A Comprehensive Commercialization Framework for Nanocomposites Utilizing a Model-Based Systems Engineering Approach

Nanocomposites provide outstanding benefits and possibilities compared to traditional composites but struggle to make it into the market due to the complexity and large number of associated challenges involved in, as well as lack of standards for, nanocomposite commercialization. This article proposes a commercialization framework utilizing market analysis and systems engineering to support the commercialization process of such high technologies. The article demonstrates the importance and usefulness of utilizing Model-Based Systems Engineering throughout the commercialization process of nanocomposite technologies when combining it with the Lean LaunchPad approach and an engineering analysis. The framework was validated using a qualitative research method with a case study approach. Applying this framework to a nanocomposite, called ZT-CFRP technology, showed tremendous impacts on the commercialization process, such as reduced market and technological uncertainties, which limits the commercialization risk and increases the chance for capital funding. Furthermore, utilizing the framework helped to decrease the commercialization time and cost due to the use of a lean engineering analysis. This framework is intended to assist advanced material-based companies, material scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs in academia and the industry during the commercialization process by minimizing uncertainties and risks, while focusing resources to reduce time-to-market and development costs.

EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF CAPITAL, FUNDING LIQUIDITY AND BANK LENDING IN EMERGING MARKET ECONOMIES: AN APPLICATION OF SYSTEM GMM APPROACH

Funding Liquidity is the key component of loanable funds of the bank. Sufficient liquidity also boosts banks’ ability to pay-off its dues timely but at the same time it has been proven to be a significant determinant of various historical banking sector crises all over the world. However, there exists very weak empirical evidence suggesting a clear relationship between funding liquidity and bank lending growth (BLG). We have attempted to address this gap by empirically testing the impact of bank capital, funding liquidity and their interaction variable on the BLG using a dataset of 59 commercial banks operating in India for the period 2006 to 2018 consisting of 21 public sector banks, 18 private sector banks and 20 foreign banks. An attempt has been made to examine the interactive impact of the bank capital and funding liquidity ratio on BLG rate using system GMM approach. Our model reveals a positive and significant impact of capital funding, indicating induction of capital in bank leads to higher growth in BLG rate. The results also suggest that the interaction impact of funding liquidity and bank capital on the bank lending growth is significantly negative. Further, a higher capital induction neutralises the overall impact of funding liquidity on the bank lending growth. The study provides implications for academicians and policy makers to comprehend the role of funding liquidity.

A new theoretical model of government backed venture capital funding

Government involvement in the venture capital (VC) market has become an important catalyst of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of young and innovative firms. There is an extensive literature describing the VC model, but the models of its government backed variants are not comprehensively discussed. The article focuses on the model of purely government backed venture capital (GVC) and hybrid venture capital (HGVC). The conclusion of this article is that, by the logic of their models, GVCs are destined to underperform than private VCs. Many articles see HGVCs as a step forward compared to GVCs, as they involve private participants. The novelty of the current article lies in bringing out the drawbacks deriving from the system of hybrid venture capital funding by creating a complex theoretical framework of the HGVC model. We show that due to the crowding in of private participants, this scheme creates a two-goal system where the private profit maximising interests conflict with the economic policy goals. The complex system of HGVC is exposed to increased moral hazard issues that might lead to higher distortions than GVC. The conclusions are especially relevant in the case of developing industries.

School Capital Expenditure Rules and Distribution

We provide descriptive evidence on the level and within-state distribution of school capital expenditures over the past two decades. We relate these to the fiscal institutions governing capital funding across states. Within-state differences in capital expenditures between the highest-and lowest-income school districts fell considerably following the Great Recession. Spending declined in the highest-income districts, while state support for low-income districts remained stable. Suggestive evidence points to the importance of constraints on districts' ability to raise local funding and the structure of state support in explaining these differences and trends over time.

VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDING AS A FACTOR OF THE INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT

The paper justifies the necessity to improve the mechanisms of venture capital funding in Kazakhstan for sustainable and effective development of the country. The role of venture capital funding in the innovative development of the countries is investigated on the base of study of the experience of such countries as USA, Canada, Europe, India, and China. The recent research works related to the venture capital funding in different aspects are reviewed. The innovative activity and venture investments in the Republic of Kazakhstan were analyzed. The paper investigates the features of venture capital funding in Kazakhstan. The investigation results show that Kazakhstan system of venture investment is at its initial stage of development, and there are no tangible results of venture field development yet. The conducted research allowed revealing the factors limiting the development of venture investment in Kazakhstan, these are: poor systematic monitoring of funds efficiency invested by the national institutes; lack of effective strategies of venture capital funding; low innovative activity and intensity of venture appearance; uncertainty and gaps in the legislative base related to venture financing; absence of tax concessions and preferences not tied to FEZ or technological parks; absence of strong institutional venture investors; low capacity of securities market and scarcity of its instruments. The work suggests a set of measures directed on activation of venture financing. The implementation of the suggested measures assumes the increased control over the effectiveness of quasi-public structures investments and venture incomes, and creation of conditions for venture capital funding development. The research results can be a cut-off point for further investigations in the field of venture capital funding related to the innovative development of the country.

How Much Does Public School Facility Funding Depend on Property Wealth?

We examine how funding for public school facilities varies with school district property wealth and household income. Using data on school facility (i.e., capital) funding in California from fiscal years 1986-87 to 2015-16, we find that funding for school construction and modernization varies widely across districts. Disparities in funding are driven primarily by inter-district differences in property wealth with the highest property wealth districts raising significantly more funding for school facilities. Assessed value per-pupil in California is also negatively correlated with the share of disadvantaged students and students of color. As a result, school facility funding tends to be substantially lower in districts with the highest concentrations of disadvantaged students and students of color.

Private Equity and Venture Capital – Preamble

Private equity investment can offer very strong returns in comparison to any stock market returns or public market investment opportunity.Private equity invests in companies which are not listed in the recognized stock exchange. Every business comes across six stages of the life cycle which include; Development, Start-up, early-stage growth, expansion, maturity, and decline/crisis stage. PE firms invest in the initial three stages. In today’s fast-moving world with technological changes very great business plan may hit by various events and successes of companies. Private equity not only invests in companies, but they also provide management support and assist in the overall success of companies. The present study discussed on Birth of US Private equity, Indian Private Equity major players, steps in venture capital funding.

Current provision of general practitioner services in or alongside emergency departments in England

BackgroundIn 2017, general practitioners in or alongside the emergency department (GPED), an approach that employs GPs in or alongside the ED to address increasing ED demand, was advocated by the National Health Service in England and supported by capital funding. However, little is known about the models of GPED that have been implemented.MethodsData were collected at two time points: September 2017 and December 2019, on the GPED model in use (if any) at 163/177 (92%) type 1 EDs in England. Models were categorised according to a taxonomy as ‘inside/integrated’, ‘inside/parallel’, ‘outside/onsite’ or ‘outside/offsite’. Multiple data sources used included: on-line surveys, interviews, case study data and publicly available information.ResultsAn increase of EDs using GPED was observed from 81% to 95% over the study period. ‘Inside/parallel’ was the most frequently used model: 30% (44/149) in 2017, rising to 49% (78/159) in 2019. The adoption of ‘inside/integrated’ models fell from 26% (38/149) to 9% (15/159). Capital funding was received by 87% (142/163) of the EDs sampled. We identified no significant difference between the GPED model adopted and observable characteristics of EDs of annual attendance, 4-hour wait, rurality and deprivation within the population served.ConclusionThe majority of EDs in England have now adopted GPED. The availability of capital funding to finance structural changes so that separate GP services can be provided may explain the rise in parallel models and the decrease in integrated models. Further research is required to understand the relative effectiveness of the various models of GPED identified.