bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technology Transfer from National R&D Laboratories and the Development of Regional Industrial Clusters in India
Authors: Roy Santanu
Published: September 2010

This paper examines issues relating to technology transfer from the publicly funded R&D laboratory system in India (including organizations such as CSIR, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) to industry The author analyses the development of regional industrial clusters in India and considers the strategy of regional specialization in technological innovation projects undertaken in national R&D laboratories and its relationship to the development of industrial clusters and districts. In addition to this examination of the various aspects of regional specialization and the impact of the CSIR laboratories, the paper also highlights the significant role played by other centres of excellence, both in the government sector and elsewhere, in helping industrial clusters and artisan concentrations in various regions of India to solve technological, managerial and social problems.
A Framework for Achieving E-Business Success
Authors: Kumar U. , Maheshwari M. , Kumar V.
Published: September 2010

This paper presents the findings of an empirical study of critical factors associated with e-business success. An a priori model relating the success factors to e-business success is developed. The study uses the ‘balanced scorecard’ methodology to measure the success of e-business organizations, as the authors believe that financial measures are not the only indicators. Eight hypotheses are derived from the model and these are tested using data from Web-based and paper-based surveys of 34 businesses. The main finding is that e-business success is positively associated with customer focus, organizational culture, supplier orientation, technical infrastructure, Website design and content management, and e-business strategy. The study will benefit both new e-business start-ups and established businesses that are investigating the possibility of migrating to an e-business system.
Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training
Authors: Mitra Jay , Matlay Harry
Published: September 2010

The social, economic and political systems of former communist countries have faced considerable changes since the late 1980s. Most countries in Eastern and Central Europe have undergone their own individual brand of transition from a centrally planned, command system to a more or less liberalized, Western-style market economy Many observers agree that in general there is still a great deal to be done to achieve the key goal of economic liberalization, but there is little agreement among academics as to what would constitute an effective and stabilizing transition in the region. In common with contemporary Western beliefs and attitudes, much of the new thinking and hopes for economic regeneration in Eastern and Central Europe have centred on entrepreneurship and small business development. In the early years of transition, the influx of international aid became a stumbling block to the establishment of the kind of support systems that had proved crucial for the survival and growth of small businesses in Western Europe. The demand for entrepreneurial skills and the deficiencies inherent in their new labour markets exposed post-communist economies to external shocks such as those caused by the termination of COMECON agreements and the Gulf War. The longitudinal research on which this paper is based was closely modelled on ongoing work by the authors, which involves an in-depth investigation of the ‘paradox of training’, the difference between attitude and practice, that exists in the small business sector of the UK economy. Following the results of a pilot study undertaken in the UK, the research was extended to include small business sectors across Eastern, Central and Western Europe.
Connecting Japanese Companies with Global Ventures
Authors: Kuwahara Yutaka
Published: September 2010

After more than 13 years of business slump in Japan and worldwide, many high-tech companies are struggling to remain competitive. Faced with the need to stay profitable, a common response of such companies in Japan has been to cut their investment in R&D. Heavy cuts in R&D have led to a lack of innovation, with the associated threat to future growth. Global ventures now constitute a major source of innovation, but during the past few years high-tech venture companies have struggled to identify strong Japanese firms that can manufacture innovative technologies they have developed. Many such ventures have tried to establish relationships with Japanese companies, but differences in culture and management structure have prevented successful interaction. In response to this problem, GVIN (Global Ventures Industries Network) was established to provide ‘Ba’ – opportunity and place – for direct interaction between the top management of both global ventures and Japanese companies. This is achieved by means of presentations and, especially, through face-to-face meetings. The GVIN experience has highlighted many issues, especially those relating to cultural differences – national cultures, large and small companies, east and west. Addressing these differences is not easy, but it is essential if the aims of GVIN are to be achieved. This paper describes the experience of starting and managing GVIN and highlights the issues that have emerged.
Effects of Strategic Airline Alliances on Air Transport Market Competition: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Wang Zhi H. , Evans Michael , Turner Lindsay
Published: September 2010

While alliances continue to be an important tool for airlines as they seek to expand their networks to compete more effectively with other larger networks, the effects of alliances and market liberalization on air transport market competition and airline performance have received relatively little attention. This research empirically investigates the effects of liberalization, and airline alliances, on airline competition. The analysis is based on 5,021 data sets focusing on 197 routes between the gateway cities of the major airlines' home countries. Findings show that airline passenger market share and route network share are significantly increased with increasing alliance activity. Also, airlines have a greater number of flights, passengers and passenger seats on routes for which they are involved in higher levels of cooperation and operate in more liberal markets. This suggests that multiple cooperation structures contribute more than bilateral airline service agreements to the overcoming of restrictive regulatory frameworks, enabling more effective competition.
Estimating the Economic Value of Mount Buffalo National Park with the Travel Cost and Contingent Valuation Models
Authors: Herath Gamini , Kennedy John
Published: September 2010

The Mount Buffalo National Park is the oldest national park in Victoria, Australia. There has been a rapid increase in the number of visitors to the park during the last decade and park management has been a concern, especially in the light of declining budgetary allocations and potential damage due to the increased visitor numbers. Policy options to increase park revenue remain unclear because of a lack of information on demand parameters and user costs. This study estimates the economic value of the park using the travel cost method (TCM) and the contingent valuation method (CVM). The TCM gives higher consumer surplus (CS) than the CVM. The CS shows that the economic value of the park is high and that there are opportunities to introduce innovative fee schemes to enhance its revenue. Present entry fee systems do not capture the economic value of the park.
Are Tourists Willing to Pay for Aesthetic Quality? An Empirical Assessment from Krabi Province, Thailand
Authors: Baddeley Michelle Catherine
Published: September 2010

This paper assesses the relationships between the viability of the tourism industry and willingness to pay for aesthetic aspects of environmental quality. Incentives to provide high-quality tourism are limited given asymmetric information, adverse selection and positive search costs, with implications both for the sustainability of the tourism industry and for environmental sustainability more broadly defined. An econometric model is estimated in which willingness to pay is captured using resort rents and related to aesthetic quality, after controlling for service levels. A negative relationship is found. Some policy issues are assessed, focusing on the implications for tourism as an engine for sustainable development.
Imperatives for Venture Success
Authors: Crane Frederick G. , Sohl Jeffrey E.
Published: September 2010

This paper reports the findings from a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with American and Canadian entrepreneurs who had conceptualized and started successful ventures. Respondents were asked to define venture success and then articulate the key imperatives for it. Respondents in this study defined venture success in terms of sales growth and profitability. The study confirms findings from previous studies, concluding that entrepreneurs' personal characteristics, including determination and commitment, work ethic, optimism, energy and fearlessness, are very important to venture success. Imperatives involving specific business activities and practices, including having the right idea/opportunity, the right management team, sharing rewards, and business planning, again, consistent with the literature, were confirmed as being important. However, three key imperatives rarely, if ever, cited in previous literature – focusing on the core business, staying close to the market and delivering customer satisfaction – were also articulated by the respondents.
Outlook for Agricultural Engineering Education and Research and Prospects for Developing Countries
Authors: Opara Linus U.
Published: September 2010

Agricultural engineering (AE) is one of the disciplines that have been adversely affected by declining enrolments and popularity among school leavers, especially in developed countries. Efforts to reverse the downward trend must consider curriculum changes, which broaden the currently narrow and shrinking sources and catchment areas of potential fresh student intakes, as well as providing them with skills for lifelong learning and employment opportunities beyond the agricultural sector. This article examines some of the current perceptions and trends in AE education, and proposes a global orientation to a curriculum that equips undergraduate students with integrative skills in applied sciences, engineering principles and emerging technologies. A triad of emerging technological innovations that are driving the knowledge economy is identified and recommended for inclusion in an AE educational curriculum. The new AE education paradigm will enable graduates and professionals to shift the historical emphasis from ‘on-farm mechanization’ to the development and application of new innovations to support knowledge-intensive and information-driven agriculture. Effective communication and dialogue with key stakeholders, and implementing adequate response to emerging technological, environmental and economic challenges facing agriculture are critical to winning public support and improving the appeal of AE among school leavers and industries. Strategies that include changing the current name of educational AE programmes and/or professional societies must be pursued with considerable caution if the profession is to remain truly global and to facilitate the international mobility of future agricultural engineers in an increasingly globalized labour market. The prospects for innovative engineering inputs for transforming smallholder agriculture in least developed countries are discussed.
Effect of Rural Women's Workload on Care Practices and Children's Growth
Authors: Fabusoro E. , Afolabi W.A.O. , Adenekan L.A.
Published: September 2010

The authors studied various work activities of rural women and their effects on care practices and the growth of their children. Weight for height (wasting) and height for age (stunting) were used as indicators of the growth of children and the results were compared with National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) recommended standards. The findings show that rural women have a heavy workload, working an average of 13 hours per day. This affects the time available for childcare, which is a major factor affecting the growth of children. The findings also show that there will be corresponding decreases in children's growth, by 24.5%, 54.8% and 24.1%, as workload increases in cropping, animal husbandry and offfarm activities respectively. The mean age of the children was 29 months and the parameters for growth indicate that the majority had mild to moderate malnutrition. The results also establish a significant relationship between women's workload and care practices offered on the one hand and growth of children and mothers' care practices on the other. Given adequate moral and financial support, women will contribute significantly more to agricultural development in Nigeria. Also, if enough labour-saving machines are made available, the hours spent in on-farm and off-farm activities can be reduced and women will have more time to care for their children.
Independent Inventors and Innovation
Authors: Weick Cynthia Wagner , Eakin Cynthia F.
Published: September 2010

Independent inventors have generally been overlooked in research on innovation. This study helps fill the knowledge gap. A survey of independent inventors in the USA showed that their inventions tended towards hardware/tool, household products, industrial/commercial products, novelty items and toys/games/hobbies. Thirty-nine per cent of the respondents generated sales from their inventions and approximately 20% profited from them. Inventors who established a company to commercialize their inventions were most likely to achieve sales. However, inventors who licensed their inventions were more likely to achieve higher sales levels than those who commercialized them only via their own company, or by selling their inventions outright.
University Incubators in the UK
Authors: Karatas-Ozkan Mine , Murphy William D. , Rae David
Published: September 2010

The overall aim of this paper is to deepen the understanding of forming and effectively managing university incubators in the UK. Recognizing that the term ‘business incubator’ embraces a wide range of institutions, all of which aim to foster the creation and development of enterprises – SMEs or corporate ventures – by established organizations, the formation of different types of university incubators is explored from the perspective of the incubator managers who are involved in the process. Four case studies are presented, which show how the incubator managers discern incubation practices within the current UK system of business incubation and develop their particular programmes. The case studies are constructed by generating in-depth case material through interviews with the incubator managers, participant observation in one setting, and documentary search during 2002 and the first half of 2003. Evaluating the contextual constraints and opportunities in the UK, it is illustrated that the contextual issues are by their nature complex, dynamic and diverse, and they are also central to understanding the way the incubation programmes are shaped and reshaped over time. Some core ideas and lessons have been drawn from the research and it is hoped that they can help incubation community members to re-evaluate their own experiences and assist public policy makers in gauging their policies.
Graduate Transition into Employment in Hospitality SMEs
Authors: Holden Rick , Jameson Stephanie , Lashley Conrad
Published: September 2010

In the context of the UK government's target of 50% participation by young people in higher education, issues relating to the use of graduates in firms assume renewed significance. Increasing attention is paid to the potential for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to absorb a larger number of new graduates. With reference to the hospitality sector, this paper analyses survey data on the employment and use of graduates by SMEs. Data are presented on two specific themes: first, the characteristics of firms employing graduates and, second, owner-managers' perceptions of graduate labour and its use. The authors raise questions about the extent to which the skills of graduates employed in hospitality SMEs are being used.
Feasibility of On-Farm Commercial Grain Storage in the Smallholder Agriculture of Ethiopia
Authors: Getnet Kindie , Verbeke Wim , Viaene Jacques
Published: September 2010

This study investigates the feasibility of on-farm temporal arbitrage for two major food crops in Ethiopia as a strategy to raise and stabilize the income of smallholder farmers under competitive liberalized agricultural market conditions. Descriptive techniques are used to identify the temporal behaviour of producer prices, with the objective of detecting any identifiable and regular seasonal patterns that could be used as a basis to plan on-farm temporal arbitrage. Next, the identified temporal behaviours are tested for stability. Once stable temporal price behaviours are confirmed, the feasibility of on-farm temporal arbitrage is investigated by comparing values of the monthly ‘gross real return to storage’ with threshold and tripled storage-cost scenarios at farm level. The results reveal that on-farm temporal arbitrage is economically feasible for the majority of months in a year in the case of the threshold cost scenario and for about six months in the case of the most pessimistic cost scenario. Based on this empirical evidence, on-farm temporal arbitrage should be promoted as a policy strategy to raise and stabilize the income of smallholder farmers. By doing so, the incentives of smallholder farmers could be improved to increase food-crop productivity and, eventually, their food-security status.
Constraints to the Adoption of Agricultural Innovations
Authors: Sumberg James
Published: September 2010

This paper argues that much of the discussion about constraints to the adoption of agricultural innovations is muddled because the distinction between variables that are endogenous to the fit between an innovation and a specified group of potential users, and those that are exogenous (that is, prerequisite conditions), is seldom made explicit during the innovation-development process. This distinction, which can emerge through a design-specification exercise, locates a much greater degree of responsibility for the eventual adoption outcome – whether positive or negative – within the innovation-development process itself. To continue to cite exogenous factors such as inappropriate land-tenure arrangements or lack of output markets as constraints to the adoption of innovations is to miss a fundamental step within the innovation-development process.
Plantation Agriculture in the Tropics
Authors: Hartemink Alfred E.
Published: September 2010

Plantation agriculture is more than 400 years old and contributes to the regional and national economies in many tropical countries. This paper reviews some of the main environmental issues related to plantation agriculture with perennial crops, including soil erosion, soil fertility decline, pollution, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. Soil erosion and soil fertility decline are of concern in some areas, but in most plantations these are being checked by cover crops and inorganic fertilizer applications. Few studies have been conducted on the issue of carbon sequestration under perennial plantation cropping. Reductions in deforestation yield much greater benefits for a reduction in CO2emissions than expanding plantation agriculture. The biggest threat to biodiversity is the loss of habitat through expansion of the plantation area. Despite the environmental problems and concerns, this review has shown that crop yields of most perennial crops have increased over time due to improved crop husbandry including high-yielding cultivars and improved soil management. It is likely that more attention will be given to the environmental aspects of plantation cropping due to the increasing environmental awareness in tropical countries.
Educational Mismatch and Wages in the Hospitality Sector
Authors: Marchante Andrés J. , Ortega Bienvenido , Pagán Ricardo
Published: September 2010

The authors estimate the impact on wages of educational mismatch and other components of workers' human capital for a cross-section of 3,314 wage earners in 181 hotels and 121 restaurants in Andalusia. The estimated results show that there is a positive wage premium to over-education in the sector, but also that particular types of education – specific vocational education, languages and computer skills – reap rewards for workers in the marketplace.
Using Brochure Information for the Hedonic Analysis of Holiday Packages
Authors: Haroutunian Stephan , Mitsis Pandelis , Pashardes Panos
Published: September 2010

This paper investigates the production of misleading results from hedonic analysis when heterogeneity in the effects of quality characteristics is ignored. Two causes of such heterogeneity are examined: (a) when quality is registered in different ways in the brochures of different tour operators and (b) when the effects of quality characteristics differ between packages with a different star rating. Furthermore, the authors test the impact of the presence of these two sources of heterogeneity on the estimated effects of quality characteristics on price, along with a third possible source of heterogeneity – the rating system of the hotels. They then discuss the policy implications of their empirical findings.
Returns on Education in the Spanish Tourism Labour Market
Authors: Bañuls Adelaida Lillo , Rodríguez Ana B. Ramón
Published: September 2010

This paper studies the returns on education for workers in the Spanish tourism sector through wage equations and analysis of the extent to which education results in higher returns. The authors employ an extended Mincer model in which additional variables influencing wage rates, apart from education and experience, are included. The combined effects of experience and education on workers' incomes throughout their working lives are also analysed. The results indicate that, among other things, (a) the Spanish tourism sector values its employees' levels of education somewhat less than other service sectors; (b) the size of the firm plays an important role in wage determinants; and (c) the pattern of lifelong earnings is different for workers with higher and lower levels of education.
Harnessing Innovation Potential?
Authors: Kruss Glenda
Published: September 2010

This article presents an overview of research partnership activity across the South African higher education system, in three cutting-edge high-technology fields. An analytical matrix of partnership forms is developed, shaped by distinct responses to the tension between the new financial imperatives and the traditional intellectual project of higher education. Using the matrix, four groups of institutional response to partnership are identified. These may be distinguished in terms of their level of research capacity and the sets of strategic policies, institutional structures and interface mechanisms they have in place to promote partnerships with industry. The core argument of the paper is that more institutions need to develop the capacity to harness the potential for innovation, rather than allow the unregulated proliferation of contract and consultancy forms of partnership with industry that can undermine their core long-term knowledge-generation function.
The Changing Face of South Africa's National System of Innovation, 1991–2001
Authors: Kahn Michael , Blankley William
Published: September 2010

The article examines changes in the South African national system of innovation (NSI) since the onset of democracy in 1994. In particular, the recently completed 2001/02 Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D) is used to quantify the shifts in R&D activity for the major business, government and higher education players. The major flows of R&D expenditure are found to be within rather than between firms. Interaction between higher education and firms is encouraged by agency funding and is increasing from a relatively low base. The NSI itself has remained stable over the transition to democracy, with small shifts in research emphasis and no apparent major loss of capacity. There are, however, warning signs that the lack of availability of high-level skills may limit its further growth. There is evidence that the NSI has the potential to respond to the designated thrusts of the national R&D strategy.
Local Learning and International Experiences in Higher Education—Industry Relationships
Authors: Lorentzen Jo
Published: September 2010

This article focuses on the sense and nonsense of comparing higher education-industry relationships across countries. It discusses the conditions under which international benchmarking leads to potentially deleterious policy conclusions and underlines the importance of context specificity. It argues for more attention to the dynamics of local learning, taken here to mean the absorptive capacities of a range of economic actors. It concludes by showing how research into the conditions of local learning can shed light on how regions or countries might make it easier for economic actors ‘to learn how to learn’ or, in other words, to bridge the gap between lessons from elsewhere and their own absorptive capacities.
Competition and Cooperation in South Africa's Biotechnology Sector
Authors: Klerck Gilton
Published: September 2010

This article asserts that the normative, institutional and policy framework of an economy moulds the structure and performance of its innovation system. Three case studies of industry-higher education partnerships in South Africa's biotechnology sector challenge both the notion of a simple convergence within and between national innovation systems and the idea of an unproblematic adoption of ‘best practice’ at the organizational level. The contribution of industry-higher education partnerships to greater economic efficiency is shaped by the social conditions in which they are embedded. Rising levels of competition and new policy initiatives provide the fundamental impetus for collaboration and generate varying patterns of strategic alliances between governmental agencies, industry and higher education institutions.
Articulation of Industrial R&D with Higher Education in the Telecommunications Sector in South Africa
Authors: Paterson Andrew
Published: September 2010

This article shows how and why particular higher education-industry research and development networks articulate with the South African telecommunications sector. The range of competing and complementary data telecommunications technologies available in the South African market provide varying opportunities for enterprises to engage in R&D. Two case studies based in the South African telecommunications industry examine R&D interaction between industry and higher education institutions which have nascent rather than developed R&D capacity and which are dependent on industry initiatives. The analysis suggests that the origin of a particular industry-higher education R&D network is contingent on the growth trajectory of the industrial sector in which it is located and on the maturation of research capacity in the higher education sector with which it is linked.
Cottage Industries in Tanzania
Authors: Kristiansen Stein , Kimeme Joseph , Mbwambo Andrew
Published: September 2010

This paper draws on empirical data from a survey comprising 400 small-scale entrepreneurs in dressmaking and woodwork industries in Tanzania. The aim of the research was to identify characteristics of entrepreneurs and businesses and to assess their impacts on business adaptation and survival. The data reveal that half of the businesses are growing and one-third have increased their profitability by means of significant adaptations over the last year. Most changes occur in products and design. There is a significant correlation between the entrepreneurs' level of education and the propensity to change. The paper concludes that cottage industries in Tanzania have a remarkable ability to survive.
The Logic of the Entrepreneur
Authors: Nouira Semir , Klofsten Magnus , Dahlstrand Åsa Lindholm
Published: September 2010

A general and well known problem on the financial market today is the lack of capital for new ventures. Knowledge on how to overcome the financial gap and deliver proper financial solutions for such firms is also scarce. This paper focuses on the perceived importance of early-stage financing to the entrepreneur. The data used emanate from a survey of 165 knowledge-intensive ventures, located in the areas around six universities in Sweden. The study shows that an ambition to grow in general, and on the international market in particular, and a business concept not exclusively offering services and localization in a business incubator are the main attributes that explain differences in perception of external actors as sources of financing. The authors found that it was important to use a holistic approach when studying ventures, taking into account a broad set of variables dealing with venture characteristics, the entrepreneur and external relations.
Building an Inclusive Entrepreneurial Culture
Authors: Blumentritt Tim , Kickul Jill , Gundry Lisa K.
Published: September 2010

The process through which entrepreneurial firms plan and achieve strategic growth and innovation often reflects a complex set of internal organizational challenges and opportunities. This paper specifically focuses on how entrepreneurs build internal cultures in order to stimulate and drive innovation and improve organizational effectiveness. Drawing upon both strategic-management and entrepreneurial-dynamics perspectives, the authors argue that sustained innovation requires moving beyond the characteristics of the entrepreneur towards an organization that will support a firm's growth by eliciting and directing additive contributions from the individuals working for these ventures. Results revealed that entrepreneurs were more likely to create high-performance and innovative ventures if they were able systematically to involve employees in the idea and opportunity-development stages of the firm. Implications for the strategic management of innovation in emerging entrepreneurial firms are further discussed.
Revenues and the Cost of Collecting Recreational Fees
Authors: Schwartz Zvi
Published: September 2010

This study examines the cost of collecting recreational fees at US national parks and its relation to the number of visitors and the fee revenue collected. The fitted second-order polynomial regression model indicates that the cost of fee collection is indeed a function of fee revenue but is not correlated with the number of visitors. It seems to agree with the parabolic portion of a typical total cost curve where the cost of collection per dollar of revenue diminishes with higher revenue. A cluster analysis underscores the findings of the regression analysis. Further analysis indicates that federal land agencies that make more use of differential pricing schemes benefit from a lower collection cost per dollar of fee revenue.
International Tourism Receipts, Expenditure and Balance
Authors: Kester John G.C.
Published: September 2010

When measuring international tourism, in addition to tracking tourism flows there is also a clear interest in quantifying the economic value. The first indicators in this respect (although with limitations) are the international tourism receipts earned by destinations in the case of inbound tourism and the international tourism expenditure by residents of generating markets in the case of outbound tourism. Most countries report both indicators on a regular basis within the framework of the balance of payments. This issue's ‘Databank’ analyses international tourism receipts, international tourism expenditure and the resulting international tourism balance for the various destination and origin regions, subregions and countries of the world.
Recent Grassland Policies in China
Authors: Wang Xianguo , Han Jianguo , Dong Yongping
Published: September 2010

This paper provides a basis for understanding recent grassland polices in China and their backgrounds. First, the characteristics and importance of China's grasslands are described briefly. Next, the trends and causes of grassland degradation and desertification are presented. In the main part of the paper, recent key grassland policies and practices adopted by the Chinese government to overcome the environmental crisis are summarized. In conclusion, grassland construction and protection will become the main element of grassland practices over the long term, and grasslands will increasingly be managed more for environmental and ecological services rather than for livestock production.
Participatory Learning, Experimentation, Action and Dissemination (PLEAD)
Authors: Bonny Binoo P. , Prasad R.M. , Narayan Sindhu S. , Varughese Mercy
Published: September 2010

The authors evolve a model for technology evolution and adaptation in agriculture through a participatory approach. The model follows the premise that the integration of local knowledge, the experience of farmers and quality assessment of evolved strategies help in developing technologies that promote the long-term sustainability of the system. The premise is tested through field interventions under way in 18 farmer research groups (FRG) formed for the purpose in the two agroclimatic zones of Kerala where rice forms the major crop. The experimentation is carried out in fields of selected promoter farmers from the FRGs, taking into account the existing agro-ecological peculiarities and land-use pattern. Appropriate technologies for the system are selected by the farmers from a basket of scientifically proven options and are integrated to enhance the quality of farmer-tried strategies, without researchers conducting any new experiments. The process has resulted in evolving the participatory learning, experimentation, action and dissemination (PLEAD) model, which allows interactive participation of farmers, thereby enabling them to become decision makers through the process of action–reflection–action (PRAXIS) of successful field trials conducted by them. The key elements of the model include agro-ecosystem scanning, farmer-led experimentation and farmer-to-farmer extension. The processes provide lateral and co-learning experiences that benefit all the participants.
Effects of Agricultural Free Trade on Environmental Quality
Authors: Anbumozhi V. , Radhakrishnan J.
Published: September 2010

The World Trade Organization (WTO) initiated the globalization of world trade, and increasing concerns for the quality of the environment have resulted in discussions about agricultural policy involving many different perspectives. There are several issues linking trade liberalization, agriculture and the environment, one implicitly assuming that the more efficient allocation of resources and high income are associated with the improvement of agro-environmental quality. Another view is that agricultural trade policies influence crop-production patterns, farming practices and input use. The net effect is that each approach cancels out some of the influence of the other. Two examples from Mexico and Bangladesh point out that agro-environmental responses to free trade are non-linear and that it is not easy to draw a simple causal relationship between free trade and the agroenvironment. A basic challenge before the research community is to confront reductionist approaches, as traditional research into trade–agriculture–environment interactions reveals difficulty in dealing with the knowledge gaps. A transdisciplinary, systems approach provides one possibility for dealing with the needs of free trade in agriculture.
Agriculture and Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Johnson Robin
Published: September 2010

Savanna Africa is characterized by smallholding agricultural systems that produce a mixture of food and cash crops in a single season. Crops can be rotated, intermixed, or grown in specialized plots. In the former rainforests nearer the equator, crops such as cassava and maize are sown in close proximity to cocoa and oil palms, while tea is sometimes grown in specialized plots or in plantations. Traditionally, the cash crops of the savanna have been cotton and groundnuts, with cocoa, oil palm and tea in the forest areas. Various UNCTAD and FAO reports have recently drawn attention to the declining terms of trade for these products and the serious impact this has been having on the African economies concerned through loss of foreign-exchange earnings and the lack of replacement exports. UNCTAD now proposes that this dependence on a few basic exports should be overcome by domestic programmes of diversification and product development sponsored directly by African governments, as well as by international measures to reduce fluctuations in export earnings. This paper questions how these proposals might affect the various systems of smallholder agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa.
University—Industry Partnerships: What Do They Mean to Universities?
Authors: Prigge George W.
Published: September 2010

Universities and industry have a long history of collaboration and there are many benefits in forming partnerships for universities and industry alike. For universities, these partnerships can provide financial support for their educational, research and service missions; broaden the experience of their students and faculty; identify significant, interesting and relevant problems; enhance regional economic development; and increase employment opportunities for students. Such partnerships, however, are not without risks. Conflicts of interest between university and industry researchers, suppression of information from fellow researchers and an ‘undermining of academic standards’ are real issues and must be managed appropriately. Partnerships can be successful if proactive steps are taken to recognize and mitigate the known risks. This paper provides a review of existing literature on university–industry partnerships and develops, from the university's perspective, a set of generally agreed-upon benefits, risks and techniques to facilitate successful collaboration with industry.
The Economic Impact of University Technologies
Authors: Berkeley Alfred R.
Published: September 2010

This article is an edited version of a speech given by Alfred R. Berkeley, former President and Vice-Chairman of the NASDAQ Stock Market Inc, as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the US Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) during the 2004 AUTM Annual MeetingSM. The article stresses the increasingly important role of technology transfer in the economic and social futures of the USA and points up lessons for technology transfer professionals from the key changes and policy decisions that have driven the development of America's capital markets over the past few decades.
Measuring the Impact of University Technology Transfer
Authors: Lowe Robert A. , Quick Suzanne K.
Published: September 2010

This paper discusses measures that capture the impact of university technology transfer activities on a university's local and regional economies (economic impact). Such assessments are of increasing interest to policy makers, researchers and technology transfer professionals, yet there have been few published discussions of the merits of various measures. The bottom line is that no single measure can capture the many aspects of technology transfer; rather, any assessment of the impact of technology transfer on local and regional economies must be discussed with regard to several measures. The authors offer two constructs for assessing the impact of university technology transfer on local and regional economies: direct versus indirect impacts and benchmarking analysis against a proper counterfactual. They also discuss, as an example, a project at the University of California that aims to develop an information infrastructure which can be used in the future to provide data to support the types of assessments discussed in the paper.
Dissemination of CERN's Technology Transfer
Authors: Hofer Franz
Published: September 2010

Technologies developed at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, are disseminated via a network of external technology transfer officers. Each of CERN's 20 member states has appointed at least one technology transfer officer to help establish links with CERN. This network has been in place since 2001 and early experiences indicate that the transfer processes could be improved. This paper investigates current technology transfer activities between CERN and its member states in the context of key requirements for successful transfer projects as identified in the literature. The analysis suggests that the integration of regional embedded ‘anchor organizations’, such as universities and their technology transfer offices, could overcome some of the bottlenecks that currently inhibit greater technology transfer activities between CERN and firms in its member states. The paper closes with a qualitative case study of the transfer office at Graz University of Technology.
Issues to Consider before Licensing Technology to a Start-up
Authors: LaBarge Jeffrey H.
Published: September 2010

If done correctly, licensing technology to a start-up company provides a great opportunity for a university to commercialize its technology and generate good will. If done incorrectly, however, the venture may jeopardize the technology's value and adversely affect the university's reputation within the business and academic communities. Before licensing technology to a start-up, a university is well-advised to consider the issues that are most critical to the company's success; that is, those issues that will directly affect the university's ability to benefit from commercialization of its technology. This article surveys the issues a university should evaluate before licensing technology to a start-up venture. While presuming that the university's technology transfer office has overcome, or at least is aware of, any university-imposed policies relative to taking an equity ownership in a start-up, this article presents a workable framework for identifying the key questions that need to be asked and answered: (1) Why participate in a start-up? (2) Who are the right people for the job? (3) What incentives will motivate the start-up company's employees to perform? (4) What assets will the start-up need to be successful? (5) How will the venture be managed? (6) What is the university's exit strategy?
When Do Start-ups Make Sense?
Authors: Langemeyer Clement J.
Published: September 2010

The start-up has received considerable attention in the last few years. While the National Research Council of Canada has generated many start-ups over its 88-year history, the creation of a formal entrepreneurship programme in the mid-1990s dramatically accelerated the pace at which they were created. Many factors come into play in the decision to select an appropriate commercialization vehicle. While the strength and scale of the business opportunity are key factors, as are the people involved and the status of the intellectual property, there are many other internal and external factors that must be taken into consideration. This article explores these factors and discusses the risks and benefits of the start-up as a commercialization vehicle.
Evolving a Regionally-Based Mechanism for the Provision of Technical Knowledge to SMEs
Authors: Lean Jonathan , Tucker Jonathan
Published: September 2010

This paper describes and evaluates a pilot project undertaken in the South West of England to develop a computer-based system for facilitating effective technical knowledge transfer to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It explores the problem of technical knowledge transfer to SMEs, focusing in particular on the policy context. The conceptualization, development and implementation of the pilot project, called ‘e-volve’, are described. The project's failure to develop beyond the pilot period provides the focus for its evaluation. Interview data were collected from system users to identify the main issues affecting the success of the initiative. Key factors concerned with the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and system membership are highlighted, as are a number of institutional and political issues relating to the e-volve project. Recommendations relating to both the implementation of technical knowledge systems and associated public policy issues are provided.
Performing Arts Creative Enterprise
Authors: Brown Ralph
Published: September 2010

The UK government has recently established the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) to promote entrepreneurship in higher education, across all subject disciplines. This article considers the UK government's policy initiative from the perspective of a new project supporting tutors in the performing arts sector, who are working to ‘bridge the gap’ between arts education and professional artistic practice. The article explores, in particular, fundamental issues such as: what is distinctive about cultural entrepreneurship and how can it be taught? It also discusses the role of higher education institutions in developing relationships with the creative industries sector and in developing training and support systems for aspiring professional artists.
Potential Economic Implications for Regional Tourism of a Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in North Queensland
Authors: Smorfitt D.B. , Harrison S.R. , Herbohn J.L.
Published: September 2010

International and domestic tourism are sensitive to disastrous events which make areas inaccessible to visitors, less attractive or more dangerous. One form of tourism disaster is the outbreak of an exotic disease, of which Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a prime case. It is now well documented that the 2001 FMD outbreak in the UK had a greater impact on tourism than on agriculture. It has been estimated than an FMD outbreak in Australia would impose a cost of about $13 million. The impact on tourism would be highly dependent on the extent and duration of an FMD outbreak, as well as on any management and containment restrictions imposed by the authorities in their attempt to control and eventually eradicate the disease. Public perception and thus the provision of accurate information and the way in which the media report disasters will also play an important role in determining the impact on the tourism industry. The economy of Tropical North Queensland relies heavily on international visitors, and an FMD outbreak in the region would impose a large cost to the regional economy, conservatively estimated here to be of the order of $200 million per year.
Determinants of Tourist Arrivals in Africa: A Panel Data Regression Analysis
Authors: Naudé Willem A. , Saayman Andrea
Published: September 2010

Africa's tourism potential is acknowledged to be significant but underdeveloped. This paper uses both cross-section data and panel data for the period 1996–2000 to identify the determinants of tourism arrivals in 43 African countries, taking into account tourists' country of origin. The results strongly suggest that political stability, tourism infrastructure, marketing and information, and the level of development at the destination are key determinants of travel to Africa. Typical ‘developed country determinants’ of tourism demand, such as the level of income in the origin country, the relative prices and the cost of travel, are not so significant in explaining the demand for Africa as a tourism destination. It is therefore recommended that attention should be given to improving the overall stability of the continent and the availability and quantity of tourism infrastructure.