Search Results (63)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformational force reshaping business processes, financial decision-making, and enabling firms to create, deliver and capture value more effectively. While large corporations in South Asian countries, particularly Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have started leveraging AI to drive Business Model Innovation (BMI), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) continue to face significant challenges. These include limited infrastructure, poor bandwidth penetration, unreliable electricity, weak institutional capacity and governance immaturity, along with ethics and compliance concerns. These challenges hinder SMEs from fully exploiting AI-driven BMI and reduce their financial resilience and competitiveness in increasingly digital and globalised markets. This paper examines how South Asian countries are adopting AI technologies in SMEs by comparing patterns and variations in adoption, capability, ethics, risks, compliance, and financial outcomes. The paper proposes a tailored, actionable framework, called TRIAD (Target, Restructure, Integrate, Accelerate, and Democratise)-AI, designed to address technical, organisational and institutional challenges that shape AI-driven BMI across South Asian SMEs and to meet regional and global SME needs. The framework integrates the best practices from global AI leaders such as China, Estonia and Singapore, emphasising responsible AI adoption through robust ethics and compliance standards, and risk management, and offering practical guidance for South Asian SMEs. By adopting this framework, South Asian countries can gain a competitive advantage, enhance operational efficiency, support GDP growth across the region and ensure adherence to all relevant international AI standards for responsible, sustainable, and financially sound innovation. Full article

In the context of rapidly developing emerging industries, shifting investment hotspots, and a turbulent external environment, investment institutions continuously adjust and manage their ego network strategies to ensure survival and promote sustainable development. The long-term development and competitiveness of venture capital (VC) firms largely depend on their ability to generate excess returns and achieve successful exits, such as IPOs and mergers and acquisitions. This study focuses on venture capital ego networks from a dynamic perspective. From both the node and tie dimensions, it systematically examines the effects of ego network dynamics—growth and diversity—on investment performance. It further explores the underlying mechanisms through network stability and information diffusion. Based on empirical analysis using Wind database data from 2013 to 2022, we find that the growth of VC ego networks has a significant negative effect on investment performance, and this effect works through reduced network stability. In contrast, ego network diversity shows a significant positive effect on investment performance, with project information diffusion playing a mediating role. Based on the above findings, we suggest that venture capital firms should shift their ego network management strategy from blind and simple “rapid expansion” to quality-focused “careful cultivation”. While maintaining the stability of their ego networks, firms should also pay attention to the diversity of relationship configurations, so as to better transform network resources into investment performance and promote the growth and sustainable development of venture capital firms. Full article

Soursop fruit of Annona muricata L. is a delicious tropical fruit with several medicinal properties. Previous research focused mainly on postharvest fruit development. This study aims to study the changes during preharvest development and ripening of soursop fruit. Flowers were tagged, and fruit samples were collected at different developmental stages based on days after take-off (DAT). The weight changes, flesh firmness, ethylene production, respiration rate, pH, total acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and cuticle thickness were measured. An increase in respiration rate from 7 to 41 mL CO₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, a weight increase from 20 to 600 g, a pH decrease from 6.5 to 3.8, a firmness reduction from 20 to 0.8 N, and a cuticle thickness change from 6 to 4 μm were recorded. During preharvest, two different growth periods were recorded: a continuous increase in respiration rate and TSS, a slow decrease in TA, and a constant pH. Further, an increase in firmness was observed until 75 DAT and a decrease after 90 DAT. Cuticle thickness did not show significant changes. During postharvest, soursop fruit showed a sharp increase in TSS, TA, and a notable decrease in pH and firmness. A climacteric peak was recorded six days after harvest with a short postharvest shelf life. It was concluded that the fruit showed the typical behavior of a climacteric fruit. Also, future investigations should focus on the period between 105 and 120 DAT to identify the optimal harvest periods due to the relatively short postharvest shelf life. Full article

While entrepreneurship is recognized as a key driver of economic development, barriers such as financing constraints, regulation, and inefficient capital allocation continue to limit its potential, especially in Widening countries. This study examines how different financing mechanisms contribute to improving business performance in innovative companies and whether such instruments trigger business model adaptation. A quantitative survey was conducted among 81 companies, and the collected data was analyzed using correlation analyses to test predefined hypotheses. The findings indicate that financing mechanisms significantly influence business improvement, with grants and venture capital showing the strongest effects. Financing also often induces adaptations in business models, partially confirming the hypothesis that such changes enhance financial outcomes. The analysis of the Global Entrepreneurship Index (GEI) further reveals that, although higher-ranked countries tend to perform better overall, no strong correlation exists between GEI ranking and access to financing. The study contributes to the literature by emphasizing the differentiated effects of financing instruments on firm growth and by offering theoretical insights and practical implications for policymakers seeking to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging regions. Full article

Greater Casablanca, one of Africa’s largest metropolitan regions, is undergoing significant spatial and demographic transformation. Yet, the underlying patterns of these dynamics remain poorly understood. This study investigates population dynamics and spatial inequalities in Greater Casablanca between 2014 and 2024. The analysis combines geospatial data, regression modeling, and clustering techniques to explore the interplay between demographic change, housing affordability, public-transport accessibility, and economic activity, providing a data-driven perspective on how these factors shape spatial inequalities and the region’s urban development trajectory. The results reveal a clear core–periphery divide. The central prefecture has lost population despite continued land consumption, while peripheral communes have experienced rapid demographic and economic expansion. This growth is strongly associated with affordable housing and high rates of new-firm formation, but it occurs where transport access remains weakest. Cluster analysis identifies four socio-spatial types, ranging from a shrinking but well-served core to fast-growing, poorly connected peripheries. The study underscores the need for integrated policy interventions to improve transport connectivity, implement inclusive housing strategies, and manage economic decentralization in ways that foster balanced and sustainable metropolitan development. By situating Greater Casablanca’s trajectory within global urbanization debates, this research extends core–periphery and shrinking-city frameworks to a North African context and provides evidence-based insights to support progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 11. Full article

The beverage industry is undergoing a dynamic transition in terms of how and where consumers buy products. In an era of rapid digitalization and shifting consumer behaviors, this study investigates how Germany’s wine producers reach consumers and how the distribution landscape of German wine has transformed. A survey of more than 1000 German wine producers allowed us to explore multichannel strategies. Home-country distribution stands for 84% of the production, while export represents 16% of sales. Indirect sales via food retail safeguard a large portion of distribution, but direct sales to consumers matter in value-driven sales. The findings confirm the continued dominance of indirect retail, particularly food retail, while also highlighting a rebound in direct-to-consumer sales, value market approaches, and on-premises distribution. The results of this study contribute to closing data gaps by underlining that gastronomy has been re-established as a relevant distribution channel and that German wine has not profited from global growth in wine trading. Multichannel strategies are increasingly common, but they vary significantly in their depth and reach depending on different business models. We conducted a cluster analysis and identified three strategic groups: (1) consumer-centric, predominantly direct-to-consumer-oriented estates (63%); (2) industrial, multichannel producers with a strong presence in food retail and export (8%); and (3) hybrid operators balancing value and volume strategies (29%). This study contributes to the development of a more nuanced understanding of multichannel distribution in the wine sector and provides empirical insights into the strategic implications of firm heterogeneity. Full article

Despite the continued growth of the gluten-free food market, there is a dearth of sensory and consumer knowledge on commercial products. The existing research is mostly limited to hedonic measurements and ingredient effects instead of analytical methods for a better understanding of product characteristics of gluten-free crackers specifically. In this work, a semi-trained consumer panel used projective mapping to choose objectively different plain/original crackers from a pool of sixteen commercial gluten-free cracker varieties. The cracker samples represented a widespread sensory space originating from different key ingredients such as brown rice, white rice, flaxseed, cassava flour, nut flour blend, millet blend, and tapioca/potato starch blend. Based on projective mapping results, the crackers that mostly represented the sensory space were selected for characterization by a modified flash profiling method. The consumer panel developed 74 descriptors: 30 aromas, 28 flavors, 15 texture terms, and a mouthfeel attribute. The samples were monadically rated for intensity on a 4-point scale (0 = none, 1 = low, 2 = medium, and 3 = high). Rice, toasted, salt, grain, burnt, flaxseed, bitter, earthy, nutty, seeds, and grass were the prevalent aromas and flavors. Others were specific to cracker type. Some of these attributes can be traced back to the ingredients list. Results suggest that ingredients used in small portions are defining the flavor properties over the major grains/flour blends. All samples had some degree of crunchiness, crispness, and pasty mouthfeel; rice crackers were particularly firm, hard, and chewy; brown rice crackers were gritty; crackers with tuber starches/flours were more airy, soft, smooth, and flaky. Overall, the samples shared more aroma and flavor notes than texture attributes. In comparison to trained panel results, consumers generated a greater number of terms and were successful in finding subtle differences primarily in texture but had many overlapped flavors. The developed consumer terminology will facilitate the gluten-free industry to tailor communication that better resonates with consumer experiences, needs, and product values. Full article

Tropical forests continue to experience high levels of habitat loss and degradation, with wildfires becoming a frequent component of human-modified landscapes. Here we investigate the response of palm species to the conversion of old-growth forests to successional mosaics, including forest patches burned during wildfires. Palms (≥50 cm height) were recorded once in 2023–2024, across four habitat classes: terra firme old-growth stands, regenerating forest stands associated with slash-and-burn agriculture, old-growth stands burned once and twice, and active cassava fields, in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. The flammability of palm leaf litter and forest litter were also examined to assess the potential connections between palm proliferation and wildfires. A total of 10 palm species were recorded in this social forest (including slash-and-burn agriculture and resulting successional mosaics), with positive, negative, and neutral responses to land use. Species richness did not differ among forest habitats, but absolute palm abundance was greatest in disturbed habitats. Only Attalea spectabilis Mart. (curuá) exhibited increased relative abundance across disturbed habitats, including active cassava field. Attalea spectabilis accounted for almost 43% of all stems in the old-growth forest, 89% in regenerating forests, 90% in burned forests, and 79% in crop fields. Disturbed habitats supported a five-to-ten-fold increment in curuá leaves as a measure of habitat flammability. Although curuá litter exhibited lower flame temperature and height, its lower carbon and higher volatile content is expected to be more sensitive to fire ignition and promote the spread of wildfires. The conversion of old-growth forests into social forests promotes the establishment of palm-dominated forests, increasing the potential for a forest transition further fueled by wildfires, with effects on forest resilience and social reproduction still to be understood. Full article

This study investigates the relationship between ESG performance and economic growth in BRICS nations from 2000 to 2020, aiming to understand how ESG practices influence development trajectories. By integrating economic theories with relevant conceptual frameworks, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of ESG dynamics in emerging economies. The purpose of this study is to determine how the economic growth of the BRICS countries between 2000 and 2020 was impacted by ESG performance at the national level. This work contributes to the body of knowledge by offering a fresh macroeconomic examination of the connection between economic growth and ESG performance in the BRICS nations, a topic that is still relatively unexplored in comparison to firm-level research. A significant knowledge gap on how developing economies strike a balance between rapid economic expansion and environmental and social sustainability is filled by the research’s use of a thorough national-level ESG framework. The study employed a dynamic panel auto regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, utilising a dynamic pooled mean group (PMG) ARDL econometric technique for both short- and long-term estimates. The findings reveal a short-term negative relationship between ESG performance and economic growth in the BRICS countries, which implies that there are high transitional effects involved in sustainable growth solutions. It also highlights the structural and developmental heterogeneity among BRICS countries. Moreover, the study highlights that carbon emissions positively influence short-term economic growth, underscoring the challenge of balancing sustainability with the continued reliance on fossil fuels in these economies. However, the long-term results show that strong ESG practices ultimately positively affect economic growth, reinforcing the importance of investing in sustainable development for achieving high-quality, long-term prosperity. This conclusion emphasises that, while short-term trade-offs may exist, robust ESG frameworks are crucial for fostering enduring economic and environmental well-being. Full article

While previous studies have focused on either conventional or digital innovations individually, few have empirically compared the relative impact of these two types of innovation on firm sustainability. Furthermore, few earlier studies have applied a dynamic capabilities perspective and a technology acceptance model (TAM) to understand how innovation strategies affect long-term competitiveness, particularly when targeting venture firms. In this vein, the aim of this study is to identify the factors that play an important role in the sustainability of venture firms and, in particular, to demonstrate which factor has a more positive effect between conventional innovation and digital innovation, which has recently been considered to be crucial. In this study, ‘corporate sustainability’ refers to the ability of venture firms to secure long-term growth potential and operational and resource efficiency, and the ability to maintain a continuous competitive advantage, even in a rapidly changing market environment. This is especially related to the ability of firms to adapt to change, maintain performance, and create new opportunities through innovation using digital technology. Based on the secondary data jointly surveyed by the ‘Korean Ministry of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and Startups’ and the ‘Korea Venture Business Association (KOVA)’, a regression analysis of 3000 data collected in 2022 was conducted. According to the result, both conventional and digital innovations are vital factors, but we found that digital-business-model innovation had a stronger impact for venture firm sustainability. This result provides valuable implications for improving the competitiveness and maintaining the sustainability of venture firms. Full article

This study investigates the economic role and spillover effects of Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS), one of the key instruments for sustainable economic growth, in South Korea and the United States from 2010 to 2020. KIBS, comprising Technology-Intensive KIBS (T-KIBS) and Professional KIBS (P-KIBS), serve as critical drivers of innovation within organizations and economic systems, fostering long-term economic sustainability. To rigorously assess the economic spillover effects of KIBS in promoting sustainable economic growth, this study examines how its impact varies based on industrial structure, economic scale, and firms’ capacity to leverage KIBS effectively, while also identifying key structural differences across national contexts. The findings reveal that both countries exhibit a similar economic function for KIBS, with T-KIBS categorized as a “primitive final demand type” and P-KIBS as a “primitive intermediate demand type”. However, the economic spillover effects of KIBS were more stable in the U.S., whereas South Korea experienced greater fluctuations. In particular, South Korea’s P-KIBS had a more pronounced impact on the secondary sector, particularly manufacturing. As of 2020, the production-inducing effect of South Korea’s P-KIBS on the manufacturing sector was 39.1%, while its value-added-inducing effect stood at 27.0%, and its supply-shortage effect reached 50.9%. These values exceeded those of P-KIBS in the United States and generally surpassed the economic spillover effects observed for South Korea’s T-KIBS. Furthermore, the inter-industry linkage analysis suggests that KIBS plays a more significant role as a raw material input within the U.S. economic system. In 2020, the forward linkage effect of U.S. T-KIBS was 0.853, while that of U.S. P-KIBS stood at 2.116. These figures were higher than the forward linkage effects recorded for South Korea’s T-KIBS (0.635) and P-KIBS (1.590), underscoring the stronger integration of KIBS into the U.S. industrial structure. Additionally, the supply-shortage effects were more significant than other economic spillover effects in both countries, underscoring KIBS’ critical function as a key production input. These findings underscore the necessity of differentiated policies for fostering and supplying KIBS based on each country’s industrial structure and economic characteristics. Given its pivotal role in economic growth, this study emphasizes the need for a stable supply of KIBS to ensure continued productivity and value creation. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the necessity of fostering innovation within the T-KIBS sector, particularly in research and development, to enhance its contribution to financial and organizational innovation. By developing strategic policies tailored to national economic conditions, countries can maximize the economic benefits Cof KIBS and strengthen their long-term economic sustainability. Full article

With global economic growth and intensifying market competition, Chinese manufacturing firms are under pressure to enhance product competitiveness and adapt to changing consumer demands, requiring continuous product innovation and upgrading. This study introduces a tripartite evolutionary game model involving manufacturing firms, service providers and consumers to analyze the strategic stability and the impact of various factors on decision-making within this system. The results indicate that the decisions of these actors are interdependent, with a fair distribution of innovation benefits and costs being key to stimulating innovation enthusiasm and participation. The presence of free-riding behavior affects strategic choices, and a robust system of rewards and penalties can mitigate this problem. The cost of obtaining market information also influences service providers’ participation in innovation, with high costs potentially suppressing their involvement. This research provides insights to guide collaborative innovation efforts during industrial transformation, highlighting the direct impact of service providers and consumers on the success of manufacturing upgrades. Full article

Active packaging has emerged as a promising technological alternative for coating fruits and extending their shelf life. In this study, we developed a Tara gum and chitosan nanostructure-based coating, assessing its effects on guava shelf life and antifungal activity. In vitro analyses showed that nanochitosan suspension concentrations between 4.5 and 5.625 mg·mL⁻¹ completely inhibited the growth of the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and reduced the growth of Puccinia psidii. In in vivo tests, guavas coated with a 1.5% (w/v) Tara gum coating with 0.5% (v/v) nanochitosan exhibited significantly delayed or no lesion growth, unlike the control group, where lesions developed continuously. Beyond antifungal results, the Tara gum and nanochitosan coatings maintained the guava’s luminescence for up to 16 days, reduced weight loss, and preserved firmness compared to the control group. Firmness tests indicated that Tara gum, both pure and at 0.1% and 0.3% (v/v) concentrations, was effective in preserving this characteristic. Chemically, the coating also contributed to increased pH and acidity of the guavas, although a reduction in reducing and total sugars was observed in all groups. These findings confirm that the Tara gum with nanochitosan-based coating is an effective nanotechnological biomaterial to extend the shelf life of seasonal fruits, acting as a physical and biological barrier against pathogens and supporting post-harvest preservation. Full article

In recent years, Jiangsu Province has increasingly prioritized the coordinated regional development of innovation. Unicorn and gazelle companies, characterized by technological or business model innovation, serve as significant indicators of regional innovation capacity. Therefore, this study uses unicorn and gazelle companies recognized between 2020 and 2022 in Jiangsu Province as samples, employing ArcGIS and geographical detectors to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of these companies, and to propose optimization strategies, with the aim of assessing the innovation landscape of Jiangsu Province. The key findings and conclusions are as follows: (1) over the past three years, the average nearest-neighbor distance decreased from 10.491 km to 1.706 km, indicating a significant spatial agglomeration; the peak core density of business clusters increased substantially, reflecting the growth in the number of companies as clustering deepened. (2) Unicorns and gazelles exhibit clear clustering characteristics. The standard deviation ellipse of unicorns is centered around Suzhou, while gazelles display a continuous distribution pattern in Southern and Central Jiangsu. (3) Geographical detector analysis reveals that the level of urban technological innovation is the most influential factor, with key determinants of distribution including total retail sales and patent grants. (4) To foster the development of unicorn and gazelle companies in Jiangsu, the government should focus on enhancing regional innovation capacity, ensuring the sustainable nurturing of innovative firms, and promoting the catalytic development of surrounding areas through core cities. Full article

Enterprises face significant growth and survival challenges in highly competitive markets. Many companies fail to meet their tax obligations, which deprives society of essential resources and often results in tax penalties. This article examines whether companies that receive tax fines for evasion have a longer or shorter life expectancy compared to those that consistently comply with tax regulations. To analyze survival rates, the Kaplan–Meier estimator and Cox regression model were applied, considering factors such company size, sector, location, and tax evasion fines. The study included data from 11,297 firms established in 2017, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The findings indicate that companies fined for tax evasion had a higher survival rate (69%) compared to those without fines (38%) by 2023. This suggests that fines might serve as a corrective measure, helping companies realign and improve their chances of survival. Additionally, the study shows that medium-sized enterprises face significant challenges, possibly due to exceeding the limits of a simplified tax regime. This study highlights the importance of continued research across different regions and countries to validate these findings and enhance tax administration strategies. Full article