Innovative Conceptual Design for Patentability. Case Study of the Double Compartment Thermos Container

Any initial product started from a more or less flexible idea, or a patented idea transposed into a manufactured product. This idea takes a new development following the study of the marketing market, analysis studies and all we need for technological opportunity, outlining at the same time stage by stage the prototype concept. The prototype variant is again subjected to a systemic analysis that defines and optimizes the final product, as well as the technological flow associated with the entire manufacturing process applied on the concept. The paper proposes a synthesis analysis on innovative conceptual design. The case study presented in this paper shows a reserch study applied on the industrial product for which the patent was obtained, respectively a double compartmented thermos container [17].

On Humanism and Transhumanism

The paper raises the problem, quite widely discussed not only in the frame of modern philosophizing, but in the whole complex of socio-humanitarian knowledge – the problem of the perspectives of the formation of the epoch of transhumanism. What is it - the epoch of transhumanism? What are the peculiar properties of it? And what are the specifics of that technological bias which would allow put it into practice? Is there a genetic bond between transhumanism and the sources of the traditional humanism? And why the majority of not only philosophers, but all humanitarians speak out against ‘the unprecedented advantages’ and ‘the good’ of transhumanism, considering its realization as the era of ‘dehumanization’ of a human being? These and similar questions worry millions of intellectuals all over the world. The author of this paper tries to give his answers. He analyses the definitions of humanism, given in two authoritative philosophical dictionaries. Then he reinforces his analysis with not only his own reasonings and extrapolations, but with the positions of three outstanding thinkers and famous humanists of Renaissance – Lorenzo Valla, Pico della Mirandola and Erasmus Roterodamus. However the author tries to consider the historical tradition not isolated but to link with the technological opportunity of its transformation into those perspectives of transhumanism. That’s why the author draws attention to a remarkable writer-philosopher Aldous Huxley with his anti-utopian novel ‘Brave New World’. The author concludes the paper with offering to the reader’s attention his author’s speculative model how it can be.

Packaging Innovations to Reduce Food Loss and Waste: Are Italian Manufacturers Willing to Invest?

The target 12.3 of the 2030 Agenda by the United Nations (UN) calls for halving per capita global food loss and waste. In this regard, the Food & Drink industry (F&D) could play a crucial role in reducing food waste and improving food safety by adopting healthy and eco-innovation packaging. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the F&D manufacturers’ willingness to invest in packaging innovations, such as active, intelligent, and compostable ones to achieve the UN target. In order to reach the stated objective, a multiple case study methodology was developed and administered to a sample of Italian micro and small-medium entrepreneurs located in the Apulia region. Results show that many firms were aware of their need for packaging innovation and of the available technological opportunity. However, only the F&D manufacturers who showed a Real demand, according to a taxonomy approach which also considers the Potential and Latent demand for the innovation, were effectively prompt to invest. Finally, most of the interviewed manufacturers were willing to invest in at least one packaging innovation, choosing mainly between the active packaging and the compostable one.

Technology entry in the presence of patent thickets

We analyse how patent thickets affect entry into patenting. A model of entry into patenting that allows for variation in technological opportunity, technological complexity and the extent of patent thickets is developed and analysed. Using UK data we then show that patent thickets are associated with a reduction of first time patenting in a technology controlling for the level of technological complexity and opportunity. Technologies characterized by more technological complexity and opportunity attract more entry into patenting. Our evidence indicates that patent thickets raise entry costs, which leads to less entry into technologies regardless of a firm’s size.

Blockchain as a solution to the problem of illegal timber trade between Russia and China: SWOT analysis

Prolific illegal timber trade between Russia and China cannot be stemmed by present certification schemes and Russian governmental strategies. Blockchain could present a new technological opportunity, simultaneously addressing illegal logging, regulating timber trade and meeting the needs of environmentally-sensitive markets. SWOT analysis of blockchain applicability in Russian-Chinese timber trade is presented. Decentralisation based on smart contracts could ensure timber supply chain transparency through each log cryptographic encryption. However, it is considered complicated as cryptocurrency (on which trade depends) is beyond the legislative sphere of both countries and energy demands are enormous. Beyond cryptocurrency prohibition, huge businesses and governments cannot accept blockchain for international trade because of transparency and cost risks. Digitalisation through blockchain implementation could provide a highly transparent, non-editable system to handle decentralised big data characteristic of the forestry economy, realise Industry 4.0 and develop the "China-Mongolia-Russia" economic corridor. Fundamentally, a workable Russian-Chinese Government-Science-Business model must be cultivated for effective blockchain implementation.

Assessment of the efficiency of energy-and resource-saving technologies in the model of open innovation

The relevance of this work is determined by the fact that the issues of resource-saving technologies implementation in the model of open innovation have not been fully addressed yet and require further study and systematization of the determining factors, which is especially important on the back of the transition to a new technological pattern and the use of the emerging technological opportunity windows. The solution of the problems mentioned will reveal new opportunities for qualitative and quantitative growth of production systems by improving the innovation targeting in the field of resource saving and energy efficiency. The purpose of the article is to identify the functional dependence between the Networked Readiness Index and the emerging technological opportunity windows in order to improve the efficiency of resource-saving technologies in open innovation and production systems. The main research methods underlying the article include the method of description used to identify trends in the Networked Readiness Index across the globe, the correlation analysis method used to identify a close relationship between the Networked Readiness Index and indicators of state support granted to the innovations in production, and the regression analysis method used to build a regression model of the dependence between the resource-saving system and production indicators. The article touches upon the aspects of improving the resource-saving system efficiency in the framework of the open innovation model in the field of production. The correlation between the Networked Readiness Index and the indicators of the state institutions quality characterizing the level of innovation support provided to the industry across the world countries has been revealed, and the functional connection between the use of waste at petrochemical plants and the petrochemical products shipped has been proved using the emerging economies as an example. The materials of the article can be used in the development of strategies and programs aimed to improve the resource-saving system efficiency in petrochemical companies of developing countries, taking into account the emerging technological opportunity windows and technology readiness of the production for innovative transformations.