Our study shows that technology transfer between Slovenian universities (or public research organisations) and Slovenian automotive industry is not sufficient. On one hand, technology transfer ...offices offer patented inventions for which automotive industry claims they have no value for them. On the other hand, the industry is seeking the help of (university) scientists to solve specific technical problems for inventions they propose and they could successfully commercialise, but unfortunately they often encounter unresponsiveness or rejection of their invitation. By conducting a focus group method where we confronted representatives of different groups, we have tried to find mutual solutions to this challenge. We claim that technology transfer offices have to be transformed in that way to attract direct industrial funding rather than purely focusing on commercialising results of ongoing research at universities or public research organisations.
We aim to examine differences in the effect of work intensity, organisational commitment and mobbing on the health of working women and men in Slovenia. A subsample of employee data (n=589) included ...in a Slovenian Public Opinion research study on a representative sample of Slovenian inhabitants is statistically analysed. This study reveals that men have better self-reported health and are less absent from work. However, women’s health is significantly negatively correlated with work intensity and men’s health with mobbing. Affective organisational commitment is positively connected to the health of both genders while the normative one is negatively correlated only with women’s health. Our study contributes to the theory of gender and health with evidence of health being not only a biological but also a social phenomenon which cannot be generalised, but must be interpreted in a specific time and social context.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate innovations in intellectual property rights (IPR) databases, techniques and software tools, with an emphasis on selected new developments and their ...contribution towards achieving advantages for IPR management (IPRM) and wider social benefits. Several industry buzzwords are addressed, such as IPR-linked open data (IPR LOD) databases, blockchain and IPR-related techniques, acknowledged for their contribution in moving towards artificial intelligence (AI) in IPRM. Design/methodology/approach The evaluation, following an original framework developed by the authors, is based on a literature review, web analysis and interviews carried out with some of the top experts from IPR-savvy multinational companies. Findings The paper presents the patent databases landscape, classifying patent offices according to the format of data provided and depicting the state-of-art in the IPR LOD. An examination of existing IPR tools shows that they are not yet fully developed, with limited usability for IPRM. After reviewing the techniques, it is clear that the current state-of-the-art is insufficient to fully address AI in IPR. Uses of blockchain in IPR show that they are yet to be fully exploited on a larger scale. Originality/value A critical analysis of IPR tools, techniques and blockchain allows for the state-of-art to be assessed, and for their current and potential value with regard to the development of the economy and wider society to be considered. The paper also provides a novel classification of patent offices and an original IPR-linked open data landscape.
With new technological advances such as the advent of big data, new opportunities are arising for companies. The dynamic nature of external environments is also causing the need to revise the ...necessary employees' skills. This article focuses on exploring the data skills in the context of intellectual property (IP) processes. By combining the resource-based view with a process approach, we designed our novel activity-to-skills framework to identify data skills. We posit that data skills are nonhomogenous and are not singular occurrences. Subsequently, we extend the taxonomy of required data skills by defining five types of data skills, as well as deepening the understanding of how these skills are distributed within IP activities and interwoven with nondata skill types. IP data skills come to the forefront most in IP commercialization activities. We develop implications for innovation managers based on interviews with elite informants-prominent IP experts-seven of them heads of their respective IP departments.
Although empirical studies show that suppliers’ innovativeness enhances original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) total innovation performance, some evidence reveals that suppliers’ innovation affects ...OEM in quantitatively and qualitatively limited ways. This study aims to explore innovation systems of European automobile producers, i.e., OEM. Technological innovation systems (TIS) remain relatively underexplored, but the approach is especially valuable for explaining why and how sustainable and circular innovation develop and spread. We applied a mixed-method approach and conducted patent analyses and interviews with 20 respondents from Slovenia, Austria, and Hungary, which are representatives of suppliers for the automotive industry and automotive clusters. We confirm that the European OEMs build innovation ecosystems that are more closed than their Asian counterparts. Furthermore, we define three paths of how inventions of suppliers can reach the OEMs, with developmental suppliers (large companies) having the highest probability of influencing the innovation activity of OEMs. The entry of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and start-ups with their inventions is difficult. However, it is not impossible, especially if they develop new solutions connected to current disruptive trends in the automotive industry: electric cars, autonomous driving and digitalisation.
The purpose of the research is to verify which innovation influencing factors are crucial for achieving optimal business results. The study encompassed low and medium-low technology Slovenian ...companies. The results showed that two key aspects of the innovation and economic performance of companies need to be addressed: smart financial investments in innovation and management of organisational aspects of the innovation process. The most innovative companies invest less in technology, yet more in other categories: external R&D, training, and marketing. In addition, influential organisational factors are related to the vision and strategic aspects of encouraging innovation. We can conclude that smart innovation management is a prerequisite to better innovation results and, in turn, also better economic results. The implications are relevant for managers so that they can appropriately invest in innovation and address organisational issues.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate innovations in intellectual property rights (IPR) databases, techniques and software tools, with an emphasis on selected new developments and their ...contribution towards achieving advantages for IPR management (IPRM) and wider social benefits. Several industry buzzwords are addressed, such as IPR-linked open data (IPR LOD) databases, blockchain and IPR-related techniques, acknowledged for their contribution in moving towards artificial intelligence (AI) in IPRM.
Design/methodology/approach
The evaluation, following an original framework developed by the authors, is based on a literature review, web analysis and interviews carried out with some of the top experts from IPR-savvy multinational companies.
Findings
The paper presents the patent databases landscape, classifying patent offices according to the format of data provided and depicting the state-of-art in the IPR LOD. An examination of existing IPR tools shows that they are not yet fully developed, with limited usability for IPRM. After reviewing the techniques, it is clear that the current state-of-the-art is insufficient to fully address AI in IPR. Uses of blockchain in IPR show that they are yet to be fully exploited on a larger scale.
Originality/value
A critical analysis of IPR tools, techniques and blockchain allows for the state-of-art to be assessed, and for their current and potential value with regard to the development of the economy and wider society to be considered. The paper also provides a novel classification of patent offices and an original IPR-linked open data landscape.
Since the transport sector as a whole is seen as the key contributor to the CO2 emissions in the EU, not surprisingly the internal combustion engine (ICE) technology is the first on the list for ...rapid phasing out. Given several more or less recent policy initiatives in the area, we could conceivably expect that the innovation activity within ICE had significantly declined in recent years, yet we know little about how the policy push actually plays out and if we have already reached a tipping point. Nonetheless, we cannot see a steep radical decline in ICE inventive activity that could be observed from patents based on the selected policy cut-offs. With the current trend of declining patents in the field of ICE, their share would approach zero only in 2041.The paper also further provides insights from patent citations of ICE and the activity of the most prolific patent applicants.
This paper explores the role and significance of independent inventors within the national innovation system. By using a case study based on interviews with 22 independent inventors, it examines the ...types of social capital facilitating independent inventors' access to relevant knowledge and information. The findings show that, in line with their marginalization in the national innovation system, independent inventors have very limited access to the services and assistance of supportive organizations of the national innovation system. They primarily rely on the social capital residing in civil society organizations as well as the social capital of their family and friends. Professional and interdisciplinary linkages can thus be regarded as their weak point hindering their access to relevant knowledge and information.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This paper explores the importance of social capital for independent inventors' access to knowledge relevant to their innovation activity. The first part is theoretical and deals with types of social ...capital crucial to knowledge transfer. The second part presents the empirical, qualitative study of Slovenian independent inventors. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted and the findings point to independent inventors' limited access to those types of social capital which are important for knowledge transfer within the Slovenian innovation system. This is especially true for bridging and weak ties. As a result, independent inventors are not included in the knowledge flow; especially not the formally organised and collective knowledge which is needed to successfully carry out all phases of innovation. The conclusion of the paper suggests a few basic steps to bridge this gap. Adapted from the source document.
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