J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex., Volume 8, Issue 2 (June 2022) – 44 articles

The intensification of innovation processes in Russia is a challenging task that requires a continuous search for solutions to make possible the many required changes in economics. We consider the major factors needed to advance an innovative activity at all levels in the national economy to have a freely exchanged flow of innovative ideas between all actors involved. As practice shows, the currently existing models in the country to deal with open innovations are mostly based on a cluster development approach, which is still limited. The authors propose synergizing the cluster approach with an ecosystem innovation model, which should ensure an effective collaboration and an accelerated rate for the diffusion of innovations between various actors while involving various regions. The purpose of the study was to develop a conceptual model for implementing open proposals from participants in the innovation economy. The research methodology is based on numerous works in the field of open innovation theory, cluster and ecosystem approaches. The study utilizes empirical and dialectical methods of scientific knowledge. The methodological toolkit covers information processing with historical analysis, a literature review using the Russian Citation Index and Scopus databases, analysis and diagnostics of innovative activity in domestic regions, the comparison method, modeling and correlation analysis. We concluded that the interaction of participants in the Russian regions through implementing the cluster model is not sufficiently effective and requires the development of new methodological approaches. Therefore, we propose combining the cluster approach with the ecosystem innovation model, which should ensure an effective cooperation and accelerate the rate of innovation dissemination among various subjects involving several regions. To determine the approach’s efficiency, the proposed concept should be tested in one or more regions. Full article

In recent decades, entrepreneurship has become increasingly important for innovation and economic growth. However, few studies demonstrate the role of information and communication technology systems (ICT) in promoting entrepreneurship, and even fewer studies show that ICT is a crucial resource for entrepreneurs. This study examines the direct influence of ICTs on entrepreneurial activity in OECD countries in the context of the open innovation dynamic. Based on an unbalanced dynamic longitudinal panel of data, we conclude that access to ICTs (mobile-cellular telephone subscriptions, individuals using the internet, and fixed-broadband subscriptions) positively influences Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA). However, the importance of ICTs for entrepreneurial activity is not equal, with mobile-cellular telephones having the strongest influence on the rate of new firm creation, followed by fixed-broadband, and internet access. This study contributes to the rationale of resource-based theory by demonstrating that ICTs are a valuable resource for boosting the capabilities for creating, collecting, processing, and interpreting information, which is vital for entrepreneurial activity. On the other hand, this study attempts to suppress an existing gap in the literature due to the still scarce studies demonstrating how macro-level ICTs affect the creation of new firms in countries. Finally, it contributed to empirically substantiating the relationship between open innovation dynamic and entrepreneurship, as very few studies do. Full article

Shared transport services, including short-term vehicle rentals (bike-, car-, moped-, scooter-sharing) and travel sharing systems (ride-sharing, ride-hailing), have become more and more popular forms of mobility in recent years. Their increasing availability has made them an alternative to individual transport in cities. Along with the development of the systems, a growing number of operators offering sharing services started to appear. Many of them ended their activities after the pilot period or closed the company shortly after launching the system. There are many reasons for this, from management to technical issues, but the aspects of open innovation, open data and transparency were often overlooked. This begs the question whether it is the openness of systems that is the recipe for the market success or failure of shared mobility services. The aim of this work was to evaluate the approaches to data openness and innovation in companies representing the shared mobility market. A research proposal was submitted to diagnose the approach to open innovations in the market of shared mobility services. An expert survey was carried out among representatives of shared mobility services operating in major Polish cities. The expert survey was conducted using the CAWI technique. Research results show that open innovation is a problematic aspect for operators. On the one hand, they are interested in it, but this interest does not translate into real practices. Among the entire shared transport sector, the micro-mobility service providers are the most committed to open innovation. Research indicates that in order to increase the dynamics of the development of open innovation in the shared transport industry, there is a need for education in the field of open innovation, especially in the era of the development of digitization of urban transport systems and the pursuit of sustainable transport. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a medical emergency but also a business emergency that has created the need for organizations to be resilient and versatile in managing the impact of the pandemic on their business operations. At this time, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the most vulnerable to the economic disaster caused by the recent crisis, because these companies do not have the necessary resources to absorb losses. This research reviewed the impact of digital technologies on SMEs’ resilience during the pandemic, focusing on companies in developing countries. Based on the 96 SMEs surveyed across six developing countries, the study shows that digital technology has helped SMEs to survive the pandemic, assisting SMEs in becoming more robust and ensuring their survival. This research fills a significant research gap in the literature, highlighting the inherent challenges of SMEs in developing countries and their digital transformation strategies. This study also offers practical recommendations for SMEs, tech developers, and policymakers to invest more effort in putting new procedures in place to ensure the efficacy of digital technology. Full article

In this study, we investigated the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) spillovers on firm production and technical efficiency in Indonesia’s manufacturing sector from 2010 to 2015. We scrutinized three different channels of horizontal spillover, namely, demonstration, technology adoption, and competition channels. We also captured the heterogeneous effect of firms by categorizing them based on their technological intensity (low, medium, or high). Using time-varying stochastic production frontier analysis, we found that manufacturing firms in each technological group benefit from FDI, either from productivity improvement or technical efficiency improvement. High-technology firms mainly benefit from FDI due to their high technological absorption capability. Meanwhile, medium-high and medium-low tech firms increase productivity through the demonstration effect and the technology adoption channel, despite underperforming in technical efficiency. Finally, low-tech firms, which primarily employ unskilled workers, suffer from large inefficiency. We found that increased FDI, combined with improvements in technology absorption capacity, can help revitalize the productivity of low-tech firms. FDI, firm size, and access to foreign inputs all support production effects but have no direct positive impact on firms’ technical efficiency. The results of this study suggest that the government should ensure that domestic firms can absorb the technical capability of a foreign presence. Open innovation can help strengthen foreign–domestic linkages to contribute to growth through the transfer of knowledge, skills, and technologies. Full article

The paper presents the results of a survey aimed at evaluating the attitudes of Slovak respondents toward eco-innovation purchasing power supplied on the Slovak market to propose an open business model that would support such purchasing power to increase sustainability. The primary method applied in the research was the Kano model, by which we determined the attitudes of the respondents to the issue. Based on the findings and using the analytical-synthetic method, we subsequently processed a proposal for a business model for implementation of ecological innovation in Slovakia. This model used innovative marketing communication tools to increase interest in eco-innovation and products, and created a learning algorithm to influence customers’ shopping behaviors. As a result of the research, we assumed that the main obstacles to increasing demand for eco-innovation and products were inexperience, cost, and lack of information held by respondents, and therefore it is necessary to build and improve customer relationships, in which, in addition to traditional forms of marketing, it is inevitable to use various innovative forms of corporate social responsibility to minimize these negatives. Full article

Digitisation of business processes has attracted practitioner attention across a wide range of industries as it enables enterprises to better manage their processes and improve results. The rate of digitisation has grown over the last decade and has become essential for enterprises to handle unforeseen disruptions and promote better management of resources. The COVID-19 pandemic is one example of a recent major disruption that caught enterprises off-guard and had a major impact on their value chains. The adoption of digitisation of business processes has significantly sped up to improve enterprise and their value chain resilience and enable enterprises to survive and potentially thrive in today’s uncertain environment. Through this movement, innovative companies have embraced idea management to develop new business models and achieve competitive advantage. One of the major digital tools that support enterprises in their idea management efforts is web-based idea management systems. This study aims to show how enterprises can manage the rewards of platforms, such as web-based idea management systems, to achieve a first-in-class quality and quantity of ideas sourced from the stakeholders involved in these platform-based ecosystems. To reach this aim, a global survey study was conducted involving over 400 responses from enterprises that use web-based idea management systems and consequent results were analysed. The impact of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards on the results of enterprises is a well-researched area. To further verify the results, the authors have conducted ten expert interviews and a qualitative analysis of a data set sourced from a database that contained 129 company entries that utilise web-based idea management systems and was available for this research that was conducted over a two-year period. Results strongly indicate that mixed and financial reward type tasks result in a higher quantity of ideas created, however, higher idea quality—i.e., ideas selected—is higher for financial reward tasks. The research highlights that there could be differences between different web-based idea management systems application groups. Full article

Stock price prediction is a significant research field due to its importance in terms of benefits for individuals, corporations, and governments. This research explores the application of the new approach to predict the adjusted closing price of a specific corporation. A new set of features is used to enhance the possibility of giving more accurate results with fewer losses by creating a six-feature set (that includes High, Low, Volume, Open, HiLo, OpSe), rather than the traditional four-feature set (High, Low, Volume, Open). The study also investigates the effect of data size by using datasets (Apple, ExxonMobil, Tesla, Snapchat) of different sizes to boost open innovation dynamics. The effect of the business sector in terms of the loss result is also considered. Finally, the study included six deep learning models, MLP, GRU, LSTM, Bi-LSTM, CNN, and CNN-LSTM, to predict the adjusted closing price of the stocks. The six variables used (High, Low, Open, Volume, HiLo, and OpSe) are evaluated according to the model’s outcome, showing fewer losses than the original approach, which utilizes the original feature set. The results show that LSTM-based models improved using the new approach, even though all models showed a comparative result wherein no model showed better results or continuously outperformed other models. Finally, the added new features positively affected the prediction models’ performance. Full article

Several state-owned companies (SOEs) have successfully implemented process innovation. This paper examines the success factors that influence the successful implementation of process innovation in Indonesian state-owned companies. The present study used the three stages of an online questionnaire in the Delphi method to obtain consensus from experts. The consensus was measured based on the mean and standard deviation of the assessment answers provided by our respondents. Based on the development of process innovation implementation frameworks shown in previous studies, we obtained 28 factors that influence the successful implementation of process innovation. Our panelists believed that human resources and organizational factors, such as leadership, problem understanding, strategy, and culture, affected the success of process innovation in SOEs, even more than the research and development budget, support, and commitment factor of a given company. Meanwhile, cost efficiency was the main factor driving a company’s motivation to implement process innovation. The success factors in implementing process innovation are an essential consideration for the management of other SOEs eager to improve their company’s innovation performance, especially process innovation. Success factors were carried out comprehensively for all implementation indicators of process innovation, including inputs, process (idea generation, idea selection, and idea implementation), outputs and outcomes, diffusion, culture, strategies, and push and pull factors. Full article

Since the launch of the Strategic Partnership in 1999, the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean countries have formed a political agenda for bi-regional dialogues. In this study we present a comprehensive analysis of the political and the technical levels of the bi-regional cooperation. The analytical approach that we develop to study bi-regional STI relations is based on a thorough examination of the legal foundations of the EU, which allows for assessment of the possibilities and limits. We identify the LAC dimension of the EU’s scientific policies, offering an overview of the challenges and achievements of bi-regional STI cooperation. These are derived from an analysis of limitations in the current cooperation programs. Additionally, the latter is being connected to the discussion of support needs that are raised by the survey participants. We provide a list of suggestions for further instruments and activities, as the main motive is to strengthen and widen the cooperation with concrete actions. Full article

This present research examines the behavioral intentions of Filipinos to use online grocery applications during the novel COVID-19 pandemic. The study proposes an integration of the health belief model (HBM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) to identify the factors affecting the acceptance and usage of Filipinos of online grocery applications in terms of the impact of health risk for COVID-19. To accurately measure the factors and their relationship to behavioral intentions and usage behavior, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 373 residents in the Philippines. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied as an analytical method for this study. The results revealed that performance expectancy, perceived benefits, perceived severity, and cues to action significantly influenced the behavioral intentions and usage of online grocery apps during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study’s findings can be utilized as a theoretical framework for future researchers of consumer behavior; e-commerce developers; and grocery industry retailers, to enhance the innovation and services of online grocery applications. The results of this study may also be used and capitalized on by investors and managers to apply in strategizing when developing and marketing online grocery applications among consumers. Moreover, the framework of this study may be adopted and utilized by other online markets, even in different counties. Further theoretical and practical aspects are discussed in this paper. Full article

The European Regional Development Fund devoted around 66 billion Euros to the financial support of innovation and productivity in European enterprises over the 2014–2020 programming period. In this framework, we assessed the implementation of the Operational Programmes dedicated to fostering research and innovation, particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises. With this aim, we used a network slack-based data envelopment analysis model paired with cluster analysis that encompasses a multitude of performance framework indicators to assess 53 Operational Programmes from 19 countries. Our findings suggest that compared to transition and less developed regions, more developed regions present a higher room for improvement. Also, less developed regions present a better performance when they employ their funding against more developed regions, suggesting that further funding should be channelled for leveraging research and innovation in the former regions. Finally, Operational Programme managers should focus on solving the problems both inherent to the poor outcomes in terms of enhancing the number of researchers working in improved research infrastructures and promoting the technology transfer between research institutions and enterprises. Full article

The EU has established the world’s first cross-border emission-trading systems (ETS) for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, currently covering aviation, emission-intensive sectors, and electricity (EITE). The EU Commission has offered to apply emissions trading in new sectors where emissions from maritime transport will be incorporated into the current EU ETS, while a separated emissions trading system will cover emissions from road transport and the building sector. This paper employs a multi-regional multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium (CGE) model with two simultaneous international emission permit markets. After examining the abatement costs for the EU regions, various policy scenarios are implemented to study the welfare effects of forming an ETS covering the sectors other than EITE (NEIT) and its linking with the EITE sectors under two different baselines and four emission reduction targets. The results provide several important insights: (i) Marginal abatement costs in Germany and the Eastern European Union region (EEU) are significantly lower than in the rest of the EU regions. (ii) The carbon price in the emission permit market covering NEIT is significantly higher than the carbon price in the emission permit market covering EITE. (iii) Germany and EEU appear as notable suppliers of emission permits in both markets. (iv) There is a significant aggregate welfare gain under the scenario in which the ETS covering NEIT co-exists parallel with the ETS covering EITE. (v) The aggregate welfare in the EU under the full integration of EITE and NEIT may fall below its value under the scenario with two parallel emission permit markets. Full article

The ride-hailing platform offers the business model of the on-demand business ecosystem in the era of the sharing economy. Platforms such as Uber, Lyft, and DiDi have become popular worldwide and established a strong position in urban transportation. This paper presents a case study analyzing the fierce competition between Uber and DiDi in the Chinese ride-hailing market. First, employing the canvas framework, we show the core characteristics of the business models of the two platforms. Our analysis and comparisons of the strategic positioning and implementation concerning the building blocks of canvas ascribe the success factors of DiDi and the causes of Uber’s failure. Although both Uber and DiDi provide similar service offerings for diverse market segments, Uber’s mismatches between its strategic focus on the premium segment and service operations proved to be a mistake. On the other hand, DiDi managed its business more efficiently by providing a wide range of service offerings while leveraging the two-sided market. As a result, DiDi has grown successfully as a one-stop transportation platform, which is well-suited to the Chinese market. This study provides meaningful insights into business model innovations in the sharing economy and implications for the evolution of future transportation platforms. Full article

The paper presents the results of the research on the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the dissemination of innovative e-learning tools in higher education. Research was carried out in Poland in December 2021 on a sample of 621 students. The main issue that was the subject of the author’s analysis was the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the change in the use of innovative e-learning tools in university education. After conducting the research and discussing this and related research about e-learning during the pandemic, it was concluded that the percentage of students familiar with the analyzed e-learning tools has increased significantly during the pandemic. There has been a visible rise, especially in the usage of the following tools: MS Teams, Zoom, and Google Classroom. The most frequently used e-learning tools during the COVID-19 pandemic have been mainly videoconferencing tools such as MS Teams and Zoom. However, students also have used e-learning platforms and e-mails. The author’s research identified three hidden factors (categories) of the used e-learning tools. They include the following categories: popular services and applications adapted to e-learning; popular applications for synchronous meetings adapted to e-learning; and other synchronous and asynchronous e-learning methods. The familiarity with information technology, as well as an interest in innovative e-learning tools, have positive influence on the ease of acquiring content in e-learning. Having the proper resources also positively influences the absorption of e-learning content. On the basis of the achieved results, the authors prepared a model of relations between students’ interest in innovative e-learning technology and the resources they possess to participate in e-learning classes. This model enables us to assess which method—e-learning, traditional or hybrid—should be used in the given situation. The developed model can be useful for universities. They can assess the students’ interest in innovative e-learning technologies and their level of technical resources using questionnaires and on this basis divide students into groups to prepare the optimal learning way—e-learning, traditional or hybrid. Full article

The innovation of electric motorcycle swap-battery (EMSB) technology encourages the formation of a new ecosystem at the early stage of the supply chain. The EMSB technology has allowed an open innovation system with collaboration between supply-chain players, universities, and the government for finding a thriving solution to enable the faster adoption and diffusion of EMSB in Indonesia. Standardization is seen as a way to accelerate the downstream EMSB technology innovation to leverage the economic benefits and to support the growth of a green economy in Indonesia. This study aimed to propose a model with which to measure the technology readiness of the EMSB’s stakeholders in implementing the swappable battery (SB) standard. We developed the technometric framework and Economic Benefits of Standards—ISO Methodology 2.0. We generated 13 criteria of technoware, humanware, inforware, and orgaware and 21 indicators of the standard’s impacts to be utilized as a measurement model. We interviewed 11 respondents consisting of the standard regulator, research and development center, manufacturer, testing labs, and product-certification bodies. The results show the technology contribution coefficient (TCC) and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) value representing the SB standard’s feasibility. The proposed model can evaluate the weak points and propose strategies to leverage the SB standard’s technology readiness and economic benefits. Full article

The pandemic has accelerated the search for innovative product/process/service solutions in city markets as well as the search for “open innovation challenges” more in line with current needs. The aim of the research is to understand the adaptation mechanisms of the local food system and, in particular, of the public space of the market system. The article analyses the change produced by the COVID-19 pandemic in the municipal markets of Sant Feliu de Guixols, Costa Brava, Spain. The data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire administered to food sellers and contextually to a group of consumers. Factor analysis and the AGIL model were applied to the data collected and were confirmed with cluster analysis. The analysis highlights that the resilience of sellers is no longer sufficient and in many cases, they have equipped themselves with innovative solutions to meet the new customer demands arising from the pandemic (food delivery, e-commerce, take-away food, digital media, etc.). The document concludes with a discussion of food markets and innovations introduced in this period. Further studies can focus on the relationships between food practices and the transformation of urban spaces so that the food market can support new social practices that promote the food transition. The change would represent a switch which would provide traditionally less powerful actors, such as producers, the opportunity to reformulate the food supply chain in a way more linked to the territory. It would also create a resilient dimension for managing other possible food crises and present a challenge to achieving the ultimate goals of the businesses. Full article

Ubiquitous digitization, changing competitive intensity, and rapid development of new technologies are shaping the new business landscape, creating new opportunities for consumers and businesses. There is a need to create open business models that allow for the introduction of open innovations, rapid reorganization of processes, and flexibility in adapting modern enterprises to dynamically changing market conditions. The achievements and results presented in the article were obtained by conducting a survey using the CAWI method, among 70 purposefully selected companies; the research was carried out in Poland. The impact of Industry 4.0 technology on business models, barriers to the implementation of these technologies, and changes in business models that occurred as a result of this implementation were identified. The article is dedicated to researchers working on business models and business practitioners. Full article

Open Innovation (OI) models have been studied in many fields. However, the challenges and opportunities of a possible OI paradigm application in external auditing have been under-researched. Recent corporate scandals are currently triggering changes and improvements in the regulatory framework by targeting, in particular, the dominance of the so-called “Big Four”. The main research question is whether a permissioned blockchain ecosystem could better enhance an OI paradigm and prove more suitable than the Semi-Open Innovation (SOI) paradigm that currently shapes the external audit field. Some challenges are considered in this article. Notably, blockchain requires suitable legal frameworks to ensure legally binding transactions. Moreover, multidisciplinary teams and high investments are required to develop efficient blockchain ecosystems and exploit the power of data analytics. Systematic analysis is performed based on a relevant literature review, along with abductive reasoning and applied modelling methodologies. The analyses demonstrate that the current Semi-Open Innovation external audit model is inefficient because it has led to market concentration, conflicting interests, and even fraud. Therefore, the regulators’ role in promoting fully Open Innovation models in the audit industry is essential to ensure transparency, information sharing, fair competition, innovation, and collaboration among audit professionals. Hence, this research aims at providing a different perspective by focusing on the necessary assumptions needed to ensure successful application of technologies in the audit field. The innovative introduction of a permissioned blockchain-based audit system is also suggested to ensure the feasibility of the shift from Semi-Open to Open Innovation. Full article

Background: This research investigates the web-based communication and promotion strategies applied by a sample of selected chocolatiers in Piedmont, a region in the northwest of Italy known for its ancient chocolate-making tradition. Methods: the AGIL scheme was used (A-adaptation, which evaluates the persuasive approach; G-goal achievement, which evaluates the informative approach; I-integration, which evaluates the communicative approach; and L-latent model, which evaluates the identity approach). Each A-G-I-L category, subdivided into subcategories containing variables, was specifically evaluated during the analysis of the companies’ websites carried out by a group of experts. The five experts assigned a score for each variable and subcategory to each site. The average subcategory and category scores for each website were analyzed using principal component analysis, which allowed three communicative orientations to be defined: classic, consumer-centered, international-oriented. Results: In general, the results show a strong link between the tradition of artisan chocolate producers and the desire to create a relationship of trust in the brand on the part of consumers. Conclusions: This research is the first to contribute to the field of chocolate web-communication and provides a picture of a local production reality; it is interesting in terms of chocolate promotion styles based on the combination of tradition and innovation. Full article

This study explores the key determinants of Supply Chain 4.0 (SC4.0) maturity in the context of a developing country by examining the relationships between supply chain ambidexterity, supply chain agility, and the maturity of SC4.0. The study was carried out using the survey method involving 154 managers from Indonesian manufacturing companies. The SC4.0 maturity model was developed and tested using structural equation modeling. From our analysis, it was found that supply chain ambidexterity emphasizing on innovation positively influences the companies’ agility and SC4.0 maturity levels, and supply chain agility partially mediates supply chain ambidexterity. This paper contributes to the operationalization of SC4.0 maturity determinants that incorporate innovation and technological aspects and extends the extant literature by empirically elaborating the determinants and antecedents of SC4.0 maturity that may expedite the achievement of SC4.0 maturity. This implies that companies and supply chain professionals aiming at achieving their SC4.0 maturity should do so by being outward-looking and, at the same time, foster supply chain collaboration with external networks. This paper is pioneering the empirical study on SC4.0 and offers a means to achieving SC4.0 maturity through SC ambidexterity and SC agility, particularly in the context of a developing country. Full article

The shoe industry has been continuously growing in recent years. The goal of this study was to identify factors affecting perceived shoe quality among shoe manufacturing workers. A sample of 350 shoe manufacturing workers participated in answering a survey that was distributed using a purposive sampling approach. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) indicated that quality training was the most significant factor on perceived shoe quality, indicating that quality training should be prioritized and included in company programs to sustain quality products. Interestingly, perceived tooling/machinery conditions, teamwork and cooperation, the operator’s technical skills, and the operator’s quality mindset, also had significant effects on perceived shoe quality. This study is one of the first studies to explore perceived shoe quality among shoe manufacturing workers. The results may convey information for future research on perceived product quality, particularly for the shoe industry. Finally, our framework can be utilized for the enhancement of perceived product quality in shoe manufacturing industries worldwide. Full article

The digital economy implies structural transformation in many industries, including the energy sector, without considering the state specifics of the industry, for which full-fledged digitalization can be harmful. The aim of the study is to develop a methodology and to determine the level of digitalization in the energy sector in an intercountry context. Based on the methods of comparison and analysis, the work analyses the concept of “digitalization” and defines the indicators applied to the assessment of digitalization. The developed methodology is based on the index method, which makes it possible to assess the rating of countries by the level of digitalization in the energy sector. The article discusses modern technological development and socio-economic aspects that determine theoretical research and the development of digitalization in the energy sector. The reasons and stages of digitalization in the energy sector are highlighted. Using the comparison method, the analysis of existing approaches to assessing the digital energy of enterprises is carried out. End-to-end technologies are highlighted, as well as their practical application at the enterprises of the energy sector. An analysis of the key areas for the development of digital energy is presented. Conclusions are made about the feasibility of developing microprograms and the main directions of digitalization are highlighted. Full article

The rapid development of the process of informatization of modern society has necessitated cybersecurity in all spheres of human activity, as the implementation of deliberate or unintentional influences on the information sphere by both external and internal sources can damage security and lead to moral, material, financial, reputational and other forms of damage. The purpose of the paper is to create functional cognitive models to assess the level of their protection. The method of building a fuzzy cognitive map of the state of cybersecurity of banks is used. There have been developed cognitive models to determine the level of protection of the computer network, information security system and critical infrastructure (banks). Scenarios have been developed that reflect the response of the system at the complex maximum attenuation of the impact of the most important cyber threats. In conclusion, the practical implementation of the method provides an opportunity to predict the state of cybersecurity of banks, and contributes to the implementation of the necessary mechanisms to prevent, protect and control access at the appropriate levels of network infrastructure. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the financial and economic feasibility of implementing a biorefinery to process the solid waste, called brewers’ spent grain, generated in the production of craft beer into special flour. In addition, to present a path for open innovation in the possibility of replication of the process and technology used in the plant. The inappropriate disposal generates an environmental problem, but individually, depending on the production volume of the brewery, the cost of processing the waste can be unfeasible. On the other hand, such waste embeds a high nutritional value for human food. This study followed the precepts of the circular bio-economy and industrial symbiosis strengthening of sustainable development. The research method is the Monte Carlo simulation, including four different scenarios and projections. The results indicate the financial and economic viability of industrial plants—biorefineries—for the transformation of the residue into special flour in three of the four scenarios studied in the five-year cycle. In the Monte Carlo simulation, no losses are evident in any of the 10,000 interactions. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the sensitivity of the supply is slightly higher than the price of the final product. Results may be useful to support the development of new, innovative products relying on collaboration among internal and external partners and open innovation concerns. Full article

In the field of healthcare innovation, Greece ranks 26th in FREOPP’s World Index of Healthcare Innovation (WIHI) 2021 analysis. Such a standing illustrates low performance in the dimensions of quality, science and technology and fiscal sustainability. This article seeks to shed light on this backwardness and examine the obstacles and weaknesses in the development of innovative projects by Greek health entrepreneurs. Furthermore, this research aims to trace entrepreneurs’ views on innovation issues and assess the existence of innovative plans from four perspectives: at the level of service to citizens, in the functionality of health business structures, at the level of facilities and technology, and in a clinical setting. Qualitative research was conducted with the entrepreneurs of 12 health companies in the form of semi-structured interviews. This study has shown that healthcare entrepreneurs do not reject the development of innovative projects and that those who have implemented innovative practices have had positive results; however, various obstacles negatively impact the implementation of innovative ideas. A primary research contribution will capture the factors that negatively affect the development of innovative projects and represent a crucial element for Greece to remove barriers and improve its performance on innovation issues. The results of the research will provide support for not only innovation decision-making centres but also other health entrepreneurs. Full article

The aim of the article is to present the author’s concept of steel market enterprises’ maturity for functioning in Industry 4.0. The model is based on the assessment of key technologies or pillars of the new industrial concept. The proposed assessment includes five levels of investment maturity under the conditions of the fourth industrial revolution (a five-point assessment scale was used to measure the degree of maturity of developed enterprises by implemented projects of smart manufacturing (SM). The maturity assessment proposal is based on direct research. The research was carried out in the segment of enterprises from the Polish steel sector. The tool used for the research was a questionnaire survey. The research was carried out with 79 selected steel enterprises in Poland for the pilot study. On the basis of the research, it was established that the segment of enterprises in the Polish steel market are at the third level of maturity in the five-level scale of the model, where level 1 is the “preliminary” level, and 5 represents the optimal maturity level. Within particular pillars of Industry 4.0, according to all respondents, the biggest changes in terms of implementing the industrial concept took place in connection with the use of Internet and mobile technologies in the process of customer service, including EDI, an e-invoicing system. The second position belonged to investments in production automation with the use of individual machines (installation of sensors on devices and sensors for collecting data on the state of the machine). In addition, similar and relatively higher answers were given by respondents to questions about the development and compatibility of IT systems for production support, such as CAx, MRP, MES. The remaining technological pillars, such as data processing from machines, installations of real-time data; network and chain integration (end -to -end engineering); production automation with the use of interoperating machines (production nests); expansion of databases (Big Data) and visualisation of processes together with their optimisation using IoT were found to be initiated as activities in very large and large enterprises. The lowest rated scope of investment changes concerned the block chain in the steel sector. The research of investment of enterprises can be used to assess the maturity of enterprises in this segment of industry in Poland. Full article

This study reviews Thomas Piketty’s Capital and Ideology and provides a detailed analysis to aid understanding of the book, combined with diverse scholars’ perspectives in the fields of economic history, political economics, and social sciences. This book is selected as my review target to answer the following research question, “How do we conquer the growth limits of capitalism?” This book gave me several ideas for the basis of my future research. In this review paper, I provide a guide for readers to understand ways to conquer the growth limits of capitalism. My study also provides a creative understanding of the evolution of the capitalist economy from new perspectives. In particular, it presents an analysis of Piketty’s diverse policy ideas from the viewpoint of a global history of capitalism. This will give a new lens through which to focus on understanding and resolving the inequalities of 21st-century hyper-capitalism and to construct policy for the current world economy. Finally, this study offers a causal loop model of Piketty’s findings and proposals, and suggests future research topics. Full article

Growing competition in the education economy has caused companies to look for new innovative solutions that can increase their competitiveness. These processes practically concern the whole world, and the development of new technologies that are related to the concepts of Industry 4.0 and sustainable economy has accelerated innovation even more. In order to adapt to these trends, companies are taking extensive measures to apply new technologies and implement innovative solutions. The use of an open business model that is based, for example, on the concept of open innovation (OI) could be helpful in this process. By reinforcing their own solutions with external ideas and proposals and by cooperating on joint projects, companies have the chance to maintain beneficial relationships with customers and remain competitive. This also applies to the mining industry, for which the production processes are additionally affected by the natural hazards that are associated with the environment in which these processes are carried out. This article presents a relevant example of using the OI concept to develop and implement an innovative method for reducing the fire hazard that is caused by the spontaneous combustion of coal in underground coal mines. The method was based on the model tests that were conducted by the Silesian University of Technology. Since the mining enterprise in question was looking for an external solution to the problem of the formation and development of endogenous fires, it was open to cooperation. The open exchange of knowledge and ideas resulted in the development of an innovative method that was successfully applied in this coal mine. This paper presents a model for the cooperation between a research unit and an enterprise that included the open exchange of knowledge, which significantly enriched both sides of the project. It also discusses the innovative solution that was developed, which involved the use of model tests to identify potential locations for underground fires and an installation to supply certain substances to these areas in order to limit the occurrence and development of these fires. The results of the research, which confirm the effectiveness of the developed method, are also presented. The application of the IO concept and the cooperation between scientific research and industry made it possible to solve a specific and current problem that has a significant impact on the efficiency of the production processes of mining companies. The implementation of the developed method prevented an endogenic fire, and the mining process proceeded without any major disturbance. The developed solution and the applied model of open cooperation between a research unit and industry could together create the possibility of generating innovative solutions that can be quickly commercialized and implemented. Thus, the concept of OI presents a great opportunity for the development of an innovative knowledge-based economy. Full article

The study focused on the application of Open Innovations (OI) in industrial heritage tourist sites. The transformation of a former industrial plant into a tourist attraction is one of the most effective ways of heritage preservation. However the process of revitalization can take years or even decades, and guidelines set from experienced facilities that have already gone this path could be extremely valuable for regions aspiring to hold such sites in the future. The benefits would be mutual if the OI had an Outbound Pecuniary structure. Therefore the main goal of our study was to recognize the attitude of industrial heritage sites towards the concept of OI and sharing their experiences regarding revitalization and their business models. For this purpose, a survey was conducted on European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) members. The results that were received from 70 sites show that a vast majority of the subjects are open to the idea of OI with no limitations coming from the type of ownership they have, nor from the sector a recipient of OI would be from. The benefits gained from OI to ERIH sites could have a potentially significant impact on their future development. Full article