Search Results (584)

Firms can gain a competitive advantage through a strategic patent portfolio, wherein patents elucidate technological advancements and establish legal barriers that keep competitors out. However, patents do not provide a perpetual monopoly within the prevailing open innovation paradigm, which means that firms should keep up with innovation input and patent applications to preserve their market dominance. Fostering technological breakthroughs in the patent network thus becomes a critical issue. Anchored in the theoretical views of open innovation, this study conducts an empirical analysis of patent data to examine how patent network structural features influence the technologies’ breakthrough tendency in the field of autonomous driving (AD). The findings indicate that centrality metrics such as degree centrality, harmonic centrality, and betweenness centrality within AD patent networks exert significant influence on technological breakthrough tendency, and the patent family size plays a moderating role in these relationships. Moreover, this research advances theoretical insights for patent strategy formulation in emerging firms of AD, with broader implications for other technology-intensive sectors. Full article

This study aimed to develop an educational collaborative network diagnostic tool capable of assessing the level of collaboration and the characteristics of interaction within Climate Change Education (CCE) networks, applying the collaborative network framework for education. Employing a theory-informed instrument development approach integrating deductive and inductive elements, the initial 16-item draft was subjected to two rounds of expert review and revised using the Content Validity Index (CVI) and the Factorial Validity Index (FVI). The finalized tool was then applied to ten program coordinators representing diverse institutional types engaged in multi-year collaborative CCE activities from 2023 to 2025. The final tool comprises 20 items across six sections: (1) network structure, (2) roles of network participants, (3) network interaction, (4) function (knowledge, consensus, and innovation) space activities, (5) network growth, and (6) network expansion. The tool employs a mixed-methods design incorporating open-ended, single-choice, and multiple-choice item formats. Application to the case suggested that the collaborative network appeared to be positioned between Level 4 (Collaborative Network) and Level 5 (Growing Network), with the university research institute as a boundary-spanning hub. This study presents the first expert-reviewed diagnostic tool designed to assess collaboration levels and identify inter-agent interaction patterns within CCE networks, offering actionable evidence for network advancement. Full article

This research examines the relationship between the current profile of agricultural practitioners and the emerging characteristics of future practitioners, as well as identifying the implications of this relationship for adapting marketing strategies in agricultural innovation. Methodologically, a sequential mixed-methods design was used, combining a literature review, semi-structured interviews with students in the agricultural field, a questionnaire administered to 172 respondents, and a focus group. The results show that the emerging profile of practitioners reflects a reconfiguration of the decision making associated with current practice, within a more digitalized context. The qualitative analysis and quantitative results indicate that the approach to innovation remains anchored in practical utility. The subjects are interested in validation through testing, clarity of results, credibility of sources, and risk control. They demonstrate openness toward innovative technologies and digitalization for decision making. The focus group confirmed an acceptance of new technologies depends on their utility and their smooth integration into current operations, as well as their validation within credible professional networks. The research highlights that marketing strategies for agricultural innovation must be built around practical demonstrations, profitability, accessible content, and professional validation. For Romanian agriculture, these conclusions support the need for communication strategies that are adapted to the current profile of practitioners and the emerging characteristics of the new generation that is entering the agricultural sector. Full article

The management of European mountain landscapes is increasingly threatened by rural abandonment and escalating environmental risks. This study investigates an innovative Stewardship–Renewable Energy Communities model for the Central Apennines, exploring how post-seismic public reconstruction can serve as a financial engine for territorial maintenance. Utilizing Open Data Sisma administrative records and Photovoltaic Geographical Information System irradiation metrics, this research assesses the solar potential of 18 municipalities within the Sibillini seismic crater. To ensure a reliable baseline, a Building Suitability Coefficient was introduced as a conservative proxy for the public reconstruction sector. Results indicate that the implementation of a distributed network of 6.5 MWp across 325 public nodes, with a specific yield of 1390 kWh/kWp on the entire area, could generate 9 GWh/year. This translates to approximately EUR 1.08 million in annual revenue from energy incentives and sharing. This economic surplus provides a Stewardship Capacity sufficient to fund the active maintenance of 789.77 hectares per year through Nature-Based Solutions, based on a regional rate of 1200 EUR/ha. The novelty of this study lies in bridging post-disaster energy policy with landscape resilience, demonstrating that distributed rooftop solar portfolios represent a non-invasive, self-funding mechanism. By leveraging the reconstructed public stock, mountain territories can transition from passive neglect to active, energy-backed stewardship, offering a reproducible template for high-value cultural landscapes. Full article

Under the dual-carbon goals and energy transition backdrop, the photovoltaic cell has become a crucial pillar for optimizing China’s energy structure and promoting green development. From the perspective of patent intelligence, this study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal evolution paths, coupling characteristics, and driving mechanisms of China’s photovoltaic cell industry and innovation chains, using nationwide photovoltaic cell enterprise and patent data from 2005 to 2024 and integrating spatial gravity center modeling, location quotient analysis, and spatial Durbin models. The findings reveal the following: (1) the spatiotemporal evolution of the dual chains exhibits distinct phases, with a notable developmental leap after 2015. The industry chain shows a pattern of “westward shift and eastern optimization,” while the innovation chain evolves from eastern dominance toward a nationally coordinated, multipolar network. (2) At the macro level, the dual chains demonstrate a coupling trend characterized by “coordinated gravity center migration and spatial distance convergence,” yet significant spatial heterogeneity and mismatch persist at the city scale. (3) Industrial agglomeration has an inverted U-shaped effect on innovation, with regional heterogeneity in its impact, driven synergistically by multidimensional factors such as economic foundation, the innovation environment, and openness. Based on these insights, this study proposes recommendations for optimizing the spatial layout of these dual chains, strengthening multifactor synergy, and implementing regionally differentiated policies, aiming to provide decision-making references for achieving sustainable and high-quality development in the photovoltaic cell. Full article

Inspired by the limited research regarding the interrelationships among Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, common institutional investors and open innovation, this study adopts stakeholder theory and social network theory as the analytical framework to examine this issue. This study uses data from China’s A-share listed firms between 2018 and 2024, comprising 25,440 firm-year observations. Fixed-effects OLS models are employed to estimate the main relationships. Empirical findings demonstrate that ESG performance significantly promotes open innovation among Chinese companies. Furthermore, the moderating results indicate common institutional investors strengthen the positive association between ESG performance and open innovation. Further analysis confirms that each of the three dimensions of ESG can independently drive open innovation, yet the moderating effect of common institutional investors positively regulates only the relationships between social performance and open innovation as well as between corporate governance performance and open innovation, while exerting no significant impact on the relationship between environmental performance and open innovation. Overall, this study underscores the positive effects of ESG practices by focusing on the perspective of open innovation and integrating common institutional investors, which provides insights for enterprises to optimize their ESG practices and enhance their open innovation capabilities by virtue of external governance. Full article

Under the open-innovation paradigm, firms’ management of innovation output has surpassed traditional approaches such as confidentiality and patenting, evolving toward mechanisms such as strategic knowledge disclosure (SKD). As firms become increasingly embedded in global open-innovation networks, reconciling the tension between the need for innovation-knowledge disclosure and the reality of external-relationship embedding has emerged as a research agenda. Grounded in open-innovation theory, this study uses a panel of A-share manufacturing companies spanning 2009–2021 to examine how customer dependence (CD) affects suppliers’ SKD. Employing fixed-effects negative binomial panel regression, as well as robustness checks, we find that stronger CD significantly weakens suppliers’ SKD. Mechanism analysis shows that this effect operates through the channel of research and development (R&D) investment. Suppliers with high CD are more likely to reduce R&D investment, thereby suppressing their SKD. We further find that knowledge accumulation positively moderates the relationship between CD and suppliers’ SKD, while market competitiveness negatively moderates it. By constructing a theoretical framework for suppliers’ SKD under CD, this study enriches our understanding of the mechanisms and boundary conditions of firms’ SKD in terms of supply-chain relationships. The findings offer actionable insights to help suppliers embedded in supply-chain business partnerships formulate SKD. Full article

In a global business environment marked by digital disruption, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) must integrate digital transformation with strategic agility and organizational resilience. This study addresses the fragmentation of the current management literature by developing an AI-driven meta-theory through a high-performance computational synthesis of 4811 academic publications from the OpenAlex database. Utilizing a theoretically grounded hybrid framework of lexical filtering (TF-IDF), semantic embedding (SciBERT), and a diverse ensemble of five Large Language Models (LLMs), we move beyond descriptive mapping to identify the ontological and integrative mechanisms of SME adaptation. The methodology is validated through a multi-stage expert audit of model reasoning traces to ensure theoretical alignment. Results reveal a clear dominance of Contingency Theory (20.5%) and Resource-Based View (14.1%), which are re-conceptualized here as Regulatory–Technical Brokerage and Internal Fortification. Through Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Aggregate Constraint metrics, the study identifies Innovation Frontiers that are operationally challenging to synthesize through traditional manual reviews at this scale. The research concludes by formulating four meta-theoretical propositions and an integrative synergetic mechanism, explaining how SME resilience emerges as an emergent property of cross-layer alignment between technical, cognitive, and structural logics. By providing this causal roadmap, the study establishes a robust, AI-augmented blueprint for SMEs to function as intelligent, self-regulating nodes within a Post-Normal digital ecosystem. Full article

Understanding how sustainable urban competitiveness evolves within megaregions has become a central concern in urban and regional studies, particularly under the pressures of carbon neutrality, spatial inequality, and network-driven urbanization. This study develops a multidimensional framework to assess the sustainable competitiveness of cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei “2 + 36” urban agglomeration and examines its spatio-temporal evolution and relational structure. Using a 30-indicator system grounded in factor foundations, economic performance, innovation capacity, openness, and environmental livability, we construct a composite competitiveness index through principal component analysis (PCA). Kernel density estimation reveals a pattern of overall improvement accompanied by widening disparities, characterized by selective agglomeration and the emergence of a pronounced high-value tail. Spatial autocorrelation consistently indicates significant spatial dependence, while LISA analysis identifies persistent low–low clusters and limited spillover absorption around core cities. A modified gravity model further uncovers a transition from a linear, corridor-based linkage structure to a more polycentric and networked competitiveness system, albeit with enduring peripheral weak nodes. The study contributes theoretically by conceptualizing sustainable urban competitiveness as a multidimensional nexus shaped jointly by territorial attributes and relational network structures. It demonstrates that competitiveness dynamics in megaregions emerge from the interplay of hierarchical consolidation, spatial divergence, and network reconfiguration—challenging the traditional assumption of simple core-to-periphery diffusion. The findings offer broader global implications, showing that the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei case mirrors worldwide megaregional patterns, where proximity alone is insufficient to ensure functional integration, and where coordinated governance, network embeddedness and sustainability transitions increasingly determine regional competitiveness. This research provides a comprehensive analytical foundation for understanding and governing megaregional competitiveness in the era of sustainable development. Full article

Climate change impacts in Europe are accelerating, creating urgent adaptation needs across diverse local contexts. This paper presents the implementation of a Systems Innovation Approach (SIA) through living labs to co-design climate resilience strategies in nine European case studies. SIA provides a structured, participatory framework for systemic change through a stepwise approach, enabling the development of tailor-made sustainability strategies by co-designing a portfolio of short-, mid-, and long-term innovative solutions. Living labs can successfully support open innovation ecosystems by facilitating knowledge exchange, trust-building, and co-creation of tailored innovation pathways for adaptation. Results showcase how the SIA can be operationalized in the context of climate change adaptation and resilience throughout nine case studies. The discussion highlights how living labs, using an SIA, can enhance stakeholder networks and build capacity and co-create knowledge and mutual understanding across diverse stakeholders while fostering actionable strategies. However, challenges remain regarding sustaining living labs beyond project funding, maintaining engagement, and bridging planning-to-implementation gaps. The paper concludes with recommendations for institutionalizing living labs within governance frameworks to accelerate Europe’s transition toward climate resilience. Full article

The International Conference on Plant Biodiversity and Sustainability is a global forum dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and collaborative action in plant diversity, conservation, and sustainable development. Bringing together established and early-career researchers as well as students from diverse fields, the conference underscores the urgent need to protect plant resources and foster sustainable solutions. By promoting an open, interdisciplinary environment, the event encourages dialogue among botanists, ecologists, agronomists, biotechnologists, chemists, and related experts, integrating multiple perspectives to address biodiversity challenges comprehensively, especially in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants. Aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the conference covers a wide range of topics, including habitat conservation, ecological restoration, ethnobotany, climate change adaptation, sustainable agriculture, technological and biotechnological innovation, and science-based policy approaches. The scientific program features keynote lectures by internationally recognized experts, thematic oral sessions, hands-on workshops, and collaborative roundtables designed to stimulate discussion and knowledge exchange. Participants present cutting-edge research, innovative methodologies, and case studies highlighting both theoretical advances and practical applications. Panel discussions and networking opportunities further support new partnerships, joint research efforts, and capacity-building initiatives, strengthening the global community committed to biodiversity protection. Beyond sharing scientific results, the conference emphasizes the importance of connecting research with policy and real-world practice. Contributions therefore address decision-making frameworks, community engagement, nature-based solutions, and the use of emerging technologies for monitoring and managing plant ecosystems. This multidimensional approach ensures that the event not only showcases academic excellence but also contributes to concrete strategies that inform governance, education, and sustainable land-use planning, with a particular focus on plant resources. Full article

To meet the stringent industrial service requirements of magnesia–chrome refractory bricks, this study adopts a technical approach that synergistically combines precise component ratio optimization with a vacuum-pressure MgSO₄ salt impregnation process to investigate the performance optimization of magnesia–chrome bricks. Samples were prepared by controlled formulation mixing, pressing at 250 MPa, drying at 110 °C, and firing at 1750 °C. Phase composition, microstructure, and physical–mechanical properties were characterized by XRD, SEM, and standard refractory test methods. The optimal additions of chromite powder and Cr₂O₃ micro-powder were determined to be 3 wt.% and 2 wt.%, respectively, which reacted with periclase to form a secondary composite spinel, creating a dense spinel bridge network that connected adjacent grains. Furthermore, when the proportion of sintered magnesia powder (MgO > 97 wt.%) was increased to 11 wt.%, the material achieved efficient densification facilitated by enhancing sintering performance. Based on this optimized formulation, and due to the high elemental compatibility between MgSO₄ and the magnesia–chrome brick matrix as well as the excellent permeability of the solution, the MgSO₄ vacuum-pressure salt impregnation process was subsequently applied. The salt solution filled the open pores and microcracks of the material, forming a crystalline salt micro-pillar reinforcing phase. Consequently, the apparent porosity of the material decreased to 10.98%, the bulk density increased to 3.23 g/cm³, and the cold compressive strength and cold modulus of rupture reached as high as 113.52 MPa and 24.91 MPa, respectively. This study innovatively establishes a new pathway for enhancing the mechanical properties of magnesia–chrome refractory bricks through the synergistic design of component ratio optimization and salt impregnation process. The prepared magnesia–chrome refractory bricks exhibit both excellent mechanical properties and volume stability. Full article

Motivation: In modern organizations where remote and hybrid work has become normalized, fostering trust without frequent face-to-face interaction is a critical management challenge. This study aims to explore how non-verbal digital dynamics associate with trust formation within hybrid product development teams from a teamwork science perspective, integrating Big Five traits and established trust scales. Methods: The empirical study observed twelve product development teams (N = 40) participating in a major innovation competition over an eight-month period. Dynamic behavioral data, including speaking time, nodding, smiling, and silence, were extracted from online workshop recordings using synchronized behavioral coding validated by high inter-rater reliability (Cohen’s Kappa k ≥ 0.78). These were integrated with Big Five personality traits, mutual trust scales, and idea value metrics into a Bayesian Network (BN) to model probabilistic dependencies. The structural model was validated using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) to ensure predictive robustness. Furthermore, we performed sensitivity analysis on the BN to quantify how specific shifts in non-verbal cues—particularly nodding and the functional categories of silence—disproportionately affect the “Mutual Trust” node. While this exploratory study utilizes a sample of “digital native” student teams, it provides a critical baseline for “high digital fluency” collaboration, which we contextualize against the “asymmetric cues” found in multi-generational corporate environments. Results: Sensitivity analysis identified specific probabilistic associations suggesting that effective role fulfillment is the strongest predictor of idea originality. Crucially, nodding was identified as a behavioral ‘digital reward’ that enhances psychological safety, facilitating divergent thinking. Smiling showed a strong association with feasibility and consensus-building during convergent phases. The model further identifies distinct behavioral ‘fingerprints’: high-trust sequences are characterized by frequent non-verbal backchanneling and deliberate “thinking silences,” whereas low-trust sequences exhibit a disproportionate increase in unproductive lapses (e.g., a 10% increase in lapses correlating with an 18% decrease in trust probability). Furthermore, a probabilistic pathway was identified where teams with highly open members and frequent non-verbal validation exhibit higher mutual support behaviors. Conclusions: This research offers empirical insights into how trust can be modeled in hybrid environments through specific combinations of behavioral and personality traits. Practically, this study proposes “Hybrid Team Protocols”—such as intentional backchanneling and the normalization of deliberative silence—as actionable Organizational Development (OD) interventions. These provide managers with data-driven guidelines to visualize and monitor the quality of digital collaboration while emphasizing the ethical necessity of transparent implementation to prevent “digital performance” and ensure psychological safety across diverse organizational structures. Full article

Pediatric pain remains a highly prevalent and under-addressed health problem worldwide, largely due to educational gaps, limited humanization of care, and insufficient integration of digital and pedagogical innovations in higher education, and the purpose of this study is to describe and implement an international, higher education–driven model to improve training in humanized pediatric pain management. This multicenter mixed-methods study involves 15 universities from Europe, Africa, and Latin America and includes the development and cross-cultural validation of the HUPEDCARE-Q questionnaire to identify knowledge gaps, the design of an open-access, multilingual digital learning platform (PEDCARE) that integrates learning management and social networking functions, and the implementation of capacity-building workshops based on a training-the-trainers model for students, educators, health professionals, and families. The expected outcomes of the project include the establishment of a standardized instrument for assessing educational needs, the creation of a scalable digital educational environment, and the feasibility of international academic collaboration to strengthen competencies in pediatric pain care. The study suggests that higher education, combined with digital transformation and culturally sensitive approaches, may support the humanization of pediatric pain management and address educational and health inequities, although further research is needed to confirm these potential impacts. Full article

This research develops a new low-cost method for continuous flow monitoring in open channels. Flow is calculated using a standard 1D hydraulic model that integrates surveyed cross-sections and water level measurements at the boundaries of a studied reach, from which the name Boundary Water Level Method (BWLM) is derived. By implementing low-cost ultrasonic sensors for water level measurement, the method gains advantage for application on smaller channels, which are often not included in national hydrological monitoring networks due to limited budgets. New and innovative monitoring methods in hydrology are a necessary alternative to increasing the monitoring budgets, especially for continuous, real-time flow monitoring. Like any novel method, it requires validation under the intended environmental conditions, especially when designed primarily for ungauged channels. Validation was conducted on two test-sites by comparing the BWLM discharge and the discharge from official hydrological stations, with an error of up to 15%. BWLM provides reliable discharges using estimated hydraulic roughness values based on the literature and experience. Sensitivity analysis of the estimated hydraulic roughness coefficient demonstrated a substantial influence on the resulting discharge values. This has to be considered when implementing the method in unstudied basins. Full article