Perception of Artificial Intelligence in Spain

This paper analyses the perception of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by individuals in Spain and the factors associated with it. It uses data from 6308 individuals from a 2018 Spanish survey. A binary logit regression model is formulated and estimated for the attitude towards robots and AI and its possible determinants. As main results are that a gender gap is detected, and that people have a negative attitude if they are not interested in scientific discoveries and technological developments and if AI and robots are not useful at work.     

Designing the framework of technological entrepreneurship ecosystem: A grounded theory approach in the context of Iran

The ecosystem approach, as a comprehensive way of understanding multi-aspect environments, has recently gained so much attention in entrepreneurship and innovation studies. The application of this approach has led to the introduction of the currently available ecosystem frameworks that are dealing with some issues such as infirm structure and heterogeneity of components. In this research, by adopting the grounded theory approach in the context of Iran, we defined a novel and comprehensive framework for the technological entrepreneurship ecosystem (TEE). Twenty-six in-depth and semi-structured interviews have been conducted and analysed through a modified grounded theory procedure. Seventy-four secondary sources were added to the study to expand the breadth of our analysis and reach a stronger saturation. The concluded framework comprised of four interconnected layers representing environmental conditions, entity domains, functional realms, and tech-entrepreneurial agents. In addition, we identified some general principles and rules as important underlying aspects of this framework. The inferred components and structure of this novel framework not only could enable us to design the relations between the ecosystem components, but also prompt and support further research on each dimension of the ecosystem.     

Understanding consumer resistance to the consumption of organic food. A study of ethical consumption,purchasing, and choice behaviour

Although the demand for organic food is growing globally, the mainstream consumption of organic food is far less. The present study attempts to understand the underlying reasons for consumer resistance toward consuming organic food using the theoretical framework of innovation resistance theory (IRT). The study further examines the association between different consumer barriers and purchase decisions (purchase intentions, ethical consumption intentions, and choice behaviour) at different levels of buying involvement and environmental concerns. The collected data, consisting of 452 consumers, were analyzed by structural equation modeling approach. The results showed that value barrier shared a negative association with purchase intentions and ethical consumption intentions. Ethical consumption and purchase intention were found to have a direct influence on choice behaviour. Additionally, the relationship between ethical consumption intention and choice behaviour is mediated by purchase intention. However, no significant differences have emerged based on the level of buying involvement and environment concerns. The findings of the study provide insight into public policymakers, marketers, suppliers, and consumer associations by enhancing their current understanding of buying behaviour of the growing organic food community.     

Researcher understanding of food innovations in Nordic and Southern European countries: A systematic literature review

BackgroundThe capability of agro-food firms to innovate positively influences their profits and growth. Accordingly, the literature has tried to comprehend innovation phenomena occurring within the agri-food industry which generates high levels of economic output and employment in the European Union. Nonetheless, innovation in the food industry is deeply affected by cultural heritage, habits, and institutional contexts. Europe's considerable cultural variation causes different innovations in different regions. The most evident disparities in food cultures and gastronomic approaches have been observed between Nordic and Southern European countries. Despite ample interest in comparing these two European areas, few studies in the food innovation literature have adopted a comparative approach.Scope and approachThe authors aim to identify the main research streams that study food innovations in Nordic and Southern European countries, as well as the results provided by researchers. To achieve these objectives, we conducted a systematic literature review of 67 articles in the food innovation field.Key findings and conclusionsThe review recognises six main research streams along which the academic literature has organised its debate: innovation acceptance, innovation policy initiatives, innovation networks, innovation in traditional food products, alternative food systems, and convention theory. The authors discuss the results emerging from each research stream and also the different patterns that emerge in the literature between Nordic and Southern countries of Europe.     

Bridging the critical interface: Ambidextrous innovation for water provision in Nairobi's informal settlements

This article examines innovation activities in water infrastructure in Nairobi, Kenya. The focus is on efforts by Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Corporation (NCWSC) to provide water services to the inhabitants in the informal areas of the city using an automated vending machine, or Pre-Paid Dispenser (PPD). In this study, we investigate what happens when a regime actor like NCWSC tries to implement an ambidextrous (two-handed) strategy: managing the existing system according to conventional practice and at the same time innovate in new technical solutions and business models to cater for unconnected users.Besides presenting our results, our aim in this article is also to introduce a research strategy for innovation studies in infrastructural systems in low-income urban areas. Three interconnected parts stand out as our contribution:First, we present a novel conceptual framework, by adding ideas from innovation studies to the Large Technical Systems approach. We investigate how regime actors can innovate to provide water to unconnected users, without expanding the system in a traditional way.Second, we propose a novel method for analysing and understanding innovation on the margins of the infrastructural system, or in our terms, innovation in the critical interface. Central to our method is, through empirical observation, to identify misalignment between the innovation (PPD) and contextual factors at the local level, where the innovation is implemented (interface misalignment), and misalignment between the innovation and the existing water regime (internal misalignment). We use a qualitative method and results forms as a basis for further research and starting point for regime actors in search of an improved ambidextrous strategy.Third, we analyse the innovation process per se. In the Nairobi case, we assess the ambidextrous innovation strategy, and claim that the PPD functions as an adapter in the critical interface, enabling the regime actors to operate in an environment of misalignment.     

Championing and promoting innovation in UK megaprojects

In this article we explore the role of innovation champions and the ways innovation is championed and promoted in five selected UK megaprojects. To date, this research area is surprisingly under-explored in the megaproject management literature. The study is based on thirty interviews with innovation champions to capture their own perceptions and narratives on the ways innovation is stimulated and promoted in megaprojects, combined with relevant textual materials. Innovation was commonly defined as a step change or best practice that creates value that could be financial, environmental, societal etc. The data demonstrate the role of CEOs and their collaboration with innovation champions and academic partners in introducing innovation into the vocabulary of megaprojects, developing and formalising innovation strategy, and transferring experiences across megaprojects. The data show the ways different communication channels are used to promote innovations by champions such as forums, portals, platforms, campaigns, events etc.     

初创型团队异质性与团队创新的关系:基于团队外部知识网络的视角

目的探索基于团队外部知识网络视角来考察年龄异质性和专业异质性对初创型异质性团队创新的作用。方法采用问卷调查的方法。对102个初创型团队进行调查。结果在初创型团队中,年龄异质性和专业异质性均能提升团队创新,外部知识网络利用强度和广度在年龄异质性促进团队创新的过程中承担中介作用,外部知识网络利用强度在专业异质性促进团队创新的过程中承担中介作用。结论在初创型团队中,年龄异质性通过提升外部知识网络利用促进团队创新,专业异质性通过提升外部知识网络利用强度促进团队创新。     

国富炉低阶煤热解技术在兰炭行业的市场竞争力

介绍了国富炉技术的开发背景及当前我国兰炭行业的生产现状,国富炉具有科技创新优势,采用低能耗、低物耗的中低温热解方式进行低阶煤的分质转化利用,实现了中低温热解的工业化运行,煤气、焦油、半焦产品收率高,品质好,并可实现灵活调控,能量利用率高,装置可长周期运行,综合性能和指标达到国际领先水平;推广应用国富炉技术可促进兰炭行业的持续健康发展。     

Current condition and future directions for lean construction in highways projects: A small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perspective

The aim of this study is to identify the parameters defining how Lean Construction (LC) is being implemented (current condition) and how LC can be further promoted (future direction) from a Small-Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) perspective. Although SMEs constitute the largest group in construction supply chains, LC, as an emerging phenomenon in civil construction project management, has been rarely investigated from an SMEs perspective. Also, overlooking the more macro factors like project governance and supply chain management, LC deployments have been mainly discussed from a production process perspective to date. After a review of the extant literature and 20 interviews with managers from the highways sector, a list of 31 current condition and 40 future direction statements were produced, classified under the delivery, process, training, project governance and supply chain related headings and used in a questionnaire survey with 110 responses. The current condition highlights problems like a short-term relations structure, competitive tendering mechanisms, fragmentation, problems in engaging with SMEs for LC, unstandardised LC techniques, and issues with convincing SMEs to deploy LC by demonstrating the business case on mutual benefits. Action items relating to the current project delivery structure were given the highest importance by the supply chain, alongside the LC training and project governance issues for the future of LC at highways SMEs. Additionally, a statistically significant correlation was identified among many future action items.