Love dynamics between science and technology: some evidences in nanoscience and nanotechnology

This paper borrows Strogatz’s dynamic model for love affair between Romeo and Juliet and extends this model to nonlinear simultaneous differential equations model in order that we can characterize the dynamic interaction mechanisms and styles between science and technology (S&T). Then we further apply the proposed new model to the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology (N&N) for the purpose of analyzing the reciprocal dependence between S&T. The empirical results provide an understanding of the relationship between S&T and their dynamic potential of interdependence in the selected 20 leading universities in the field of N&N. We find that at present nanotechnology depends mainly on the scientific-push rather than the technology-pull and nanotechnology is science-based field. In contrast, a parallel development of the technology is not visible. Policy implications are at last put forward based on the several interesting findings for the interaction mechanisms between S&T in the field.     

Understanding bioenergy production and optimisation at the nanoscale – a review

ABSTRACT

Nanotechnology has an increasingly large impact on a wide range of biotechnological, pharmacological and pure technological applications. Its current use in bioenergy production from biomass is very limited. This paper examines the potential interrelationships between nanotechnology and bioenergy production through a comprehensive literature review and analysis of data from biomass characterisation studies. The aim of this review is to indicate how nanotechnology can be applied in biomass-to-bioenergy conversion. This study shows currently nanotechnology has been applied in the production of only two types of biomass, i.e. sludge and algae. Hence, interaction of nanomaterials with active sludge and algal cells were examined. Our extensive literature review indicates that anaerobic digestion process in sludge can potentially be enhanced by using magnetite nanoparticles, which gives higher methane yields. On the other hand, nanosilver reduces growth and causes adverse effects on the morphology of green algae. This process for bioenergy generation has already been successfully applied to sludge and algae biomass. Our study confirms that the process can also be used in the production of bioenergy from the other biomasses, such as agricultural wastes and industrial residues. Outcomes of this work will be an important tool for implementing nanotechnology in bioenergy research.     

Globalization at the nano frontier: The future of nanotechnology policy in the United States, China, and India

The field of nanotechnology offers the possibility of transforming the international science and technology (S&T) policy landscape and making a significant impact on the direction of research and development for a wide range of nations and companies. Nanotechnology endeavors in the United States, China, and India remain some of the most interesting because of the opportunities and challenges this field poses for future competition and collaboration between these three nations. This paper examines how nanotechnology will raise new science and policy questions—and lead to new strategic linkages—that will have a major impact on the futures of these nations for decades to come. Then the paper analyzes and compares the current state of nanotechnology in these three countries, discusses some of the main drivers of collaboration, investigates current and potential uncertainties associated with nanotechnology, and offers policy suggestions on ways that these difficulties may be addressed.     

Potential science-technology spillovers in regions: An insight on geographic co-location of knowledge activities in the EU

This article depicts some features of the geography of science and technology outputs in the EU, with a particular attention to regional “co-location” of these two pillars of the “knowledge-based society”. Economists have, for a decade, paid great attention to local “spillovers” stating that industrial firms often draw advantages from the presence of nearby academic centres. The presence in the same areas of strong academic and technological resources is both a condition and a result of science-technology interactions. Concentrating on publications and patents as proxies of the science and technology level in regions, we built a typology of regions according to their commitment to the two knowledge-base activities and then analysed the co-locations of science and technology from several points of view. A fine-grain lattice, mainly based on standard Nuts3 level, was used. Co-location, at the EU level, is not a general rule. A strong potential for spillover/ interaction does exist in the top-class regions which concentrate a high proportion of European S and T output. But for regions with a small/medium level of S&T activity, a divergence of orientations appears between a science-oriented family and a technology-oriented family, indicating an imbalance between local S and T resources. If we look at the S-oriented regions, whilst controlling for underlying factors, such as population and regional economic product, a significant geographic linkage between T and S appears. This suggests a trajectory of science-based technological development. A careful examination of S&T thematic alignments and specialisation is necessary to develop the hypothesis that fostering academic resources could increase the technological power along a growth path. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Exploring temporal relationships between scientific and technical fronts: a case of biotechnology field

Biotechnology is an expanding interdisciplinary field in which the interactions of science and technology (S&T) are more and more intensified. Question raised regarding the dynamic interactions between S&T encourages us to propose a series of methodologies for examination. Using high-impact publications and patents as the proxy measures, two document sets are transformed into the scientific and technical front trajectories respectively, and then each subject is categorized into either basic science, or applied technology, or co-existence. The results show that, in the biotechnology field, subjects of embryonic or mesenchymal stem cells, RNA interference, microRNA, and microbial fuel cell are in the basic science phase; those of plant breeding, seed diversity, and taste receptors have been applied to practice. There also exists interactions between S&T in the subjects of disease treatment and gene analysis platform, in which the behavior of technology precedes science, science precedes technology, or synchronous development can be observed.     

The role and development of quantitative indicators for research and technology policy making: Some experience from the department of trade and industry

This article discusses quantitative S&T indicators from the perspective of their usefulness in bringing longer term considerations into policy making. A number of areas of current and future work by the Longer Term Studies Group of the Department of Trade and Industry are presented as illustrative cases. The main concern of the article, however, is to outline some of the main decisions facing S&T policy making, thereby setting the context for the development and use of quantitative indicators. It is suggested that the approach of considering longer term trends and developments in the context of present-day policy issues may well open new opportunities for the development of quantitative indicators. Above all a pragmatic approach is required, weighing up the value of an indicator with other sources of information in considering their relevance to the practical problems of policy making.Several colleagues gave helpful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. However, the paper represents the views of the author and not necessarily those of the DTI.     

我国纳米材料技术应用的现状和产业化的机遇

概述了我国纳米材料应用的现状及应用纳米技术对传统产业,环境,能源,医药和信息领域等产品升级带来新的机遇,提出了发展我国纳米产业的指导思想和目标,并对“十五”期间我国应重点发展的纳米产业进行了评述。     

An assessment of the impact and visibility of South African journals

Summary Recognizing the critical role played by science and technology in the development of fuel cells, this article aims to characterize the evolution of the S&T knowledge bases of fuel cells over the nineties, using data on patents and scientific publications. The field of fuel cells is particularly heterogeneous. It covers diverse sub-fields that are marked by idiosyncratic characteristics (e.g. actors, demand, and input) and different historical developments. Although this heterogeneity of the field of fuel cells is reflected in the dynamics of S&T knowledge generation within and across its sub-fields too, this article shows that it does not entail the absence of cognitive interrelations between their S&T knowledge bases. For that purpose, the article uses “simultaneous mapping' approach of their S&T knowledge bases by means of textual analysis.     

The impact of sales and operations planning practices on manufacturing operational performance

There is a lack of rigorous empirical studies directly examining the impact of sales and operations planning (S&OP) practices on manufacturing operational performance. This paper aims to fill this gap by analysing a sample of 725 manufacturers from 34 countries. Hypotheses relate internal S&OP, integration with suppliers (IS) and integration with customers with manufacturing operational performance (delivery, quality and flexibility). The constructs were validated with structural equation modelling and the hypotheses were tested using multiple stepwise regression. Our findings showed a positive and moderate-to-large effect of internal S&OP on manufacturing performance, controlling for firm size, country economic development and market dynamics. There was no significant impact of supply chain integration on manufacturing performance. However, we found that IS positively moderated the relationship between internal S&OP and performance, suggesting that firms with mature IS amplify the effect of internal S&OP on performance. The study is among the first to empirically and rigorously establish the impacts of S&OP practices on manufacturing performance, using a large sample of manufacturers spanning different countries, markets and firm sizes. Results show that S&OP practices have a broad impact across several performance dimensions and are a powerful lever for generating manufacturing performance.     

A trial of general indicator of science and technology: Methodological study of overall estimation of national S&T activity

This paper presents methods using a large number of quantitative indicators of the overall estimation of national S&T activity. The methods collected here apply multivariate analysis techniques to a set of S&T indicators to investigate its structure and extract a single or a small number of indicators of S&T activity. We perform structural analysis and integration of 14 main S&T indicators in 5 countries, the U.S., Japan, Germany, France and the U.K. Latent variables underlying this set of indicators naturally emerge from this analysis, and from these we were able to extract valuable information concerning the nature of S&T activity in each country. This method was also useful for investigating the nature and interpretation, as well as the reliability, of previous S&T indicators.     

Mapping of S&T issues in the Indian Parliament: A scientometric analysis of questions raised in both Houses of the Parliament

The Parliament, the highest legislative body in India, plays a significant role in formulating national policies. It is, therefore, pertinent to find the concern the Members of Parliament and different political parties show and the priorities they accord to the S&T related issues. They can judge it statistically through the number of questions raised/asked on the floor of the House. The study presents such an analysis taking the example from the S&T questions raised in the year 1992 during the Tenth Parliament. The analysis has been done by dividing the S&T related issues into 14 socio-economic areas, such as environmental sciences, biotechnology, energy, food and agriculture, health, natural resources, telecommunications, human resource development, etc. and eight policy areas such as technology policy, international collaborations in S&T, etc. The raising of S&T questions jointly by MPs and different political parties through inter-party and intra-party sponsorships has also been studied. Such an analysis may provide an important basis to the managers and policy makers in formulating the S&T policy of a country.     

Basic research is overshadowed by applied research in China: a policy perspective

This paper demonstrates that basic research has been overshadowed by applied research in China for decades, from the perspective of S&T policy. The data involves 4,707 Chinese S&T policies during the period between 1949 and 2010, which are grouped into five phases, based on the process of S&T system reform in China. We also found that S&T policies in China are leaning more towards basic research, and the gap between basic research and applied research is shrinking.     

Measuring S&T activities in the Former Socialist Economies of Central and Eastern Europe: Conceptual and methodological issues in linking past with present

The economic and social transformation of countries of central and eastern Europe has deeply affected their S&T systems. However, conceptual and methodological problems in monitoring transformation of their S&T systems are not trivial. In this paper we analyse conceptual and methodological issues involved in measuring S&T activities in the socialist and post-socialist period across the most important S&T indicators (R&D, US and national patents; innovation surveys; bibliometrics). Our conclusions are that: i) the process of methodological harmonisation of S&T indicators has progressed considerably and we have provided some evidence in that respect; ii) the use of similar or identical indicators (business R&D, innovation counts, patents, citations) when making inter-country or inter-temporal comparisons should be approached with caution because of the significant differences between the socialist and post-socialist periods as well as between post-socialist R&D systems and R&D in other market economies. This latter applies especially to the interpretation of business R&D data in the post-socialist period. A first version of this paper was presented at the Conference on the implementation of OECD methodologies for R&D/S&T statistics in central and eastern European countries' which was held in Budapest from 6.–8. November 1996. Research which formed the basis for this paper was funded in case of one of the authors by the EC TSER programme. Correspondence should be addressed to: SlavoRadosevic, SPRU, University of Sussex, BN1 9RF, Brighton. We are grateful to SylvanKatz for stimulative discussions and to two anonymous referees for comments in revisions of this paper. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the organisations for which they work.     

Structural changes in S&T research in India

Before India became an independent country, its scientists and policy makers could foreseethe importance of science in its development, and accordingly a number of research anddevelopment (R&D) institutions were established. However during these five decades ofindependence, the choice between basic sciences and technology was always a subject of debate.It will be appropriate now to examine the changing patterns of Science and Technology (S&T)manpower growth to find out the ground truth reality. The present study pertains to the analysis ofS&T outturn data in various fields of scientific research that can provide a base for S&T planningand policy making. These S&T indicators will be helpful in estimating future requirements, whichin turn can be useful to a great extent in science and technology policy formulation. Theseestimates and future projections are based on mathematical modelling of the data pertaining to theoutturn of highly qualified Scientific and Technical (S&T) personnel in India from differentfaculties over the period 1990-1998. From the trend analysis it is evident that research is no moreperceived as an interesting career except in the field of engineering and medicine. The findingsfurther suggest that there is a noticeable shift from basic sciences to technology.     

Scientific productivity paradox: The case of China's S&T system

Summary In 1985 China began the reform of its Science & Technology (S&T) sector inherited from the planned economy. To disclose the impact of the drawn-out reform on the efficiency of the whole sector, we measure the scientific productivity of China's S&T institutes. The analysis is based on R&D input and output data at the country aggregate and provincial level. We utilize Polynomial Distributed Lag model to uncover the structure of the lag between R&D input and output. The findings reveal that the growth rate of scientific productivity of China's S&T institutes has been negative since the 1990s.     

Responsible governance in science and technology policy: Reflections from Europe,China and India

This Issues and Opinions Essay provides insights on developments and challenges related to responsible governance in the field of science and technology (S&T) across Europe, China and India. The Essay presents an overview of policy debates and some key public policy documents in these three geopolitical areas, exploring how responsibility is viewed and outlined in the policy domain. Considerations on the range of processes and actors affecting the relationship between science and society in China and India are also presented. Finally, the Essay introduces ‘responsiveness’ as a possible area for comparative research work on responsibility in S&T and relevant policy collaboration amongst the three regions.     

Statistical profile of science and technology in India and Brazil

By making comparison of the science indicators, the author has critically examined the development of science and technology (S&T) in India and Brazil. The SWOT analysis indicate that, with the support of federal government, both of these developing countries have built capacities and capabilities in many areas of S&T towards attaining self-reliance and have developed potential to excel in the world-market and face challenges thereof. India and Brazil are continuing to make efforts for attaining the transition from a developing to a developed country and reviewing S&T policies towards achieving industrial competitiveness. The views expressed are the personal views of the author only.     

A fuzzy set theory approach to national composite S&;T indices

Summary Composite science and technology (S&T) indices are essential to overall understanding and evaluation of national S&T status, and to formulation of S&T policy. However, only a few studies on making these indices have been conducted so far since a number of complications and uncertainties are involved in the work. Therefore, this study proposes a new approach to employ fuzzy set theory and to make composite S&T indices, and applies it. The approach appears to successfully integrate various S&T indicators into three indices: R&D input, R&D output, and economic output. We also compare Koreas S&T indices with those of five developed countries (France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) to obtain some implications of the results for Koreas S&T.     

Managing evolutionary paths in Sales and Operations Planning: key dimensions and sequences of implementation

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is a key process that improves integration and communication between business functions and aligns the plans of a company into one integrated set of plans. This article focuses on the so-called S&OP ‘maturity models’, which describe the successive stages in the advancement of S&OP process according to a precise set of dimensions. These models are specifically thought to plan the transitions towards advanced stages, rather than to provide guidance on how to execute them. This paper aims to address this research gap by investigating how the dimensions evolve and interact during the execution of the transition between two subsequent stages. Three case studies of S&OP transitions with different starting and destination maturity stages have been compared. The findings demonstrate that the degree of seriality vs. parallelism among actions on different S&OP dimensions during the transition depends on the evolution stage of S&OP process. The study sheds light on the dynamics among the dimensions during the different transitions and warns managers not to underestimate the criticality of the people and organisation dimension, whose importance grows as the maturity level increases.     

The use of S&T indicators in science policy: Dutch experiences and theoretical perspectives from policy analysis

The relation between bibliometrics and science policy remains underdeveloped. Relevance of new methods to produce indicators is easily claimed, but often without real insight in the policy processes. Drawing on experiences with the use of S&T indicators in science policy in the Netherlands and on principal-agent theory, I develop an analytical perspective which enbles to assess the role of S&T indicators in science policy. It is argue that the use of S&T indicators can only be understood well if one takes the socio-political context with its specific dynamics and rationalities into account.