own products. They can then sell the products that they design through their own brands on the world market.

The group of developed countries can be seen as including all the G7 countries. The remaining countries, with some exceptions, can be seen as developing countries.

Developed countries carry out scientific research to obtain the knowledge required to create and design new products, which we call a working mind. Products are created by developing countries, but value is added by developed countries. In developing countries, companies only pay salaries, prioritizing cheap labor.

Therefore, if developing countries wish to become developed countries, then they must conceive and design their own products.

(2) The main objective of this Special Issue is to address the importance of patents in the creation of innovative technologies so that innovation can happen. Once there is a prototype for a product, we must produce it to a high standard, within the rules that sustainability imposes.

(3) Suggest themes.

For this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • innovative technologies;
  • technology transfer;
  • importance of patents in technological development;
  • product development;
  • quality management;
  • new information technologies.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sandro Carvalho
Prof. Dr. Gilberto Santos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • innovation
  • technologies
  • product development
  • quality management
  • sustainability

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1155 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Nexus Between Use of AI-Enabled Robo-Advisors, Behavioural Intention and Sustainable Investment Decisions Using PLS-SEM
by Nargis Mohapatra, Sameer Shekhar, Rubee Singh, Shahbaz Khan, Gilberto Santos and Sandro Carvalho
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 3897; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093897 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 467
Abstract
The study examines the nexus between AI-driven technology, i.e., robo-advisors, and the behavioural intention of investors towards sustainable investment decisions considering government regulations and sustainable investment awareness as the moderating variables. A total of 372 responses were collected from across India through a [...] Read more.
The study examines the nexus between AI-driven technology, i.e., robo-advisors, and the behavioural intention of investors towards sustainable investment decisions considering government regulations and sustainable investment awareness as the moderating variables. A total of 372 responses were collected from across India through a structured questionnaire along identified variables from the TAM and UTAUT theories under the select constructs, i.e., trust, perceived risk, user-friendliness, perceived usefulness, and emotional arousal. This is with reference to the use of robo-advisors to unearth the extent to which they influence the behavioural intention and finally the sustainable investment decisions taking into account government regulations and sustainable investment awareness as the moderating variables. The results derived by using PLS-SEM reveal that all the five factors are having a significant impact on the behavioural intention for sustainable investment decisions of the investors. Further, both sustainable investment awareness and government regulations have been found to have a moderating impact on shaping the behavioural intention of the investors with respect to most of the variables. The results of the study come up with significant suggestions for the government, financial institutions, and the investors as well as the academicians, and therefore, have policy implications, managerial implications, and theoretical implications. The constructs and moderating variables considered here can further be used for studying the behavioural intentions. The robo-advisory service providers may emphasize developing the algo ensuring trust, usability, and friendly interface in a manner that tends to minimize the perceived risk and emotional arousal leading to the use of robo-advisors pushing the intention of the investors towards sustainable investment. Full article
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23 pages, 710 KiB  
Article
The Role of Digital Technologies and Intellectual Property Management in Driving Sustainable Innovation
by George Mihail Man, Daniela Zamfir, Daniel Diaconescu, Andra-Victoria Radu, Florentina Aldea and Georgeta Ionescu
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3135; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073135 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 640
Abstract
Innovative technologies have become a key driver of global development, enhancing communication, streamlining processes, and facilitating institutional collaboration. This study examines the perceptions of researchers and academic staff involved in research activities within educational institutions in Romania, a country that has faced challenges [...] Read more.
Innovative technologies have become a key driver of global development, enhancing communication, streamlining processes, and facilitating institutional collaboration. This study examines the perceptions of researchers and academic staff involved in research activities within educational institutions in Romania, a country that has faced challenges in intellectual property management and registration processes. The research focuses on the innovation registration process and the need for an online platform leveraging new digital technologies for intellectual property protection. Using an econometric model developed and tested through WarpPLS 8.0, the analysis reveals that 84% of respondents’ perceptions of the innovation registration process can be explained by the independent variables at the pattern level. The findings underscore the importance of aligning global legislative frameworks to stimulate innovation, promote intellectual property rights registration, and support sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, the study advocates for the development of an online platform that integrates artificial intelligence to enhance its functionality, streamline the application process, and foster the creation and dissemination of innovative technologies. By addressing these issues in Romania, the research contributes to global sustainable development objectives by providing a model for improving innovation registration processes worldwide, thus promoting technological advancement, intellectual property protection, and sustainable economic growth. Full article
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19 pages, 2933 KiB  
Article
Energy Audit in Wastewater Treatment Plant According to ISO 50001: Opportunities and Challenges for Improving Sustainability
by Francisco Esteves, José Carlos Cardoso, Sérgio Leitão and Eduardo J. Solteiro Pires
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 2145; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052145 - 1 Mar 2025
Viewed by 989
Abstract
The efficiency of wastewater treatment systems must be reflected in the removal of the pollutant load from the influent and the optimal energy performance of electrical equipment. Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are part of the Intensive Energy Consumption Management System (SGCIE) and are [...] Read more.
The efficiency of wastewater treatment systems must be reflected in the removal of the pollutant load from the influent and the optimal energy performance of electrical equipment. Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are part of the Intensive Energy Consumption Management System (SGCIE) and are therefore subject to mandatory energy audits. This article aims to assess the impact of an energy audit in a WWTP, according to ISO 50001:2018 and the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) methodology, to identify and quantify both persistent and transient energy inefficiencies. According to the results, the energy audit contributed to an approximate 10.8% reduction in electrical energy consumption. During the assessment, several challenges were identified that may compromise the effectiveness of audits in improving energy performance. The complexity of the treatment model, aging infrastructure and equipment, the lack of real-time data, and a limited number of indicators hinder the proper management of inefficiency phenomena, particularly transient ones. Full article
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