scholarly journals Responsible innovation in synthetic biology in response to COVID-19: the role of data positionality

Author(s):  
Koen Bruynseels

Abstract Synthetic biology, as an engineering approach to biological systems, has the potential to disruptively innovate the development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Data accessibility and differences in data-usage capabilities are important factors in shaping this innovation landscape. In this paper, the data that underpin synthetic biology responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are analyzed as positional information goods—goods whose value depends on exclusivity. The positionality of biological data impacts the ability to guide innovations toward societally preferred goals. From both an ethical and economic point of view, positionality can lead to suboptimal as well as beneficial situations. When aiming for responsible innovation (i.e. embedding societal deliberation in the innovation process), it is important to consider hurdles and facilitators in data access and use. Central governance and knowledge commons provide routes to mitigate the negative effects of data positionality.

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Neverova-Dziopak

Eutrophication is one of the consequences of the negative anthropogenic impact on aquatic ecosystems. It leads to the degradation of both sweet and marine ecosystems, constituting a kind of secondary pollution of waters, which disturbs all types of their use. Undertakings related to preventing the negative effects of eutrophication are mainly conducted towards reducing the loads of nutrients introduced into surface waters and controlling the entire conditions in aquatic ecosystems in order to limit the development of aquatic vegetation. The increasingly restrictive legal requirement regarding the content of nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater discharged into recipients enforces the application of expensive treatment technologies, and the public is becoming more aware of the rising costs of water and wastewater fees. In addition, wastewater treatment is a factor which has a negative impact on air quality due to greenhouse gas emissions and generates other environmental problems. The challenge for facilities, however, is determining which treatment alternatives will best meet their needs, both technically and financially, and to choose the most sustainable path. The problem of establishing a reasonable level of nutrient removal from wastewater, justified from an ecological and economic point of view is discussed in the paper.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Badenko ◽  
Nikolai Bolshakov ◽  
Alexander Fedotov ◽  
Florian Becker ◽  
Aleksandra Müller

Abstract Industrial objects nowadays rapidly transform due to the development of digital technologies. The concept of the Factory of the Future (FoF) involves digitization of all parts of the factory. In this paper two technologies are motivated and considered as the basic technologies that should be used in FoF: Digital Shadow (DS) and Building Information Modelling (BIM). Basic theory on these issues is given and potentials of BIM and DS integration is formulated. Based on the ability of digital technologies, their integration and convergence to generate value, definition Digital Asset is introduced from the economic point of view as a digital resource which brings economic benefit. A concept of integrating BIM and DS technologies for decision support in factory planning is formulated, including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and semantic modeling. The concept includes a description of the aggregate of technologies and their interconnections as a Digital Asset of the FoF. Further research objectives are focused on integration of BIM and DS which requires their interoperability ensured by an Ontology-Based Data Access (OBDA) approach, based on the Semantic web.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-72
Author(s):  
Gojko Rikalović ◽  
◽  
Bojan Vračarević ◽  
Dejan Molnar ◽  

The energy market is characterized by significant imperfections. Negative external effects and other market imperfections have, among other things, a serious consequence - they send the wrong price signals and mask the real costs that arise in the process of energy production and consumption. As a result, there is a serious degradation of the environment at the local and global level. Negative effects at the global level, such as the depletion of non-renewable resources and changes in the global climate, represent the most serious challenges facing humanity today. Public sector responses to market imperfections, in the form of various measures and instruments, are well known in economic theory and have proved effective in practice in many circumstances. However, the fact that giving priority to economic and social goals in public policies can have and often results in deterioration of the quality of the environment is mainly ignored in the professional literature even today. In addition, the failure of energy regulations leads to environmental degradation. The situation is especially critical in many developing countries. In the race to achieve goals in the field of industry, agriculture or energy, there are major environmental problems that lead to environmental unsustainability as collateral damage. From an economic point of view, both the effectiveness and efficiency of energy policy are important, in terms of its potential to contribute to improvements in the field of environmental protection and energy efficiency. One of the best strategies is to introduce important aspects of the environment into the market sphere. In this way, the limitations of natural resources would be reflected in their prices. Abolishing the practice of large subsidies and underestimation of fossil fuel prices is certainly a step in the right direction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (16) ◽  
pp. 13-29
Author(s):  
Weronika Zuzanna Szatkowska

This paper presents a theoretical consideration of the use of serious games to enhance inclusiveness in the process of creating so-called responsible innovation. The literature regarding the impact of serious games on inclusion with its possible implications for a responsible innovation process is explored. The article sheds light on the concept of serious gaming, including its aims, core elements and the learning process. It tackles inclusion within different contexts and its origins, linking it to gaming. The responsible innovation concept is explained from this perspective, with attention paid to inclusion. Next, a systematic literature review is presented, focusing on recent sources fromthe JSTOR database. It is followed by selected cases of games enhancing inclusion. The article summarizes the outcomes of the review and compares them with the theoretical assumptions. In the conclusion, the topic of using serious games as a promising method to improve the level of inclusiveness in the process of creating responsible innovations is addressed. It was also noted that, from the point of view of the creators of responsible innovations, particularly interesting areas are studies devoted to urban and environmentalissues, as well as articles on natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics.


2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-172
Author(s):  
Mir Annice Mahmood

To implement any successful policy, research about the subject-matter is essential. Lack of knowledge would result in failure and, from an economic point of view, it would lead to a waste of scarce resources. The book under review is essentially a manual which highlights the use of research for development. The book is divided into two parts. Part One informs the reader about concepts and some theory, and Part Two deals with the issue of undertaking research for development. Both parts have 11 chapters each. Chapter 1 asks the basic question: Is research important in development work? The answer is that it is. Research has many dimensions: from the basic asking of questions to the more sophisticated broad-based analysis of policy issues. The chapter, in short, stresses the usefulness of research which development workers ignore at their own peril.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Detzen ◽  
Tobias Stork genannt Wersborg ◽  
Henning Zülch

ABSTRACT This case originates from a real-life business situation and illustrates the application of impairment tests in accordance with IFRS and U.S. GAAP. In the first part of the case study, students examine conceptual questions of impairment tests under IFRS and U.S. GAAP with respect to applicable accounting standards, definitions, value concepts, and frequency of application. In addition, the case encourages students to discuss the impairment regime from an economic point of view. The second part of the instructional resource continues to provide instructors with the flexibility of applying U.S. GAAP and/or IFRS when students are asked to test a long-lived asset for impairment and, if necessary, allocate any potential impairment. This latter part demonstrates that impairment tests require professional judgment that students are to exercise in the case.


Author(s):  
Ramesh Raghavan

This chapter presents an overview of how D&I research can be evaluated from an economic point of view. Dissemination and implementation imposes costs upon knowledge purveyors, provider organizations, public health organizations, and payers (including governments). However, whether these added costs will result in improved service delivery and, perhaps more importantly, client outcomes and improvements in population health remain as open questions. If emerging studies reveal that defined implementation strategies are more cost effective than “usual” implementation, then policymakers and service providers will need to resource these added costs of implementation in order to assure the success and sustainability of high-quality health services over the long term.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 565
Author(s):  
Nikolaj Kaae Kirk ◽  
Clara Navarrete ◽  
Jakob Ellegaard Juhl ◽  
José Luis Martínez ◽  
Alessandra Procentese

To make biofuel production feasible from an economic point of view, several studies have investigated the main associated bottlenecks of the whole production process through approaches such as the “cradle to grave” approach or the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis, being the main constrains the feedstock collection and transport. Whilst several feedstocks are interesting because of their high sugar content, very few of them are available all year around and moreover do not require high transportation’ costs. This work aims to investigate if the “zero miles” concept could bring advantages to biofuel production by decreasing all the associated transport costs on a locally established production platform. In particular, a specific case study applied to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) campus is used as example to investigate the advantages and feasibility of using the spent coffee grounds generated at the main cafeteria for the production of bioethanol on site, which can be subsequently used to (partially) cover the campus’ energy demands.


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