Due to government policies and regulations as well as customer and societal demands, organizations around the world are looking for ways to manage their economic, environmental and social sustainability. One of the most frequently used standards for organizations seeking to manage their environmental responsibilities is ISO 14001. This framework, however, is generic because it can be used by any organization irrespective of sector, activity or core values. Therefore, implementation of generic guidelines might result in the use of alternative tools that respond better to specific organizational needs and that provide outcomes that can be useful for decision-making. Through case study methodology, this paper shows how Volvo Group, a world-leading producer of transport solutions, developed an internal environmental evaluation tool called Environmental Screening (EnvS) to improve the environmental performance of its solutions.
The nervous system poses a grand challenge for integration with modern electronics and the subsequent advances in neurobiology, neuroprosthetics, and therapy which would become possible upon such integration. Due to its extreme complexity, multifaceted signaling pathways, and similar to 1 kHz operating frequency, modern complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) based electronics appear to be the only technology platform at hand for such integration. However, conventional CMOS-based electronics rely exclusively on electronic signaling and therefore require an additional technology platform to translate electronic signals into the language of neurobiology. Organic electronics are just such a technology platform, capable of converting electronic addressing into a variety of signals matching the endogenous signaling of the nervous system while simultaneously possessing favorable material similarities with nervous tissue. In this review, we introduce a variety of organic material platforms and signaling modalities specifically designed for this role as "translator" , focusing especially on recent implementation in in vivo neuromodulation. We hope that this review serves both as an informational resource and as an encouragement and challenge to the field. ; Funding Agencies|Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationKnut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Foundation for Strategic ResearchSwedish Foundation for Strategic Research; Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilEuropean Commission; European Research Council (ERC)European Research Council (ERC)European Commission; Onnesjo Foundation; ERC under the European Union [949191]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Advanced Functional Materials at Linkoping University [2009-00971]
From Jim March we learned that organizational intelligence demands adaptation to the needs of a distant future as well as the efficient use of resources in the present. Commitment to new ideas that deviate from norm is necessary for long-term adaptation, but comes with great uncertainty as to if when or how success will come. This article uses a historical study of military aircraft manufacturer Saab to explore the transition from experimenting with physical models and dangerous test flights in the development of rather simple aircraft systems, to the development of complex integrated aircraft systems using virtual models that can be tested in a simulated world, thereby postponing choice and the need for commitment of resources in the physical world. We show how modeling techniques and tools were developed over five generations of aircraft to help developers represent and evaluate alternative ideas, in an increasingly realistic virtual reality, thereby reducing material and fatal consequences in aircraft development. We distinguish hybrid forms of evaluation and a transition that seems to be moving in the direction of "virtual online evaluation," where empirically informed simulation models, based on real flight data reduces the fidelity gap between reality and representation. Drawing upon a selection of Jim Marchs writings, we speculate what this transition implies for learning from experience and the possibility of foolishness without consequence. ; Funding Agencies|VinnovaVinnova [2016-03226]
The development of perovskite emitters, their use in light-emitting devices, and the challenges in enhancing the efficiency and stability, as well as reducing the potential toxicity of this technology are discussed in this Review. Metal halide perovskites have shown promising optoelectronic properties suitable for light-emitting applications. The development of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) has progressed rapidly over the past several years, reaching high external quantum efficiencies of over 20%. In this Review, we focus on the key requirements for high-performance PeLEDs, highlight recent advances on materials and devices, and emphasize the importance of reliable characterization of PeLEDs. We discuss possible approaches to improve the performance of blue and red PeLEDs, increase the long-term operational stability and reduce toxicity hazards. We also provide an overview of the application space made possible by recent developments in high-efficiency PeLEDs. ; Funding Agencies|European Research Council Starting GrantEuropean Research Council (ERC) [717026]; Swedish Energy Agency EnergimyndighetenSwedish Energy Agency [48758-1]; Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education [CH2018-7736]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University (Faculty Grant SFO-Mat-LiU) [2009-00971]; UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research CouncilEngineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); Joint Research Program between China and the European Union [2016YFE0112000]; National Key Research and Development Program of China [2016YFB0401600]; National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [21975220, 91833303, 91733302, 51911530155]
Digitalization is a fundamental disruptive force triggered by FourthIndustrial Revolution and Internet of Things, which has changed theway we approach and think about business processes and activities.In this increasingly digital age, relationships between organizations(i.e. companies, governmental agencies, and others) and customersare being reshaped and new business models are being invented. Today,companies across industries need agility, speed, flexibility, andthe ability to pivot rapidly to pursue new business opportunities andkeep up with a fast-changing global business environment. Digitalizationemphasizes the importance of placing advanced technology atthe heart of all processes, products, and services. However, much ofthe promised value of digitalization for business and society has notyet been fully realized. Academia will play a vital role in developingthe required knowledge and skills at the individual, company, andsocial levels. LTU can contribute to digital transformation by upgradingteaching and research so that students and researchers learn,understand, and apply digitalization for business development, innovationmanagement, and social value creation.
The EU Commission's circular economy strategy pushes for a higher recycling rate and a more long-term waste management practice.1 Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM) can contribute to this agenda as a better landfill management option, by shifting the landfill paradigm from dumping or as end-storage of waste to resource recovery or as temporary storage of resources.2-4 Through ELFM, landfills becomes a secondary source of both material (Waste-to-Material, WtM) and energy (Waste-to-Energy, WtE) with the use of innovative technologies.3,4 Several studies explored the environmental and/or economic aspects of ELFM having different scopes and objectives. Some cover the entire process value chain while others additionally focused on comparing technological choices for WtE,5–7 WtM,8,9 and even ELFM waste valorisation.10 Furthermore, for the economic assessment, regulation-related costs and benefits as landfill taxes, gate fees and green certificates5,11,12 are also accounted for. Regarding the identification of economic hotspots, many of these studies concluded similar processes to be important. However, most of these studies were based on either hypothetical cases, or real cases but with small-scale excavation and separation using non-sophisticated set-ups, which are not likely to be used for large-scale processing. Hence, more uncertainty is expected from the lack of actual ELFM demonstration projects. The aim of this study is to analyse the main contributing factors that influence environmental and economic performance of ELFM, considering the landfill owner's viewpoint. The study is based on a real case of excavation and subsequent separation in an existing stationary facility. Specifically, the influence of the prevailing system conditions is investigated as defined by the current legislation and the market situation.
This study is part of a worldwide debate on inclusive innovation systems in developing countries and particularly on the co-evolutionary processes taking place, seen from the perspective of a public university. The increasing literature that discusses how innovation systems and development can foster more inclusive and sustainable societies has inspired this thesis work. Thus, the main problem handled in the research concerns the question how socially sensitive research practices and policies at a public university in Bolivia can be stimulated within emerging innovation system dynamics. In that vein, empirical knowledge is developed at the Universidad Mayor de San SimoÅLn (UMSS), Cochabamba as a contribution to experience-based learning in the field. Analysis are nourished by a dialogue with the work of prominent Latin American scholars and practitioners around the idea of a developmental university and the democratization of knowledge. The reader will be able to recognize a recursive transit between theory and practice, where a number of relevant concepts are contextualized and connected in order to enable keys of critical interpretation and paths of practices amplification for social inclusion purposes established. The study shows how, based on a previous experience, new competences and capacities for the Technology Transfer Unit (UTT) at UMSS were produced, in this case transforming itself into a University Innovation Centre. Main lessons gained in that experience came from two pilot cluster development (food and leather sectors) and a multidisciplinary researchers network (UMSS Innovation Team) where insights found can improve future collaborative relations between university and society for inclusive innovation processes within the Bolivian context.
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have been dominated by donor: acceptor blends based on fullerene acceptors for over two decades. This situation has changed recently, with non-fullerene (NF) OSCs developing very quickly. The power conversion efficiencies of NF OSCs have now reached a value of over 13%, which is higher than the best fullerene-based OSCs. NF acceptors show great tunability in absorption spectra and electron energy levels, providing a wide range of new opportunities. The coexistence of low voltage losses and high current generation indicates that new regimes of device physics and photophysics are reached in these systems. This Review highlights these opportunities made possible by NF acceptors, and also discuss the challenges facing the development of NF OSCs for practical applications. ; Funding Agencies|National Natural Science Foundation of China [91633301, 91333204, 51673201, 21325419, 51711530159]; Chinese Academy of Sciences [XDB12030200]; Swedish Research Council VR [2017-00744, 2016-06146]; Swedish Energy Agency Energimyndigheten [2016-010174]; Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Materials Science on Functional Materials at Linkoping University [SFO-Mat-LiU #2009-00971]; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council in the UK; Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation (KAW) through a Wallenberg Scholar grant
The transition towards a bioeconomy is one of the greatest challenges of our times, and dependent upon radical innovations and the replacement of fossil-based technologies with clean and more sustainable ones. This is however not done in a jiffy since key underlying process technologies are underdeveloped and also contradict with the prevailing socio-technical regime. This makes demonstration projects crucial for the development of new biorefinery technologies since such projects can reduce not only technical but also organizational and institutional uncertainties. Due to the complexity and costs of demonstration activities, they are typically performed in inter-organizational settings with actors from government, academia, research institutes and the industry. Such a constellation of actors often implies somewhat contradicting interests, for example regarding diffusion versus protection of knowledge that bring challenges for technological development. The overall purpose of the thesis is therefore to enhance knowledge about demonstration projects as knowledge generators contributing to the progression of sustainable technologies. The thesis builds upon case studies of biorefinery demonstration plants and investigates the processes of knowledge development and diffusion in order to contribute to bridging the valley of death between demonstration and commercialization of more sustainable technologies. Three papers are appended to the thesis. Paper I studies which key barriers that actors engaged in demonstration plants experience during technological development and suggest a role-typology to address those barriers. The second paper investigate knowledge production taking place in demonstration projects and suggests that there is an "imbalance" in production of domain-specific technical knowledge in relation to general and procedural knowledge on how to work with commercialization, which contributes to the problem of new technologies not making it past demonstration. The third paper seeks to address management of demonstration projects as protected spaces for emerging technologies. Those findings show that patenting strategies influence the formulation of expectations among actors that guides the creation of the social network as well as the experimental work and learnings taking place there in order for emerging technologies to develop further. ; Förverkligandet av den biobaserade ekonomin: pilot- och demonstrationsanläggningar i innovationspolitiken
In the present study, we conduct a discourse analysis on a set of longitudinal observations of government venture capitalists' decisions to identify how gender stereotypes are socially constructed and activated when assessing entrepreneurs' potential in the financial distribution of venture support. The present study finds that female entrepreneurs risk receiving significantly less venture capital, which is caused by the language and rhetoric used that relates to gender differences when funding decisions are made. We consider and discuss the implications of our results for related research about distributing venture capital and the social constructions of female and male entrepreneurs ; Validerad;2017;Nivå 2;2017-09-14 (andbra)
Residue products often pose a huge challenge to material recycling industry. Especially heterogenic and fine granular residues. It increases the cost and reduces the efficiency of material separation and recovery. Currently, the most common practice is to landfill such residue products. However, decreasing availability of landfills, increasing landfill costs, and new policy instruments require higher rates of resource recovery. In spite of that, business initiatives for recovering secondary raw material from residue products are often deterred by stringent environmental legislation emphasizing human toxicity concerns. Shredding industry plays a huge role in the context of circular economy via recycling important waste streams such as end-oflife vehicles (ELVs), municipal white goods, construction and demolition waste, and different industrial wastes. The core business model of industrial shredding is driven by recovering different metals while a variety of residue products including plastics, rubber, foam, wood, glass, and sand are generated. Shredder fine residue (also called shredder fines) is a fine granular residue product with intrinsic heterogeneity, which is produced by the shredding industry. A share of 15-20% of the input would end up as shredder fines in a typical plant. The overall aim of this study is to draw technical, market and regulatory boundary conditions for improved material recovery from shredder fines. Thereby to build a framework of principal guidelines to support systematic identification, development, and evaluation of different valorization options for shredder fines. The outcome of this study is also envisioned to provide generic conclusions to the valorization of heterogenic residue products in general. The study is performed in collaboration with a major shredding company in Sweden. The methodology reflects the Swedish context and consists of two phases. During the initial phase, firstly, the overall shredding industry structure of Sweden is studied to understand the governing regulatory framework, level of competition, and the scale of operation. Secondly, the collaborating company is studied to gain knowledge on technical feasibility of implementing recovery processes, economic, business and market aspects, and implications of national and local legislation, from the shredding company perspective. Empirical methods such as interviews and study of documentation are used in this phase. During the second phase, detailed material and elemental characterization tests are performed on shredder fine samples. Thereby the distribution of basic elements, metals, heating value, and ash, in shredder fines as well as across different size fractions of shredder fines is established. The results are compared and contrasted against literature values. An extensive survey is also carried out to identify potential users for different materials which are possibly recoverable from shredder fines. Such potential users are then mapped against materials. Leaching tests are also performed to assess the mobility of heavy metals and thereby the potential environmental risk and human toxicity. As the main contribution of this study, knowledge is developed and synthesized, boundary conditions are set, and principal guidelines of general relevance are drawn in order to facilitate improved valorization of fine granular residue products.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the essence that is, the nature of organizational responses to efficiently resist enforced change in institutionalized work practice destined to address poor organizational performance. The micro-foundations of the cognitive logic that are activated when organizations face change are hereby conceptualized. Design/methodology/approach Using a case study design, the study focusses on narratives of a failure to implement a regulatory enforced change in work practice at a military academy established in the 1600s. The interviews are complemented by secondary data. Findings The analysis reveals a cognitive framework by which the members of the organization shaped their responses. By building on micro-foundations for mobilizing resistance (i.e. the essential substance at a micro level), this study shows how the cognitive logic is activated to respond to change. To show how the cognitive logic is used to mitigate and compensate for incongruences with the regulatory logic, this study outlines a set of strategic resistance maneuvers and cognitive resistance forces that restrict regulatory influence on change in work practice. This study thus provides insights into maneuvers and resistance forces that members may activate to resist change efficiently. Originality/value To the author's knowledge, this is the first study to attempt to conceptualize the essence of the cognitive logic activated to resist organizational change. ; Validerad; 2016; Nivå 2; 2016-10-03 (andbra)
The concept of National Innovation Systems (NIS) has been widely adopted in developing countries, particularly in Latin American countries, for the last two decades. The concept is used mainly as an ex-ante framework to organize and increase the dynamics of those institutions linked to science, technology and innovation, for catching-up processes of development. In the particular case of Bolivia, and after several decades of social and economic crisis, the promise of a national innovation system reconciles a framework for collaboration between the university, the government and the socio-productive sectors. Dynamics of collaboration generated within NIS can be a useful tool for the pursuit of inclusive development ambitions. This thesis is focused on inclusive innovation processes and the generation of co-evolutionary processes between university, government and socio-productive sectors. This is the result of 8 years of participatory action research influenced by Mode 2 knowledge-production and Technoscientific approaches. The study explores the policy paths the Bolivian government has followed in the last three decades in order to organize science, technology and innovation. It reveals that Bolivia has an emerging national innovation system, where its demand-pulled innovation model presents an inclusive approach. Innovation policy efforts in Bolivia are led by the Vice-Ministry of Science and Technology (VCyT). Moreover, NIS involves relational and collaborative approaches between institutions, which imply structural and organizational challenges, particularly for public universities, as they concentrate most of the research capabilities in the country. These universities are challenged to participate in NIS within contexts of weak demanding sectors. This research focuses on the early empirical approaches and transformations at Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) in Cochabamba. The aim to strengthen internal innovation capabilities of the university and enhance the relevance of research activities in society by supporting socio-economic development in the framework of innovation systems is led by the Technology Transfer Unit (UTT) at UMSS. UTT has become a recognized innovation facilitator unit, inside and outside the university, by proposing pro-active initiatives to support emerging innovation systems. Because of its complexity, the study focuses particularly on cluster development promoted by UTT. Open clusters are based on linking mechanisms between the university research capabilities, the socio-productive actors and government. Cluster development has shown to be a practical mechanism for the university to meet the demanding sector (government and socio-productive actors) and to develop trust-based inclusive innovation processes. The experiences from cluster activities have inspired the development of new research policies at UMSS, with a strong orientation to foster research activities towards an increased focus on socio-economic development. The experiences gained at UMSS are discussed and presented as a "developmental university" approach. Inclusive innovation processes with co-evolutionary approaches seem to constitute an alternative path supporting achievement of inclusive development ambitions in Bolivia.
In Sweden the introduction of entrepreneurial learning into curricula in the entire school system has prompted a need for competence development and research on the subject to satisfy the demand for practical guidance on the practical level and policy development on the different government levels. To address this, Luleå University of Technology together with Umeå University will build a competence center for entrepreneurial learning with a special focus on northern Sweden. In this presentation we will describe and reflect on 1) the current situation in terms of actors and resources linked to entrepreneurial learning; 2) the process we plan to apply in building this competence center, including attracting international actors to a reference group, Swedish national actors as partners and local actors as core center participants; 3) the content in terms of research, education, competence development and collaboration; and 4) guiding principles for how the center will work where the idea is to practice aspects of entrepreneurial learning (i.e. be proactive, creative and initiate action that have potential to provide positive change). One area where we will try to use our innovative power is on how we in a sparsely populated area can reach out to places far away from the University using new technology for communication and collaboration. Here the center can collaborate with CiiR (Center for interorganizational innovation research) an existing Vinnova excellence center at LTU/UmU focusing on innovation in sparsely populated areas. ; Godkänd; 2013; 20130605 (ysko)
Globalization, public environmental concern and government legislation are challenging the Swedish industry to be more efficient and increase its efforts in research and in the development of methods and tools for product development and production. Furthermore, the manufacturing industry is changing from producing solely hardware products towards the inclusion of services or soft offers to add more value for the customer. As a result, there are an increased number of stakeholders involved in the early phases of product development that has an interest in the products design and performance during its life cycle. This challenges the way we manage and share experience internally as well as between companies.The intellectual property of a company is a key asset when competing on the global market; hence, the ability to capitalize on experiences from a company's development processes as well as products in use becomes increasingly important. Also, the European manufacturing industry and the EU commission conclude that the industry has to move from being "Resource-based" to "Knowledge based" to add more value and avoid competing solely on low-cost. It is recognized that an expensive manufacturing solution has a negative effect on a products total life cycle cost and the ability to earn profit. Hence, manufacturing processes is constantly a target for improvement efforts and experience gained in manufacturing has a potentially high impact on design decisions in new projects.The aim of the research presented here is to improve manufacturability and avoid reoccurrence of design flaws in ongoing or new projects. The research has provided a better understanding of the mechanisms for experience re-use and developed methods and tools for feedback of experience from the manufacturing phase back to the earlier phases in the products life cycle. The work has been carried out within two projects funded by the Swedish governmental agency for Innovation Systems and industry. The first project was DLP-E, Digitally Linked Processes with a focus on Experience re-use and the second project was Robust Machining, aiming for more robust machining processes within manufacturing.The research approach has been to combine the design research methodology and participatory action research. These methodologies together with an initial research question have guided the work:RQ: "How can experience from manufacturing processes be tied and reused to impact the governing product and process definition?"Branches within engineering research committed to his area are concurrent engineering and design for manufacturing although this has usually been limited to general rules of thumb and qualitative methods for designers. Recently however, statistical methods such as Design for Six Sigma and other methods for Robust Design are introduced to affect earlier phases of PD to achieve improved manufacturability.Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE), represents a technology that provide the means to capture and automatically re-use engineering knowledge in an engineering design environment. Methods and tools from this area have been used as an initial approach in this research. A functional product perspective puts a focus on the activity where the product is used rather than on the tangible product itself. From an experience feedback perspective, experience is gained during these activities and possibly re-used if there is a learning process.This thesis presents an initial descriptive case study at two manufacturing companies that provided a better understanding of current practices for experience re-use and identified factors that influenced the feedback of manufacturing experience in product development. Based on initial assumptions and the results from the first descriptive study, a theory on the mechanism for experience feedback and requirements on a manufacturing system was formulated in a prescriptive study. A second descriptive study utilized a prototype to identify if the theory was applicable in an industrial environment and if it addressed the factors it was supposed to address. The research has been an iterative process, whereas results from the descriptive studies have influenced new prescriptive studies, delivering methods and tools, which in turn have influenced the ongoing work at the company where the research was conducted.The main contribution from the research is a framework to support re-use of manufacturing experience. The framework decompose the multifaceted task of experience re-use by identifying typical activities involved in the feedback process and categorizing the "elements of experience" in terms of knowledge, information and data. Combined with an engineering process improvement approach, processes are streamlined and value is added to the product. KBE techniques are used to capture and re-use product and process knowledge in an integrated manner. The applicability of the result has been validated in descriptive studies as well as within company improvement efforts.The research supports a frontloading approach in product development by enabling manufacturing experience to have an impact on the design definition in the early phases of product development. As a consequence, the risk for costly re-design later on in a project is reduced. ; Godkänd; 2011; 20110408 (petand); DISPUTATION Ämnesområde: Funktionella produkter/Functional Product Development Opponent: Senior Lecturer Claudia Eckert, Open University, Department of Design, Leicestershire, United Kingdom Ordförande: Docent Ola Isaksson, Volvo Aero AB, Trollhättan Tid: Onsdag den 8 juni 2011, kl 09.00 Plats: E631, Luleå tekniska universitet
