What drives the capacity to integrate Industry 4.0 technologies? Evidence from European R&D projects

ABSTRACT

Industry 4.0 is a word that identifies innovative technologies, processes and products, typical of a Fourth Industrial Revolution characterised by a massive and pervasive use of interdependent digital technologies and the rise of cyber-physical spaces or smart factories. European Member States are committed to adapting their innovation systems in order to be able to benefit from Industry 4.0 and the European Commission is also facing the challenge of putting less advanced regions in a position to do so. However, little is known about the drivers of the capacity to compete in the domain of Industry 4.0 by integrating different enabling technologies at the regional level. On the basis of data on regional participation in the 7th European Framework Programme for research and technological development, we investigate the factors underlying the capacity to compete by integrating Industry 4.0 enabling technologies. The evidence shows that EU funding, centrality in research networks and interregional cooperation all play a significant role in technology integration, and these results have important policy implications.     

Understanding the intellectual structure and evolution of Competitive Intelligence: a bibliometric analysis from 1984 to 2017

ABSTRACT

Competitive Intelligence (CI) is a relatively novel discipline that is generating a growing interest in the field of strategic management. Its novelty, approach and origin have meant that the definition of the CI entails different interpretations and utilities depending on the audience. This research develops a conceptual analysis of CI in literature by quantifying the bibliometric performance indicators, identifying the main authors, countries, journals and research areas and evaluating the intellectual structure and evolution of the discipline using SciMAT as bibliometric analysis software. The bibliometric performance analysis is focused on the citation-based impact of the scientific output, while the science mapping illustrates the evolution of the research themes that build the discipline through the use of bibliometric network analysis techniques. To this purpose, the publications related to CI from 1984 to 2017 available at Scopus have been retrieved (5,275 publications). Finally, it offers a framework to support future researches.     

A review of machine learning for big data analytics: bibliometric approach

ABSTRACT

The amalgamation of machine learning and big data has led to a revolution in data science with several influencing applications to various domains. To gain insights on the current research trends on machine learning for big data analytics, this study follows a bibliometric analysis methodology of citation data to review and quantitatively assess the explosion and impact of literature and research performance in this vibrant research area, which has witnessed rapid changes and rising interest in business, industry and academia. Using a variety of bibliometric measures and visualisation techniques, the paper examines and identifies several related issues including research productivity and directions, major contributors, publication trends and growth rates, citation and collaboration analysis, and others. The relevant bibliographic units for the study were collected from the Core Collection of the Web of Science bibliographic database. Nearly all the relevant publications prior to February 2018 were included in the analysis. The overwhelming productivity and wide-spread applications in several multidisciplinary domains have been revealed, with one-to-two ratio of journal to conference publications. Three countries (USA, China, India) are dominating the research output with more than two-thirds of the total productivity.     

双重网络嵌入、价值模块整合与物联网商业模式关系研究

旨在探讨双重网络嵌入（技术子网络嵌入、业务子网络嵌入）、价值模块整合对物联网商业模式的影响,从而揭示物联网商业模式构建路径。提出了双重网络嵌入、价值模块整合与物联网商业模式三者之间关系的研究假设,应用层次回归分析方法对142份问卷调查数据进行了实证检验。结果表明,技术子网络嵌入、业务子网络嵌入对物联网商业模式具有显著正向影响;价值模块整合对物联网商业模式具有显著正向影响;技术子网络嵌入、业务子网络嵌入对价值模块整合具有显著正向影响;价值模块整合分别在技术子网络嵌入、业务子网络嵌入对物联网商业模式的影响中起完全中介作用。     

The effect of artificial intelligence on China’s labor market

ABSTRACT

Automation and artificial intelligence technology have played a pivotal role in today’s economic and social development. They represent a labor-substituted technological progress, featuring more and more jobs to be replaced by AI. Based on the adoption rate calculated in our paper and theoretical substitution probability estimated by existing studies, our research estimates the actual substitution probability by AI for various occupations in China. By using this actual substitution probability on occupation level, we also explore the substitution effects on labor force with different characteristics and find that AI has larger substitution impacts on labors of female, old age, low education and low income. We also predict the number of employed people that would be replaced by AI in each industry, and the results show that China will have 278 million labors (201 ~ 333 million under different adoption rates) replaced by AI by 2049, representing 35.8% of the current employment in China.

Abbreviation: Artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)     

Risks and opportunities for the progress of digitalization in Mexico

ABSTRACT

The aim of this research is to identify Mexico’s current conditions for the incorporation of the changes derived from the processes of increasing digitization into its productive sector, called Industry 4.0. To achieve this goal, this work uses the results obtained from a survey questionnaire answered by qualified technological and productive informants with the purpose of identifying the perspectives of firms initiating this transformation. The selection of information units was based on a theoretical sample (not statistically representative), a methodological feature that forced us to analyze carefully the data collected. The results reached show that, from the perspective of the actors involved, the innovative structure in Mexico presents serious limitations in terms of technical and organizational capabilities of the firms to incorporate digital technologies in their production processes. This paper proposes a first exploratory analysis on the visions of Mexican firms and intermediary organizations that deals with the increasing technical and organizational challenges of the new digital technologies. This article provides analytical and empirical inputs for the analysis of the opportunities that Mexican firms have to incorporate these new technical trends. Finally, the work highlights critical institutional and governance aspects for the debate of national industrial and innovative policy agendas.     

Mapping research on R&D,innovation and productivity: a study of an academic endeavour

ABSTRACT

This paper accounts for the development of the academic endeavour to determine the firm-level relationship between investments in R&D and productivity. The impact of 28 highly cited publications within this line of study is investigated using a combination of bibliometric techniques and citation function analysis. We show how the attention paid to this line of research broadens and deepens in parallel to the diffusion of innovation as a research theme during 2000s. Our findings also suggest that the attraction of scholarly attention is driven by combination of broadening interest in the central research question under study and boundary-pushing methodological contributions made in the key contributions.     

Back to the future. Is industry 4.0 a new tecno-organizational paradigm? Implications for Latin American countries

ABSTRACT

The objective of this article is to establish a dialogue between the recent ‘Industry 4.0’ (I4.0) literature and evolutionary neo-Schumpeterean studies about techno-organizational paradigms. In that direction, we wonder whether I4.0 constitutes a new paradigm, as it is assumed by the first group of literature, or it represents – until the moment – an intensification of key features of the information and communication technology (ICT) paradigm, following the second group of studies. Some questions are raised about the implications of I4.0 for developing countries (DEC), afterwards. Specifically, we reflect on the possibilities of these countries to identify and take advantage of new windows of opportunity, opened by the development and diffusion of these technologies. In this regard, the review of recent Latin American experience raises strong concerns regarding I4.0 as a new source of intra- and international heterogeneity, linked to the severe difficulties these countries have in appropriating these technologies in the form of productivity gains and quasi-rents. It seems that this is partially derived from weak technological, organizational, and connectivity capabilities paths of accumulation between institutions and actors.     

Anticipating technology-driven industry convergence: evidence from large-scale patent analysis

ABSTRACT

Industry convergence has been the subject of many prior studies, yet most have focused on certain domains based on ex post evaluation. This study presents a systematic approach to anticipating technology-driven industry convergence using large-scale patent analysis covering all technology fields. Our approach includes patent co-classification analysis with the concordance between patent classes and industrial sectors to measure technological relations between industries; centrality and brokerage analysis to identify the specific roles of technology fields in industry convergence; and finally link prediction analysis to anticipate technology-driven industry convergence. A case study with the patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office from 1976 to 2014 confirms that our approach provides a holistic and forward-looking perspective on technology-driven industry convergence.     

“物联网+”对研发的影响研究

物联网是由感知层、传输层、应用层组成的智能化大数据网络,其本质特征表现为即时性、非接触性、可追溯性等。由“物联网+研发”形成的R&D物联网有效融合了物联网的本质特点,是对传统研发模式的变革,可以大大提高研发效率。就研发资源而言, “物联网+”对研发的影响主要通过对个人研发、团队研发、组织研发、组织间合作研发的影响等途径实现。每个企业只有结合自身特点,应对和利用“物联网+”对研发产生的影响,才能有效提高研发效率。     

Economic burden of healthcare-associated infection in US acute care hospitals: societal perspective

Abstract

Background:

Assessing the costs of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is challenging. Methodological issues abound. Previous estimates have been derived in diverse ways from varied perspectives in different settings with dissimilar data. Results can be confusing. Full societal costs, which are more inclusive than commonly reported direct hospital costs, have never been fully measured or reported.

Objective:

To update, combine, and expand previous cost estimates to determine the annual societal burden of illness (direct medical, non-medical, and indirect costs) arising from HAIs in US acute-care hospitals.

Methods:

The research approach encompassed literature and internet searches; reference identification, selection, and review; then data abstraction, compilation, and analyses to estimate full societal costs. Previously published systemic reviews, surveillance reports, and individual clinical studies, along with newly computed component costs, all contributed to final estimates.

Results:

HAIs in US acute-care hospitals lead to direct and indirect costs totaling $96–$147 billion annually. These results are subject to the same limitations as previous studies from which contributing data were derived.

Conclusion:

The enormous clinical and economic burden of infection places HAIs high on the list of devastating and costly illnesses, such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, thereby mandating further research and greater efforts to contain a pressing healthcare problem.     

Humanistic and economic impacts of hepatitis C infection in the United States

Abstract

Objective:

Prior research examining the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and healthcare costs is flawed because non-patient controls were not adequately comparable to HCV patients. The current study uses a propensity score matching methodology to address the following research question: is the presence of diagnosed hepatitis C (HCV) associated with poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and greater healthcare resource use?

Methods:

Using data from the 2009 US National Health and Wellness Survey, patients who reported a HCV diagnosis (n?=?695) were compared to propensity-matched controls (n?=?695) on measures of HRQoL and healthcare resource use. All analyses applied sampling weights to project to the US population.

Results:

HCV patients reported significantly lower levels of HRQoL relative to the matched-control group, including the physical component score (39.6 vs. 42.7, p?<?0.0001) and health utilities (0.63 vs. 0.66, p?<?0.0001). The number of emergency room visits (0.59 vs. 0.44, p?<?0.05) and physician visits (7.7 vs. 5.9, p?<?0.05) in the past 6 months were significantly higher for the HCV group relative to matched controls.

Conclusion:

The results of this study suggest that HCV represents a substantial burden on patients by having a significant and clinically-relevant impact on key dimensions of HRQoL as well as on utilization of healthcare resources, the latter of which would result in increased direct medical costs.

Limitations:

Due to limitations of the internet survey approach (e.g., inability to confirm HCV diagnosis), future research is needed to confirm these findings.     

Gender,Low-Paid Status,and Time Poverty in Urban China

ABSTRACT

Using synthetic data from the 2008 China Time Use Survey (CTUS) and the 2008 China Household Income Project (CHIP), this study estimates time-poverty rates and compares the profiles of time-poor men and women workers in urban China. In line with previous research, time poverty is defined as a lack of enough time for rest and leisure. Three time-poverty measures are adopted. By all three measures, women paid workers and low-paid workers account for a disproportionate share of the time poor. Regression analysis further shows that, other things being equal, workers who are women, low-paid, married, and who live with children or the elderly in counties with higher overtime rates and lower minimum wage standards are more likely to be time poor. Simulations indicate that enforcing working time regulations and raising minimum wage standards could be effective for reducing time poverty.     

物联网商业模式的问题及对策研究

现今物联网应用领域十分广泛,对于推动经济发展、加快中国经济发展体制的转型、提高中国自主创新能力发挥着重大作用,它已成为当前最具发展潜力的产业之一。但是产业发展中仍然存在障碍。中国的物联网产业仍然处于初级阶段,成熟、稳定、有利可图的商业模式还没有形成。物联网作为一个全新的研究领域和研究对象,它的商业模式的创新才是决定物联网产业大范围、长期应用的关键所在。介绍从现存的物联网模式展开分析,并提出改进物联网商业模式发展的建议。     

工业互联网平台研究知识结构与拓展方向

以WoS数据库中工业互联网平台研究文献为对象，采用文献计量法对工业互联网平台研究文献进行统计分析，对工业互联网平台研究学科知识结构、热点和趋势进行总结。研究发现：工业互联网平台领域学科知识结构由工业互联网平台与工业4.0、云制造平台与企业商业模式、物联网与平台基础设施、工业互联网平台与智能物流、物联网与企业信息系统5部分构成。研究热点方向主要包括工业互联网平台知识管理与商业模式、工业互联网平台应用与产业创新、工业互联网平台与制造企业生产管理。最后，提出以“工业互联网平台基础架构—工业互联网平台运行机制—工业互联网平台产出结果”为主线的工业互联网平台理论框架，并从3个角度提出未来研究方向，旨在为国内工业互联网平台学术研究和管理实践提供参考。     

Willingness to pay for QALY: perspectives and contexts in Japan

Abstract

Objectives: Theoretically, willingness-to-pay (WTP) for quality-adjusted life years (QALY) can vary depending on social and personal preferences and on ex-ante and ex-post settings. However, empirical investigations into the theoretical differences are lacking. In Japan, setting the threshold has been controversial since a pilot project to implement health technology assessments (HTA) launched in 2016. The study aim is to estimate WTP values for one additional QALY from different perspectives, health statuses, and contexts to confirm the difficulty in setting a uniform price threshold using WTP.

Methods: More than 1,000 respondents representing a cross-section of the Japanese population answered each of nine questionnaire decks in an online panel. WTP values were estimated on three different perspectives (personal, social, and socially inclusive) and on two contexts (ex-ante and ex-post). This study primarily used the non-parametric spike model based on double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) settings to obtain the conditional WTP values.

Results: WTP per QALY was higher in the severe health status than in the moderate health status from all perspectives. Respondents from the socially inclusive perspective estimated the highest WTP value for a new drug. Respondents were also asked about life-threatening diseases in ex-post and ex-ante. The WTP value in ex-ante was higher than in ex-post, and demographic factors affecting the WTP were different in both situations. The various WTP values were obtained from these surveys.

Limitations: The analysis was based on data collected from an internet panel, which could be biased. There is also a risk that respondents answered the questionnaire differently if asked in everyday situations.

Conclusion: Use of a uniform price threshold may not be appropriate in policy settings, because it may not reflect diverse preferences based on different situations, such as disease type and severity. Setting a price threshold as Japan institutes an HTA system requires further research.     

产业创新平台发展回顾与展望

创新驱动发展已成为世界产业变革的主流模式,并产生许多创新相关概念。通过梳理相关文献发现,这些概念相互交叉但又不尽相同,学界尚未形成统一厘定标准。与国外相比,虽然中国产业创新、创新平台研究起步较晚,但最先定义了产业创新平台。随着“互联网+”和“工业4.0”在全球兴起,为产业创新平台发展提供了明确导向,未来将与中国特色“互联网+”和“工业4.0”的实施工具——智能生产与服务网络体系深度融合形成智能生产力,进而促进我国产业结构转型升级。为此,针对智能生产与服务网络体系下产业创新平台未来发展趋势及研究方向,进行了深入探讨。     

On the divergence of evolutionary research paths in the past 50 years: a comprehensive bibliometric account

In the last two decades, there has been a noticeable increase in published research on evolutionary economics. The general perception is that formalization lags behind appreciative work. Notwithstanding, this general reading has yet to be supported by real data analysis. This work presents a survey on evolutionary economics, aimed at exploring the main research paths and contributions using bibliometric methods. The documentation is based on an extensive review of the abstracts from articles published in all economic journals over the past 50 years gathered from the Econlit database. Evolutionary contributions have apparently not converged to an integrated approach. Two rather extreme main research strands emerged: ‘History of Economic Thought and Methodology’ and ‘Games’. Whereas formal approaches have a reasonable and increasing share of published papers, purely empirical-related works are relatively scarce, representing a meagre and stagnant percentage of published works. This highlights the need to redirect the evolutionary research agenda.     

Health services research in heart failure patients treated with a remote monitoring device in Germany—a retrospective database analysis in evaluating resource use

Abstract

Objectives:

Heart failure is an increasing burden for all healthcare systems with prevalence reaching over 20 million patients worldwide and direct costs of disease requiring ～1% of healthcare budget expenditures. Beyond traditional pharmaceutical treatment, medical devices and remote monitoring tools were introduced to ensure a closely managed control of patients. In this context, a decision-maker needs to know whether the new technology provides clinical benefit towards patients and what resource use is attached to them.

Methods:

Health services research is a complementary approach to clinical trials providing results to the impact of the technology in real life settings. As an example this study reports of a secondary data analysis of one of the largest health insurance companies in Germany, comparing resource use of heart failure patients receiving a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device coupled with a fluid status monitoring and alert function with patients receiving conventional CRT, ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator), or no intervention.

Results:

Disease-associated expenses can be attributed to far more than 50% to heart failure. Although implementation of the CRT device with alert function was most expensive (31,794 Euros compared to 27,659 Euros in the conventional CRT group, 24,128 Euros in the ICD group, and 3735 Euros in the no intervention group) in the first year after implementation, the least costs have been caused in this group (7000 Euros compared to more than 11,000 Euros in all other groups).

Conclusion:

This article highlights potential health services research approaches focusing on the example of a CRT device coupled with a pulmonary diagnostic and alert function. Although this retrospective analysis holds a number of limitations (e.g., small number of patients in intervention group, cost calculations only from the payer perspective), and despite the need for randomized controlled trials, it was shown that secondary data research in this field is a valuable approach.