Download or read book The Impact of Participation in Publicly Funded R D Projects on Firm Competitiveness Benefits and Barriers to the Use of National and EU Funding Programmes on the Example of Swiss SMEs in the Field of Renewable Energy written by Manuel Kaar and published by diplom.de. This book was released on 2011-03-30 with total page 129 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Inhaltsangabe:Introduction: Never before in history has global demand for energy been stronger than today. While exhaustible resources such as oil, gas, and coal are expected to remain the world s primary basis of energy generation in the near future, alternative resources like biomass, solar, or wind energy are predicted to grow significantly in importance (e.g. International Energy Agency, 2009). The strong global energy demand, together with rising costs of finding and exploiting fossil fuels, has contributed to a considerable increase in public awareness for the energy supply issue in recent years, and thus also to an acceleration of the investments and developments in the field of alternative resources. Yet, in order to achieve a fundamental shift away from exhaustible resources on a long-term basis, creative innovations and new technology solutions for renewable energy production are vital. The basis for the successful development and commercialisation of such new technologies is effective research and development (R&D) work by companies, universities, and other organisations. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) take on a special role in this respect. The majority of European companies are SMEs if measured by the EU criteria (EC DG Research Communication Unit, 2010a, p. 6), that is, they have less than 250 employees, and an annual turnover and/or balance sheet total lower than EUR 50 million and/or EUR 43 million, respectively. The large number of SMEs in Europe implies that there is a high diversity, and thus also a vast potential for innovation, in these organisations. Nevertheless, in most countries, including Switzerland, the bulk of research in the private sector is undertaken by larger businesses. In Switzerland, R&D by SMEs (SFSO definition, i.e. firms with less than 100 employees) accounted for only 16% of total in-house R&D spending in 2008, although some 99% of Swiss companies are categorised as SMEs (SFSO, 2010, p. 9). In addition, many smaller companies do not engage in R&D at all, as they simply do not possess the necessary resources. These facts lead to a situation where much potential for innovation in smaller firms remains unused. Providing SMEs with the opportunity to engage in publicly funded R&D projects offers one way to tap into this potential for innovation that would otherwise continue to lie idle, and is therefore highly reasonable from a policy point of view. At the same time, participation in such projects [...]

Download or read book The Impact of Participation in Publicly Funded R and D Projects on Firm Competitiveness written by Manuel Kaar and published by . This book was released on 2013-08 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, grade: 5.5, University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, language: English, comment: University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland &, Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, UK 170, abstract: This thesis studies the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in publicly funded research and development (R&D) projects. SMEs represent 99% of all companies in Europe and are important drivers of innovation, yet many lack the necessary resources to engage in formal research activities. Providing these firms with the possibility to make use of public funding programmes for R&D projects therefore constitutes a way of stimulating them to innovate. Reviews of such programmes, however, show that SME participation is frequently lower than desired by policy makers. This raises the question of the benefits SMEs can gain from such projects and the barriers that negatively influence their ability to participate. The author hypothesises that taking part in publicly funded R&D projects can positively influence an SME's competitiveness through a specific set of advantages gained from participation. The second hypothesis is that companies with previous experience in such projects evaluate their participation positively. Finally, the author puts forward that a number of specific barriers limit SMEs' ability to participate. The hypotheses were tested by means of an online survey among Swiss SMEs in the field of renewable energy, as well as interviews with representatives of national and EU funding bodies. The results support all three hypotheses and confirm the importance of the public measures. Participation in publicly funded R&D projects can indeed have positive impacts on an SME's competitiveness. Also, companies tend to evaluate their participation positively. SMEs with previous experience in such projects were well-informed about the specifics of a par

Download or read book Benefits and Barriers of an Enterprise s Participation in Publicly Funded R D Projects The Example of Swiss Enterprises in the Field of Renewable Energy written by Manuel Kaar and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2011-04 with total page 133 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Energy Sciences, grade: 5.5 (Schweizer Notensystem), Anglia Ruskin University (FHNW University of Applied Sciences Basel (School of Business) & Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge (Ashcroft International Business School)), course: Focus: Renewable energy, public R&D funding, firm competitiveness, language: English, abstract: This thesis studies the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in publicly funded research and development (R&D) projects. SMEs represent 99% of all companies in Europe and are important drivers of innovation, yet many lack the necessary resources to engage in formal research activities. Providing these firms with the possibility to make use of public funding programmes for R&D projects therefore constitutes a way of stimulating them to innovate. Reviews of such programmes, however, show that SME participation is frequently lower than desired by policy makers. This raises the question of the benefits SMEs can gain from such projects and the barriers that negatively influence their ability to participate. The author hypothesises that taking part in publicly funded R&D projects can positively influence an SME's competitiveness through a specific set of advantages gained from participation. The second hypothesis is that companies with previous experience in such projects evaluate their participation positively. Finally, the author puts forward that a number of specific barriers limit SMEs' ability to participate. The hypotheses were tested by means of an online survey among Swiss SMEs in the field of renewable energy, as well as interviews with representatives of national and EU funding bodies. The results support all three hypotheses and confirm the importance of the public measures. Participation in publicly funded R&D projects can indeed have positive impacts on an SME's competitiveness. Also, companies tend to evaluate their participation positively. SMEs

Download or read book Knowledge Transfer written by Gabriele Gorzka and published by kassel university press GmbH. This book was released on 2012 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation written by Ottmar Edenhofer and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2011-11-21 with total page 1088 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report (IPCC-SRREN) assesses the potential role of renewable energy in the mitigation of climate change. It covers the six most important renewable energy sources - bioenergy, solar, geothermal, hydropower, ocean and wind energy - as well as their integration into present and future energy systems. It considers the environmental and social consequences associated with the deployment of these technologies, and presents strategies to overcome technical as well as non-technical obstacles to their application and diffusion. SRREN brings a broad spectrum of technology-specific experts together with scientists studying energy systems as a whole. Prepared following strict IPCC procedures, it presents an impartial assessment of the current state of knowledge: it is policy relevant but not policy prescriptive. SRREN is an invaluable assessment of the potential role of renewable energy for the mitigation of climate change for policymakers, the private sector, and academic researchers.

Download or read book The European Observatory for SMEs written by European Observatory for SMEs and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Against the background of completing the European Single Market is the observance and monitoring of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With about 20 million such businesses, employing some 117 million people, SMEs represent an economic lynchpin to the success of the Single Market concept. This 6th report, from the Observatory, and prepared by a consortium led by KPMG Consulting, focuses on the economic and financial needs of SMEs. Specific chapters look at their products and services, the recruitment and training of staff, particulary vocational training, and their access to investment. The report is concluded with the set of policy recommendations, which are aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial culture. These recommendations include: to provide more information on public procurement to SMEs; to promote further resarch on the impact of electronic commerce on the position of SMEs.

Download or read book The story of your city written by Greg Clark and published by European Investment Bank. This book was released on 2018-10-31 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By the end of this century, 9 out of 10 Europeans will live in an urban area. But what kind of city will they call home? You'll find all the answers in CITY, TRANSFORMED, the new essay series from the European Investment Bank. This panoramic first essay in the series lays out a great sweeping history of European cities over the last fifty years—and showcases new directions being taken by some of our most innovative cities. Urban experts Greg Clark, Tim Moonen, and Jake Nunley based at University College London take a definitive look at how Europe's cities transformed from post-industrial decline to thriving metropolises that are as prosperous and liveable as anywhere on Earth.

Download or read book OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2021 written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2021-06-28 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs have been hit hard during the COVID-19 crisis. Policy responses were quick and unprecedented, helping cushion the blow and maintain most SMEs and entrepreneurs afloat. Despite the magnitude of the shock, available data so far point to sustained start-ups creation, no wave of bankruptcies, and an impulse to innovation in most OECD countries.

Download or read book Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2020 written by International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA and published by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). This book was released on 2019-06-01 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sixth edition of the series highlights employment trends in renewables worldwide, noting increasing diversification of the supply chain.

Download or read book Small Country Innovation Systems written by Charles Edquist and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 561 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What are the challenges that small countries face concerning innovation and what are the effects of globalization on their innovation systems? In this very interesting, rich and timely book, Edquist and Hommen compare ten different small national innovation systems from the Asia Pacific and Northern Europe that are rather advanced in their development. The answers that the authors give are convincing and relate not only to the unique characteristics of each national system that shapes innovative activity, but also to some commonalities that exist across these countries. Franco Malerba, Bocconi University, Italy This major book presents case studies of ten small country national systems of innovation (NSIs) in Europe and Asia, namely, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. These cases have been carefully selected as examples of success within the context of globalization and as new economies where competition is increasingly based on innovation. To facilitate comparative analysis the ten studies follow a common structure, informed by an activities-based approach to describing and analysing NSIs, which addresses the critical issues of globalization and the consequences of innovation for economic performance. The final chapter compares fast growth and slow growth countries, concentrating on issues of innovation policy. The results illustrate the usefulness of an activities-based approach to studying NSIs, point to distinctive national roles within an increasingly differentiated international division of labour and address the key themes of selectivity and coordination in innovation policy. This valuable book presents one of the most significant, comprehensive and comparative country studies of NSIs in the last decade. It will have great import and should be widely read by every serious student and scholar of innovation studies.

Download or read book International R D Collaboration and SMEs written by Hanna Hottenrott and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Renewable energy for agri food systems Towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement written by International Renewable Energy Agency and published by Food & Agriculture Org.. This book was released on 2021-11-03 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2021, the United Nations Secretary-General will convene the Food Systems Summit to advance dialogue and action towards transforming the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food guided by the overarching vision of a fairer, more sustainable world. The Secretary-General will also convene the High-Level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) to promote the implementation of the energy-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Given the inextricable linkages between the energy and agriculture sectors, integrating the nexus perspective within the FSS and the HLDE is crucial to formulate a joint vision of actions to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. In this context, IRENA and FAO have decided to jointly develop a report on the role of renewable energy used in food chain to advance energy and food security as well as climate action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. While energy has a key enabling role in food system transformation and innovation in agriculture, its current use is unsustainable because of the high dependence on fossil fuels and frequent access to energy in developing countries. The challenge is to disconnect fossil fuel use from food system transformation without hampering food security. The use of renewable energy in food systems offers vast opportunities to address this challenge and help food systems meet their energy needs while advancing rural development while contributing to rural development and climate action.

Download or read book Doing Business 2020 written by World Bank and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2019-11-21 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seventeen in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 190 economies, Doing Business 2020 measures aspects of regulation affecting 10 areas of everyday business activity.

Download or read book Handbook on Battery Energy Storage System written by Asian Development Bank and published by Asian Development Bank. This book was released on 2018-12-01 with total page 123 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This handbook serves as a guide to deploying battery energy storage technologies, specifically for distributed energy resources and flexibility resources. Battery energy storage technology is the most promising, rapidly developed technology as it provides higher efficiency and ease of control. With energy transition through decarbonization and decentralization, energy storage plays a significant role to enhance grid efficiency by alleviating volatility from demand and supply. Energy storage also contributes to the grid integration of renewable energy and promotion of microgrid.

Download or read book OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2005 written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2005-07-21 with total page 420 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Describes recent trends concerning SMEs and entrepreneurship in OECD economies and beyond discussing innovation, regulatory burdens, entrepreneurship education, access to financing, and women's entrepreneurship. Includes a statistical annex.

Download or read book Local Economic and Employment Development LEED Culture and Local Development written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2005-04-21 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication highlights the impact of culture on local economies and the methodological issues related to its identification.

Download or read book Engineering written by Unesco and published by UNESCO. This book was released on 2010-01-01 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report reviews engineering's importance to human, economic, social and cultural development and in addressing the UN Millennium Development Goals. Engineering tends to be viewed as a national issue, but engineering knowledge, companies, conferences and journals, all demonstrate that it is as international as science. The report reviews the role of engineering in development, and covers issues including poverty reduction, sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation. It presents the various fields of engineering around the world and is intended to identify issues and challenges facing engineering, promote better understanding of engineering and its role, and highlight ways of making engineering more attractive to young people, especially women.--Publisher's description.