Big changes to Prescot call not for hand-wringing attempts to cling to the status quo, but for a radical rethink of the historic town centre, writes the editor.
Home Bargains and the Post Office – two of Prescot's biggest high street draws – are set to make their departure from the town centre.
Both will relocate elsewhere in Prescot, with Home Bargains planning a major development near Cables Retail Park.
Undoubtedly the loss will be a blow to a town centre that is already visibly declining. But mere protests at the change will not reverse the trend of major retailers moving to edge-of-town developments.
The long-term answer, I believe, is not to convince major stores to move to or remain in the town centre – it can never compete with the vast retail space and commercial opportunities available down the road.
The long-term answer is to completely rethink the town centre. If it can't compete, it must provide something different.
What will that difference look like? For one, the conservation area of Eccleston Street and its surrounding streets has a unique character and heritage that has been waiting a long time to be exploited for the benefit of the town.
Investment has begun through the Townscape Heritage Initiative, and this is a big step in the right direction.
The future will likely lie with small businesses – boutique shops, independent retailers offering products and experiences you can't get at a big-name superstore.
It will lie with arts, culture and entertainment. After a positive response from local surveys, Knowsley Council is still seriously pursuing a small cinema for the town centre, and the Shakespeare North Trust still wants to open a theatre and academic institute.
It will lie with community projects that bring residents together face-to-face in a way that can't be replicated in the generic, anonymous environment of a retail park.
With a coherent plan for a thriving town centre, we have a chance of bringing back custom to some of Prescot's long-established traditional small shops, too, such as the bakers, butchers and greengrocers.
But it does need an overall plan. It can't be piecemeal. We need a clear vision of Prescot town centre and a map to get us there.
What does your vision for Prescot's future look like? And how will we get there?
….Sometimes you have to look back to look forward; In 1592, Prescot was full of little artisan pottery kilns and at the centre of a fledgling pottery industry based on the natural clay bed it was built on. Places like "Pottery Fields" and "Clay Lane" still exist today. It's just one idea, but Prescot needs a USP to bring people back…in the 1500's it was pottery, in the 1800's watch-making, in the 1900's copper wire manufacturing…..today it has nothing. It needs a new bold vision!
I am in broad agreement with the Editor's comments. Prescot is not the only High Street that is struggling, it is a national phenomenon. We live in times where change is a part of everyday life; compare TV's with 20 years ago, think what you did before PC's and Mobile Technology, 200+ TV chanels, etc. These are all changes which we have successfully embraced into everyday life and the High Street also needs to embrace change and not just look back to its halcyon days.
The role, purpose and need of the High Street has changed in the modern world with online retail and edge of town shopping.
In my view, there will always be a place for small and specialised retailers in the High Street, but the key question will always be how do we attract customers. Public transport has a role to play, and a small bus service running a loop through Eccleton Street to the Retail Park would help, especially if fares could be subsidised.
But also look to change part of the role away from shopping and into leisure. Prescot has always been well endowed with pubs, but what about eateries? It is a well know fact that retailers are attracted to their competitors locations, so McDonalds will often pop up close to a Burger King, etc.
KMBC should embark on a programme of attracting leisure outlets, with business rates reflecting the aim of revitalisation and not just revenue earning. Imagine strolling along Eccleston Street and having a choice of Frankie & Bennies, Nandos or Pizza Hut, etc. And of course the second part of this approach is that it brings life to the area in the evenings and would coimplement a small cinema and other entertainment attractions.
So yes, let's be radical, let's be innovative but let's also be realistic that we need to define and develop a High Street fit for the long term future, otherwise we'll be asking the same questions in a very short time.
Well said Stephen Nulty, what Eccleston Street needs is bars and restaurants, Lark Lane springs to mind. Unfortunately I think this plan would be met with opposition from Merseyside Police as they have much more important parts of Merseyside to through their recourses at.
It might help if the council hadn't decided to charge for all their car parking facilities in Prescot. It's laughable to see all the cars battling for space in the small Rays car park, while the council one they've had to drive through is empty. Of course, you could use the Prescot Centre – if it wasn't FULL of post office workers cars (you'd think they'd al least park on the bottom car park, and leave the top one for actual shoppers trying to spend money!) It's chaos of a weekend particularly, yet the centre is empty.
I used to travel in from St Helens at least once or twice a week, but once they started to charge for parking I stopped.
I feel Prescot could break the mould if the KMBC had the vision to go with it.
Set up an independent cinema, it doesn't need to be a rip off multiplex, offer heavily reduced rental agreements to bring in more cafes and restaurants, Rainhill can and do, do this very successfully so why can't Prescot?
Why is the unit that used to be Somerfield still empty? has this not been offered to Aldi or Lidl as reduced cost? or is the rumour that Tesco took out a lease on the unit to keep it empty true? its a prime location for a store like the ones mentioned.
The town needs more restaurants Pizza Hut / Frankie and Benny / Nando take your pick is KBMC promoting the town to these retailers?
I can't really see Prescot town centre surviving the next decade if radical change is not brought in..
I was born and raised in Prescot, my parents still live there. I totally agree with the previous comments, KMBC really messed up, they have taken our leisure centre, swimming baths, and civic hall.
They charge for parking spaces when the rival competition do not.
Let's face it KMBC have got it wrong for Prescot in a big way. But has this changed the amount of council tax you all pay?
Also I would suggest that letting Tesco dictate terms to a council over which other superstores can come to Prescot has to be questionable are they still paying the rent to Prescot shopping centre for that large empty supermarket space in the town centre?
There are plenty of good walks around Prescot, yet does it have an outdoors pursuits retail outlet?
Prescot Town Council and the people who live here / are from Prescot should be driving this.
Lots of very positive ideas and comments for the town centre, I'd add in places like Lark Lane near sefton park, Grassington in Yorkshire have made excellent uses of their properties with bistros, cafes, boutique shops etc.
Why can't some of the shops be converted to residences? I'd rather have apartments in Ecclestone street than pound shops, arcades or empty units!
The retail park is there to stay so we need people with vision who care about Prescot. Im afraid that rules out KMBC who care not one jot.
I agree with the previous suggestion related to the Lark Lane feel for an improved Prescot. Let's face it, Eccleston Street is not a draw for retail shopping anymore, especially not the National retail shops. Why not go down the independent boutique type feel with bars and restaurants. If they're here, they will come! I also agree with the comments re parking, why should Prescot be punished by charging for parking? If the council put the work in to change the 'purpose' of Prescot it would reap the benefits in rents rather than parking fees.


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Search results for: commercialization
116 Decision Making Communication in the Process of Technologies Commercialization: Archival Analysis of the Process Content
Authors: Vaida Zemlickiene
Scientists around the world and practitioners are working to identify the factors that influence the results of technology commercialization and to propose the ideal model for the technology commercialization process. In other words, all stakeholders of technology commercialization seek to find a formula or set of rules to succeed in commercializing technologies in order to avoid unproductive investments. In this article, the process of commercialization technology is understood as the process of transforming inventions into marketable products, services, and processes, or the path from the idea of using an invention to a product that incorporates process from 1 to 9 technology readiness level (TRL). There are many publications in the field of management literature, which are aimed at managing the commercialization process. However, there is an apparent lack of research for communication in decision-making in the process of technology commercialization. Works were done in the past, and the last decade's global research analysis led to the unambiguous conclusion that the methodological framework is not mature enough to be of practical use in business. The process of technology commercialization and the decisions made in the process should be explored in-depth. An archival analysis is performed to find insights into decision-making communication in the process of technologies commercialization, to find out the content of technology commercialization process: decision-making stages and participants, to analyze the internal factors of technology commercialization, to perform their critical analysis, to analyze the concept of successful/unsuccessful technology commercialization.
Keywords: the process of technology commercialization, communication in decision-making process, the content of technology commercialization process, successful/unsuccessful technology commercialization
115 Stating Best Commercialization Method: An Unanswered Question from Scholars and Practitioners
Authors: Saheed A. Gbadegeshin
Commercialization method is a means to make inventions available at the market for final consumption. It is described as an important tool for keeping business enterprises sustainable and improving national economic growth. Thus, there are several scholarly publications on it, either presenting or testing different methods for commercialization. However, young entrepreneurs, technologists and scientists would like to know the best method to commercialize their innovations. Then, this question arises: What is the best commercialization method? To answer the question, a systematic literature review was conducted, and practitioners were interviewed. The literary results revealed that there are many methods but new methods are needed to improve commercialization especially during these times of economic crisis and political uncertainty. Similarly, the empirical results showed there are several methods, but the best method is the one that reduces costs, reduces the risks associated with uncertainty, and improves customer participation and acceptability. Therefore, it was concluded that new commercialization method is essential for today's high technologies and a method was presented.
Keywords: commercialization method, technology, knowledge, intellectual property, innovation, invention
114 Lean Commercialization: A New Dawn for Commercializing High Technologies
Lean Commercialization (LC) is a transformation of new technologies and knowledge to products and services through application of lean/agile principle. This principle focuses on how resources can be minimized on development, manufacturing, and marketing new products/services, which can be accepted by customers. To understand how the LC has been employed by the technology-based companies, a case study approach was employed by interviewing the founders, observing their high technologies, and interviewing the commercialization experts. Two serial entrepreneurs were interviewed in 2012, and their commercialized technologies were monitored from 2012 till 2016. Some results were collected, but to validate the commercialization strategies of these entrepreneurs, four commercialization experts were interviewed in 2017. Initial results, observation notes, and experts' opinions were analyzed qualitatively. The final findings showed that the entrepreneurs applied the LC unknowingly, and the experts were aware of the LC. Similarly, the entrepreneurs used the LC due to the financial constraints, and their need for success. Additionally, their commercialization practices revealed that LC appeared to be one of their commercialization strategies. Thus, their practices were analyzed, and a framework was developed. Furthermore, the experts noted that LC is a new dawn, which technologists and scientists need to consider for their high technology commercialization. This article contributes to the theory and practice of commercialization. Theoretically, the framework adds value to the commercialization discussion. And, practically the framework can be used by the technology entrepreneurs (technologists and scientists), technology-based enterprises, and technology entrepreneurship educators as a guide in their commercialization adventures.
Keywords: lean commercialization, high technologies, lean start-up, technology-based companies
113 Commercialization of Research Outputs in Kenyan Universities
Authors: John Ayisi, Gideon M. Kivengea, George A. Ombakho
In this emerging era of knowledge economy, universities, as major centres of learning and research, are becoming increasingly important as sources of ideas, knowledge, skills, innovation and technological advances. These ideas can be turned into new products, processes and systems needed to drive their respective national economies, and thus placing universities at the centre of the national innovation systems. Thus, commercialization of research outputs from universities to industry has become an area of strong policy interest in African countries. To assess the level of commercialization of research outputs in Kenyan universities, a standardized questionnaire covering seven sub-sections, namely: University Commercialization Environment, Management of Commercialization Activities, Commercialization Office, Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), Early Stage Financing and Venture Capital; Industrial Linkages; and Technology Parks and Incubators was administered among a few selected public and private universities. Results show that all the universities have a strategic plan; though not all have innovation and commercialization as part of it. Half the nineteen surveyed universities indicated they have created designated offices for fostering commercialization. Majority have guidelines on IPRs which advocate IP to be co-owned by researcher/university. University-industry linkages are weak. Most universities are taking precursory steps to incentivise and encourage entrepreneurial activities among their academic staff and students, even though the level of resources devoted to them is low. It is recommended that building capacity in entrepreneurship among staff and students and committing more resources to R&D activities hold potential to increased commercialization of university research outputs.
Keywords: commercialization, knowledge, R&D, university
112 Commercialization of Technologies, Productivity and Problems of Technological Audit in the Russian Economy
Authors: E. A. Tkachenko, E. M. Rogova, A. S. Osipenko
The problems of technological development for the Russian Federation take on special significance in the context of modernization of the production base. The complexity of the position of the Russian economy is that it cannot be attributed fully to developing ones. Russia is a strong industrial power that has gone through the processes of destructive de-industrialization in the conditions of changing its economic and political structure. The need to find ways for re-industrialization is not a unique task for the economies of industrially developed countries. Under the influence of production outsourcing for 20 years, the industrial potential of leading economies of the world was regressed against the backdrop of the ascent of China, a new industrial giant. Therefore, methods, tools, and techniques utilized for industrial renaissance in EU may be used to achieve a technological leap in the Russian Federation, especially since the temporary gap of 5-7 years makes it possible to analyze best practices and use those technological transfer tools that have shown the greatest efficiency. In this article, methods of technological transfer are analyzed, the role of technological audit is justified, and factors are analyzed that influence the successful process of commercialization of technologies.
Keywords: technological transfer, productivity, technological audit, commercialization of technologies
111 Analyzing the Commercialization of New Technology
Authors: Wen-Hsiang Lai, Mei-Wen Chen
In the face of developing new technologies, identifying potential new technological product and the suitable market is important. Since laser technology is widely applied in many industries, this study explores the technology commercialization of laser technology. According to the literature review and industry analysis, this study discusses the factors influencing the consumer's purchase intention and tries to find a new market direction to develop the laser technology. This study adopts a new product adoption model as the research framework and uses three variables of 'Consumer characteristics', 'Perception of product attributes' and 'External environment' to discuss the purchase intention of consumers, who are physicians and owners of the medical cosmetics. This study finds that in the major variable of 'Consumer characteristics', the sub-variables of 'Personality', 'Knowledge of product', 'Perceived risk' and 'Motivation' are significantly related to consumer's purchase intention. In the major variable of 'Perception of product attributes', the sub-variables of 'Brand' and 'Measure of manufacture country' are the key factors that affect the willingness of consumer's purchase intention. Finally, in the major variable of 'External environment' variable, the sub-variables of 'Time' and 'Price' have significant impact on consumer's purchase intention.
Keywords: technology commercialization, new product adoption, consumer's purchase intention, laser technology
110 Evaluation of the Urban Regeneration Project: Land Use Transformation and SNS Big Data Analysis
Authors: Ju-Young Kim, Tae-Heon Moon, Jung-Hun Cho
Urban regeneration projects have been actively promoted in Korea. In particular, Jeonju Hanok Village is evaluated as one of representative cases in terms of utilizing local cultural heritage sits in the urban regeneration project. However, recently, there has been a growing concern in this area, due to the 'gentrification', caused by the excessive commercialization and surging tourists. This trend was changing land and building use and resulted in the loss of identity of the region. In this regard, this study analyzed the land use transformation between 2010 and 2016 to identify the commercialization trend in Jeonju Hanok Village. In addition, it conducted SNS big data analysis on Jeonju Hanok Village from February 14th, 2016 to March 31st, 2016 to identify visitors' awareness of the village. The study results demonstrate that rapid commercialization was underway, unlikely the initial intention, so that planners and officials in city government should reconsider the project direction and rebuild deliberate management strategies. This study is meaningful in that it analyzed the land use transformation and SNS big data to identify the current situation in urban regeneration area. Furthermore, it is expected that the study results will contribute to the vitalization of regeneration area.
Keywords: land use, SNS, text mining, urban regeneration
109 Recent Development of Materials for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)
Authors: Mohammed Jourdani, Hamid Mounir, Abdellatif El Marjani
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been developed as a promising power source for transportation and stationary applications, and power devices for computers and mobile telephones. This paper discusses and summarizes the latest developments of materials and remaining challenges of PEMFC. The different contributions to the material of all components and the efficiencies are analyzed. Many technical advances are introduced to increase the PEMFC fuel cell efficiency and life time for transportation, stationary and portable utilization. By the last years the total cost of this system is decreasing. However, the remaining challenges that need to be overcome mean that it will be several years before full commercialization can take place.
Keywords: PEMFC fuel cell, materials, recent development, efficiency, life time, commercialization possibility
108 Sports in the Contemporary Society; Its Role in the Economic Development of a Country
Authors: C. K. Kishore Kumar, B. P. Aruna
We have made an attempt to analyze the role of sports in the contemporary society. This paper critically analyses how developed as well as developing countries spend huge amount of money every year in conducting various sports and games, development of sports infrastructure, manufacturing of sports equipment and get into bidding to organize international events like Olympic, World Cup games like foot ball, soccer, tennis etc., Throughout the world, Sports and Commerce have joined together. Sports in today's world has become a large profit making industry. An attempt is further made to understand that the players or sports persons are only a small part of this huge industry, more than the players, there are various other people, corporations, Nation as a whole who are making huge profits from the sports industry. This industrialization has indeed changed the whole scenario of sports. Top level sports are purely a business nowadays and so fans are sucked into believing they are part of their club. In reality they are merely cash cows to be milked by a greedy, grasping and corrupt business that cares nothing but making money. In no previous time period have we seen the type of growth in the commercialization of sports that we have seen in the last 3 decades. Athletes are leveled with prize money and/or appearances fees so much so, that injuries may be ignored, educational opportunities are put aside in the quest for success which is ultimately money. Industrialization and commercialization of sports has taken a key role in the economic development of the country. The purpose of this paper is to explore as to how sports once considered as a leisure time activity has become an activity for money and in turn has taken a lead role in the economic development of a country.
Keywords: contemporary society, economic development, industrialization of sports, commercialization of sports, leisure time activity
107 Preparation of n-type Bi2Te3 Films by Electrophoretic Deposition
Authors: Tahereh Talebi, Reza Ghomashchi, Pejman Talemi, Sima Aminorroaya
A high quality crack-free film of Bi2Te3 material has been deposited for the first time using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and microstructures of various films have been investigated. One of the most important thermoelectric (TE) applications is Bi2Te3 to manufacture TE generators (TEG) which can convert waste heat into electricity targeting the global warming issue. However, the high cost of the manufacturing process of TEGs keeps them expensive and out of reach for commercialization. Therefore, utilizing EPD as a simple and cost-effective method will open new opportunities for TEG's commercialization. This method has been recently used for advanced materials such as microelectronics and has attracted a lot of attention from both scientists and industry. In this study, the effect of media of suspensions has been investigated on the quality of the deposited films as well as their microstructure. In summary, finding an appropriate suspension is a critical step for a successful EPD process and has an important effect on both the film's quality and its future properties.
Keywords: Bi2Te3, electrical conductivity, electrophoretic deposition, thermoelectric materials, thick films
106 Involvement of Stakeholders in the R&D and Innovation Process in Developing Country Context: An Analysis of the Nigeria Innovation System
Authors: B. O. Oyedoyin, M. O. Ilori, T. O. Oyebisi, B. A. Oluwale, O. O. Jegede
The study was designed to evaluate the business development and transfer of technologies to small manufacturing companies by research institutes in South Western Nigeria. The study covered all the industrial research institutions with headquarters in South Western Nigeria. The study showed that the involvement of scientists in innovation process was rated highest in the idea generation (4.14) and idea screening (4.29) phases; high in R&D (3.86) and fairly high in pilot plant development (2.71) and commercialization (2.43) phase. Their involvement was rated low in business analysis and development (2.14), and test marketing (2.29) phase. The involvement of engineers was rated highest in idea generation (3.28), fairly high in R&D (2.71), pilot plant development (2.57), and idea screening (2.40) phases. However, their involvement was rated low in business analysis and development (2.0), test marketing (2.0), and commercialization (1.28) phases. The involvement of technology marketers in innovation process was generally rated fairly high in R&D (2.7) and business analysis and development (2.6), and low in all the other phases of innovation. However, their involvement at IAR&T, FIIRO, and NIOMR in all the phases was rated very high (3.0-5.0). The involvement of entrepreneurs was generally rated from fairly high to low (2.7-2.3) in all the phases of innovation. The involvement of financial institutions in all the phases of innovation was generally rated low (1.28-1.71). In conclusion, the study showed that the involvement of stakeholders like entrepreneurs and financial institutions in technology packaging for commercialization is very low.
Keywords: research institutes, national innovation system, Nigeria, entrepreneurs, financial institution
105 Public Participation in Science: The Case of Genetic Modified Organisms in Brazil
Authors: Maria Luisa Nozawa Ribeiro, Maria Teresa Miceli Kerbauy
This paper aims to present the theories of public participation in order to understand the context of the public GMO (Genetic Modified Organisms) policies in Brazil, highlighting the characteristics of its configuration and the dialog with the experts. As a controversy subject, the commercialization of GMO provoked manifestation of some popular and environmental representative groups questioning the decisions of policy makers and experts on the matter. Many aspects and consequences of the plantation and consumption of this crops emerged and the safety of this technology was questioned. Environmentalists, Civil Right's movement, representatives of rural workers, farmers and organics producers, etc. demonstrated their point of view, also sustained by some experts of medical, genetical, environmental, agronomical sciences, etc. fields. Despite this movement, the precautionary principle (risk management), implemented in 1987, suggested precaution facing new technologies and innovations in the sustainable development society. This principle influenced many legislation and regulation on GMO around the world, including Brazil, which became a reference among the world regulatory GMO systems. The Brazilian legislation ensures the citizens participation on GMO discussion, characteristic that was important to establish the connection between the subject and the participation theory. These deliberation spaces materialized in Brazil through the "Public Audiences", which are managed by the National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio), the department responsible for controlling the research, production and commercialization of GMOs in Brazil.
Keywords: public engagement, public participation, science and technology studies, transgenic politics
104 Economic Assessment of CO2-Based Methane, Methanol and Polyoxymethylene Production
Authors: Wieland Hoppe, Nadine Wachter, Stefan Bringezu
Carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization might be a promising way to substitute fossil raw materials like coal, oil or natural gas as carbon source of chemical production. While first life cycle assessments indicate a positive environmental performance of CO2-based process routes, a commercialization of CO2 is limited by several economic obstacles up to now. We, therefore, analyzed the economic performance of the three CO2-based chemicals methane and methanol as basic chemicals and polyoxymethylene as polymer on a cradle-to-gate basis. Our approach is oriented towards life cycle costing. The focus lies on the cost drivers of CO2-based technologies and options to stimulate a CO2-based economy by changing regulative factors. In this way, we analyze various modes of operation and give an outlook for the potentially cost-effective development in the next decades. Biogas, waste gases of a cement plant, and flue gases of a waste incineration plant are considered as CO2-sources. The energy needed to convert CO2 into hydrocarbons via electrolysis is assumed to be supplied by wind power, which is increasingly available in Germany. Economic data originates from both industrial processes and process simulations. The results indicate that CO2-based production technologies are not competitive with conventional production methods under present conditions. This is mainly due to high electricity generation costs and regulative factors like the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG). While the decrease in production costs of CO2-based chemicals might be limited in the next decades, a modification of relevant regulative factors could potentially promote an earlier commercialization.
Keywords: carbon capture and utilization (CCU), economic assessment, life cycle costing (LCC), power-to-X
103 Liability Aspects Related to Genetically Modified Food under the Food Safety Legislation in India
Authors: S. K. Balashanmugam, Padmavati Manchikanti, S. R. Subramanian
The question of legal liability over injury arising out of the import and the introduction of GM food emerges as a crucial issue confronting to promote GM food and its derivatives. There is a greater possibility of commercialized GM food from the exporting country to enter importing country where status of approval shall not be same. This necessitates the importance of fixing a liability mechanism to discuss the damage, if any, occurs at the level of transboundary movement or at the market. There was a widespread consensus to develop the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and to give for a dedicated regime on liability and redress in the form of Nagoya Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on the Liability and Redress ('N-KL Protocol') at the international context. The national legal frameworks based on this protocol are not adequately established in the prevailing food legislations of the developing countries. The developing economy like India is willing to import GM food and its derivatives after the successful commercialization of Bt Cotton in 2002. As a party to the N-KL Protocol, it is indispensable for India to formulate a legal framework and to discuss safety, liability, and regulatory issues surrounding GM foods in conformity to the provisions of the Protocol. The liability mechanism is also important in the case where the risk assessment and risk management is still in implementing stage. Moreover, the country is facing GM infiltration issues with its neighbors Bangladesh. As a precautionary approach, there is a need to formulate rules and procedure of legal liability to discuss any kind of damage occurs at transboundary trade. In this context, the proposed work will attempt to analyze the liability regime in the existing Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 from the applicability and domestic compliance and to suggest legal and policy options for regulatory authorities.
Keywords: commercialization, food safety, FSSAI, genetically modified foods, India, liability
102 Impact of Digitization and Diversification in Reducing Volatility in Art Markets
Authors: Nishi Malhotra
Art has developed as a mode of investment and saving. Art and culture of any nation is the source of foreign direct investment (FDI) generation and growth development. Several intermediaries and skill-building organizations thrive on at and culture for their earnings. Indian art market has grown to Rs. 2000 Crores. Art establishment houses access to privileged information is the main reason for arbitrariness and volatility in the market. The commercialization of art and development of the markets with refinement in the taste of the customers have led to the development of art as an investment avenue. Investors keen on investing in these products can do so, and earnings from art are taxable too, like any other capital asset. This research paper is aimed at exploring the role of art and culture as an investment avenue in India and reasons for increasing volatilities in the art market. Based on an extensive literature review and secondary research, a benchmarking study has been conducted to capture the growth of the art as an investment avenue. These studies indicate that during the financial crisis of 2008-10, the art emerged as an alternative investment avenue. The paper aims at discussing the financial engineering of various art funds and instruments. Based on secondary data available from Sotheby's, Christies, Bonham, there is a positive correlation between strategic diversification and increasing return in the Art market. Similarly, digitization has led to disintermediation in the art markets and also helped to increase the market base. The data clearly enumerates the growing interest of the Indian investor towards art as an investment option. Much like any other broad asset class, art market too thrives on excess returns provided by diversification. Many financial intermediaries and art funds have emerged, to offer valuable investment planning advisory to a genuine investor. This paper clearly highlights the increasing returns of strategic diversification and its impact on reducing volatility in the art markets. Moreover, with coming up of e-auctions and websites, investors are able to analyse art more objectively. Digitization and commercialization of art have definitely helped in reducing volatility in world art markets.
Keywords: art, investment avenue, diversification, digitization
101 Application of Stage-Gate Framework for Innovation Process Assessment and its Implementation Among SMEs
Authors: Indre Brazauskaite, Vilte Auruskeviciene
Proper innovation management and its commercialization is well acknowledged as one of the key competitive advantages and source of business growth. It is also inseparable business practice which can lead to either new product success or failure, both business opportunities, and limitations. Significance of the study is outlined based on the following assumptions – innovation management becomes an essential business survival process for all sizes of organizations that can be evaluated and audited systemically. Thus, it is important for organizations to define and assess the innovation process effectively, following specific principles of application, similarly to the quality or finance management systems and metrics. Yet studies report, based on March-Chorda (2002), that only a small fraction of businesses follow formalized planning in the process of innovation management, which ultimately can limit innovation commercialization capabilities. It also encourages the need to strengthen this competence among businesses through standardized operating processes. Use of standardized metrics for innovation process assessment present following benefits for organizations, such as improves the business planning and decision making, along with improved definition of business processes and operations. Theoretical aspects and practical application of Stage-Gate framework are explored in the material and adapted for the practical use of small businesses. Core milestones of the model and its practical application strengthens business planning competences, also accelerates innovation process among SMEs. Conference material aims to address the following problematics: i) explore the theoretical and practical application of Stage-Gate framework for innovation process assessment among businesses, ii) reveal existing practices among SMEs in the process of innovation assessment and implementation, iii) institutionalize innovation process management for SMEs based on Stage-Gate framework. Methodology: i) scientific meta-analysis of to-date scientific literature that explores innovation process and application of Stage-Gate framework among businesses, ii) empirical quantitative research is conducted to address existing practices of innovation process self-assessment among SMEs to reveal used innovation management approach and systems. Research methodology is based on Stage Gate model that outlines three major innovation management process steps: i) pre-incubation (discovery and screening), ii) incubation (scoping, planning, development, and testing), and iii) post-incubation (launch and commercialization) periods. Research sample, high level decision makers representing trading SMEs, are approached with structured survey based on the research model to investigate the current innovation management practices, level of standardization, and use of metrics for evaluation. Expected findings relate existing innovation management practices with standardized Stage-Gate framework, evaluates level of standardization and use of metrics among SMEs. Findings allow to structure existing practices based on institutionalized model and measure capabilities and readiness of SMEs to implement the innovation process. Findings are relevant for innovation management improvement among SMEs - to advance decision making and business planning in the area of high importance, also reveal their strengths and weaknesses in the process for further development. It will allow to present guidelines based on Stage Gate framework and empirically found existing SMEs practices that can be practically applied for innovation process management and assessment.
Keywords: innovation measure, innovation process, SMEs, stage-gate framework
100 On the Way to the European Research Area: Programmes of the European Union as Factor of the Innovation Development the Scientific Organization in Ukraine
Authors: Yuri Nikitin, Veronika Rukas
Within the framework of the FP7 project "START" the cooperation with European research centres has had a positive impact on raising the level of innovation researches and the introduction of innovations Institute for Super hard Materials of the National Academy of Sciences (ISM NAS) of Ukraine in the economy of Europe and Ukraine, which in turn permits to speeds up the way for Ukrainian science to the European research area through the creation in Ukraine the scientific organizations of innovative type.
Keywords: programs of the EU, innovative scientific results, innovation competence of the staff, commercialization in business of industry of the Europe and Ukraine
99 Manufacturing of Vacuum Glazing with Metal Edge Seal
Authors: Won Kyeong Kang, Tae-Ho Song
Vacuum glazing (VG) is a super insulator, which is able to greatly improve the energy efficiency of building. However, a significant amount of heat loss occurs through the welded edge of conventional VG. The joining method should be improved for further application and commercialization. For this purpose VG with metal edge seal is conceived. In this paper, the feasibility of joining stainless steel and soda lime glass using glass solder is assessed numerically and experimentally. In the case of very thin stainless steel, partial joining with glass is identified, which need further improvement for practical application.
Keywords: VG, metal edge seal, vacuum glazing, manufacturing,
98 Intellectual Capital as Resource Based Business Strategy
Authors: Vidya Nimkar Tayade
Introduction: Intellectual capital of an organization is a key factor to success. Many companies invest a huge amount in their Research and development activities. Any innovation is helpful not only to that particular company but also to many other companies, industry and mankind as a whole. Companies undertake innovative changes for increasing their capital profitability and indirectly increase in pay packages of their employees. The quality of human capital can also improve due to such positive changes. Employees become more skilled and experienced due to such innovations and inventions. For increasing intangible capital, the author has referred to a couple of books and referred case studies to come to a conclusion. Different charts and tables are also referred to by the author. Case studies are more important because they are proven and established techniques. They enable students to apply theoretical concepts in real-world situations. It gives solutions to an open-ended problem with multiple potential solutions. There are three different strategies for undertaking intellectual capital increase. They are: Research push strategy/ Technology pushed approach, Market pull strategy/ approach and Open innovation strategy/approach. Research push strategy, In this strategy, research is undertaken and innovation is achieved on its own. After invention inventor company protects such invention and finds buyers for such invention. In this way, the invention is pushed into the market. In this method, research and development are undertaken first and the outcome of this research is commercialized. Market pull strategy, In this strategy, commercial opportunities are identified first and our research is concentrated in that particular area. For solving a particular problem, research is undertaken. It becomes easier to commercialize this type of invention. Because what is the problem is identified first and in that direction, research and development activities are carried on. Open invention strategy, In this type of research, more than one company enters into an agreement of research. The benefits of the outcome of this research will be shared by both companies. Internal and external ideas and technologies are involved. These ideas are coordinated and then they are commercialized. Due to globalization, people from the outside company are also invited to undertake research and development activities. Remuneration of employees of both the companies can increase and the benefit of commercialization of such invention is also shared by both the companies. Conclusion: In modern days, not only can tangible assets be commercialized, but also intangible assets can also be commercialized. The benefits of such an invention can be shared by more than one company. Competition can become more meaningful. Pay packages of employees can improve. It Is a need for time to adopt such strategies to benefit employees, competitors, stakeholders.
Keywords: innovation, protection, management, commercialization
97 A Software Product Engineering Process for Commercial Success in Start-Up and Cases
Authors: Javed Ahsan
Software engineers strive for technical sophistication with a dream of finding commercial success in their start-up business. But they may find their much technically sophisticated software products failing in industry in competition with lesser sophisticated products. This is because of not maintaining a clear focus on complimenting and leading commercial success through technical sophistication. This can be achieved through a software engineering specific product development process suggested in this paper. This process is about evolving a software product through specific phases and iterations until commercial triumph falls on software engineer's feet.
Keywords: software, product, engineering, commercialization, start-up, competitiveness, industry
96 Continuous Catalytic Hydrogenation and Purification for Synthesis Non-Phthalate
Authors: Chia-Ling Li
The scope of this article includes the production of 10,000 metric tons of non-phthalate per annum. The production process will include hydrogenation, separation, purification, and recycling of unprocessed feedstock. Based on experimental data, conversion and selectivity were chosen as reaction model parameters. The synthesis and separation processes of non-phthalate and phthalate were established by using Aspen Plus software. The article will be divided into six parts: estimation of physical properties, integration of production processes, purification case study, utility consumption, economic feasibility study and identification of bottlenecks. The purities of products was higher than 99.9 wt. %. Process parameters have important guiding significance to the commercialization of hydrogenation of phthalate.
Keywords: economic analysis, hydrogenation, non-phthalate, process simulation
95 Search for New Design Elements in Time-Honoured Shops in Tainan — On Curriculum Practice about Culture Creative Industry
Authors: Ya-Ling Huang, Ming-Chun Tsai, Fan Hsu, Kai-Ru Hsieh
This paper mainly discusses the research and practice process of a laboratory curriculum by leading students to perform field investigation into time-honoured shops that have existed for more than 50 years in the downtown area of Tainan, Taiwan, and then search again for design elements and completing the design. The participants are juniors from the Department of Visual Communication Design, Kun Shan University. The duration of research and practice is two months. Operators of these shops are invited to jointly appraise the final achievements. 9 works out of 27 are chosen for final exhibition and commercialization.
Keywords: culture creative industry, visual communication design, curriculum experimental, visual arts
94 Feasibility Study of Distributed Lightless Intersection Control with Level 1 Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Bo Yang, Christopher Monterola
Urban intersection control without the use of the traffic light has the potential to vastly improve the efficiency of the urban traffic flow. For most proposals in the literature, such lightless intersection control depends on the mass market commercialization of highly intelligent autonomous vehicles (AV), which limits the prospects of near future implementation. We present an efficient lightless intersection traffic control scheme that only requires Level 1 AV as defined by NHTSA. The technological barriers of such lightless intersection control are thus very low. Our algorithm can also accommodate a mixture of AVs and conventional vehicles. We also carry out large scale numerical analysis to illustrate the feasibility, safety and robustness, comfort level, and control efficiency of our intersection control scheme.
Keywords: intersection control, autonomous vehicles, traffic modelling, intelligent transport system
93 Complex Analysis of Annual Plats Utilization for Particleboard Production
Authors: Petra Gajdačová
The presented research deals with a complex evaluation of after-harvest remnants utilization for particleboard production. Agricultural crops that are in the Czech Republic widely grown are in the scope of interest. Researches dealing with composites from agricultural rests solved mostly physical and mechanical properties of produced materials. For the commercialization of these results, however, one another step is essential. It is needed to evaluate the composites production from agricultural rests more comprehensive, take into account all aspects that affect their production, not only material characteristics of produced composites. In this study, descriptive, comparative and synthesis methods were used. Results of this research include a supply stability forecast, technical and technological differences of production of particleboards from agricultural rests and quantification of an economical potential of the agricultural rests.
Keywords: agricultural crops, annual plant, composite material, particleboard
92 Assessment of Barriers to the Clinical Adoption of Cell-Based Therapeutics
Authors: David Pettitt, Benjamin Davies, Georg Holländer, David Brindley
Cellular based therapies, whose origins can be traced from the intertwined concepts of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, have the potential to transform the current medical landscape and offer an approach to managing what were once considered untreatable diseases. However, despite a large increase in basic science activity in the cell therapy arena alongside a growing portfolio of cell therapy trials, the number of industry products available for widespread clinical use correlates poorly with such a magnitude of activity, with the number of cell-based therapeutics in mainstream use remaining comparatively low. This research serves to quantitatively assess the barriers to the clinical adoption of cell-based therapeutics through identification of unique barriers, specific challenges and opportunities facing the development and adoption of such therapies.
Keywords: cell therapy, clinical adoption, commercialization, translation
91 Accelerating Malaysian Technology Startups: Case Study of Malaysian Technology Development Corporation as the Innovator
Authors: Norhalim Yunus, Mohamad Husaini Dahalan, Nor Halina Ghazali
Building technology start-ups from ground zero into world-class companies in form and substance present a rare opportunity for government-affiliated institutions in Malaysia. The challenge of building such start-ups becomes tougher when their core businesses involve commercialization of unproven technologies for the mass market. These simple truths, while difficult to execute, will go a long way in getting a business off the ground and flying high. Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), a company founded to facilitate the commercial exploitation of R&D findings from research institutions and universities, and eventually help translate these findings of applications in the marketplace, is an excellent case in point. The purpose of this paper is to examine MTDC as an institution as it explores the concept of 'it takes a village to raise a child' in an effort to create and nurture start-ups into established world class Malaysian technology companies. With MTDC at the centre of Malaysia's innovative start-ups, the analysis seeks to specifically answer two questions: How has the concept been applied in MTDC? and what can we learn from this successful case? A key aim is to elucidate how MTDC's journey as a private limited company can help leverage reforms and achieve transformation, a process that might be suitable for other small, open, third world and developing countries. This paper employs a single case study, designed to acquire an in-depth understanding of how MTDC has developed and grown technology start-ups to world-class technology companies. The case study methodology is employed as the focus is on a contemporary phenomenon within a real business context. It also explains the causal links in real-life situations where a single survey or experiment is unable to unearth. The findings show that MTDC maximises the concept of it needs a village to raise a child in totality, as MTDC itself assumes the role of the innovator to 'raise' start-up companies into world-class stature. As the innovator, MTDC creates shared value and leadership, introduces innovative programmes ahead of the curve, mobilises talents for optimum results and aggregates knowledge for personnel advancement. The success of the company's effort is attributed largely to leadership, visionary, adaptability, commitment to innovate, partnership and networking, and entrepreneurial drive. The findings of this paper are however limited by the single case study of MTDC. Future research is required to study more cases of success or/and failure where the concept of it takes a village to raise a child have been explored and applied.
Keywords: start-ups, technology transfer, commercialization, technology incubator
90 Technology Management for Early Stage Technologies
Authors: Ming Zhou, Taeho Park
Early stage technologies have been particularly challenging to manage due to high degrees of their numerous uncertainties. Most research results directly out of a research lab tend to be at their early, if not the infant stage. A long while uncertain commercialization process awaits these lab results. The majority of such lab technologies go nowhere and never get commercialized due to various reasons. Any efforts or financial resources put into managing these technologies turn fruitless. High stake naturally calls for better results, which make a patenting decision harder to make. A good and well protected patent goes a long way for commercialization of the technology. Our preliminary research showed that there was not a simple yet productive procedure for such valuation. Most of the studies now have been theoretical and overly comprehensive where practical suggestions were non-existent. Hence, we attempted to develop a simple and highly implementable procedure for efficient and scalable valuation. We thoroughly reviewed existing research, interviewed practitioners in the Silicon Valley area, and surveyed university technology offices. Instead of presenting another theoretical and exhaustive research, we aimed at developing a practical guidance that a government agency and/or university office could easily deploy and get things moving to later steps of managing early stage technologies. We provided a procedure to thriftily value and make the patenting decision. A patenting index was developed using survey data and expert opinions. We identified the most important factors to be used in the patenting decision using survey ratings. The rating then assisted us in generating good relative weights for the later scoring and weighted averaging step. More importantly, we validated our procedure by testing it with our practitioner contacts. Their inputs produced a general yet highly practical cut schedule. Such schedule of realistic practices has yet to be witnessed our current research. Although a technology office may choose to deviate from our cuts, what we offered here at least provided a simple and meaningful starting point. This procedure was welcomed by practitioners in our expert panel and university officers in our interview group. This research contributed to our current understanding and practices of managing early stage technologies by instating a heuristically simple yet theoretical solid method for the patenting decision. Our findings generated top decision factors, decision processes and decision thresholds of key parameters. This research offered a more practical perspective which further completed our extant knowledge. Our results could be impacted by our sample size and even biased a bit by our focus on the Silicon Valley area. Future research, blessed with bigger data size and more insights, may want to further train and validate our parameter values in order to obtain more consistent results and analyze our decision factors for different industries.
Keywords: technology management, early stage technology, patent, decision
89 Development of Adhesive from Prosopis african Seed Endosperm (OKPEYI)
Authors: Florence Chinyere Nwangwu, Rosemary Ene
An experimental study was carried out to develop an adhesive from Prosopis africana seed endosperm. The Prosopis seeds for this work were obtained from Enugu State in the South East part of Nigeria. The Prosopis seeds were prepared by separating the Prosopis endosperm from the seed coat and cotyledon. The dry adhesive gotten from the endosperm was later dissolved to get the adhesive solution. Confirmatory tests like viscosity, density, pH, and binding strength were carried out. The effect of time, temperature, concentration on the yield and properties of the adhesive were investigated. The results obtained showed that increase in concentration, time, temperature decreases the viscosity of the Prosopis adhesive and yield of Prosopis endosperm. It was also deduced that increase in viscosity increases the binding strength of the Prosopis adhesive. The percentage of the adhesive yield from Prosopis endosperm showed that the commercialization of the seed in Nigeria will be possible and profitable.
Keywords: adhesive, Prosopis, viscosity, endosperm
88 Onboard Heat, Pressure and Boil-Off Gas Treatment for Stacked NGH Tank Containers
Authors: Hee Jin Kang
Despite numerous studies on the reserves and availability of natural gas hydrates, the technology of transporting natural gas hydrates in large quantities to sea has not been put into practical use. Several natural gas hydrate transport technologies presented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are under preparation for commercialization. Among them, NGH tank container concept modularized transportation unit to prevent sintering effect during sea transportation. The natural gas hydrate can be vaporized in a certain part during the transportation. Unprocessed BOG increases the pressure inside the tank. Also, there is a risk of fire if you export the BOG out of the tank without proper handling. Therefore, in this study, we have studied the concept of technology to properly process BOG to modularize natural gas hydrate and to transport it to sea for long distance. The study is expected to contribute to the practical use of NGH tank container, which is a modular transport concept proposed to solve the sintering problem that occurs when transporting natural gas hydrate in the form of bulk cargo.
Keywords: Natural gas hydrate, tank container, marine transportation, boil-off gas
87 Human Dignity as a Source and Limitation of Personal Autonomy
Authors: Jan Podkowik
The article discusses issues of mutual relationships of human dignity and personal autonomy. According to constitutions of many countries and international human rights law, human dignity is a fundamental and inviolable value. It is the source of all freedoms and rights, including personal autonomy. Human dignity, as an inherent, inalienable and non-gradable value comprising an attribute of all people, justifies freedom of action according to one's will and following one's vision of good life. On the other hand, human dignity imposes immanent restrictions to personal autonomy regarding decisions on commercialization of the one's body, etc. It points to the paradox of dignity – the source of freedom and conditions (basic) of its limitations. The paper shows the theoretical concept of human dignity as an objective value among legal systems, determining the boundaries of legal protection of personal autonomy. It is not, therefore, the relevant perception of human dignity and freedom as opposite values. Reference point has been made the normative provisions of the Polish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as well as judgments of constitutional courts.
Keywords: autonomy, constitution, human dignity, human rights

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl