Distributed generation is emerging as a new technology for supplying the increasing demand for electricity. Microgrids are attracting a great deal of attention since they integrate distributed ...generation in the main grid reliably and cleanly. When designing the control system of a microgrid, several functions must be considered, such as the management of electrical and thermal energy, load management, synchronisation with the main grid, etc. Both companies and institutions have carried out research into the control of microgrids over recent years and many proposals can be found in the literature. Thus, the design of the control system of a microgrid is a complex task due to its multiple functions and the large number of proposed solutions. This paper presents a complete description of the main features of a microgrid and describes the characteristics of the control systems used. Details are provided of the control tasks involved and of the main types of controls proposed in the literature. In addition, this paper describes the controls used in existing microgrids all over the world and proposes future areas for research.
The concept of the entrepreneurial university aims to promote the transfer of academic knowledge to companies and foster socio-economic development. The first wave occurred at pioneering universities ...in the United States like MIT and Stanford, defining a university-wide patent policy, establishing a technology transfer policy, setting up university-industry partnerships and churning out new companies. The second wave occurred in Western Europe, with ivory tower universities transforming themselves into entrepreneurial institutions supporting academic entrepreneurs. In terms of newly emerging economies making up the third wave, the promotion of academic entrepreneurship is high on their political agendas and, although the actual pioneering phase has already begun, it is not clear as yet which policies or structures are needed to foster the effective transfer of academic knowledge and the incubation of start-up firms, and eventually contribute to socio-economic development. In this sense, the aim of this study is to identify potential activities and effective policies to encourage the transfer of academic technology in Brazil, being one of the emerging economies. An analytical framework of the entrepreneurial university was constructed based on existing literature, consisting of five dimensions: entrepreneurial perspective, external links, access to university resources, innovation arrangement and scientific research. In an exploratory case study, eighteen interviews were carried out with incubatee-entrepreneurs and the managers of university business incubators in southern Brazil. Although all dimensions were mentioned in the interviews as being important in promoting entrepreneurship, the key finding from our research is that most academic start-ups are based on the entrepreneur's own technologies, rather than on the university's patents. The quality of entrepreneurial training, in addition to being in close contact with applied research, encourages academics to turn their business plans into start-up ventures. To conclude, although the new ventures are not based on academic patents, they are playing a proactive and dynamic role when it comes to socio-economic developments.
•The creation of entrepreneurial universities worldwide shows a wave-like pattern.•After the US and EU Brazil makes up the third wave of academic entrepreneurship.•In Brazil academia brings the triple helix partners industry and government together.•A framework to study academic entrepreneurship in Brazil was developed and applied.•University start-ups in Brazil commercialize technologies based on private projects.
A review on solar energy use in industries Mekhilef, S.; Saidur, R.; Safari, A.
Renewable & sustainable energy reviews,
05/2011, Letnik:
15, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Presently, solar energy conversion is widely used to generate heat and produce electricity. A comparative study on the world energy consumption released by International Energy Agency (IEA) shows ...that in 2050, solar array installations will supply around 45% of energy demand in the world. It was found that solar thermal is getting remarkable popularity in industrial applications. Solar thermal is an alternative to generate electricity, process chemicals or even space heating. It can be used in food, non-metallic, textile, building, chemical or even business related industries. On the other hand, solar electricity is wildly applied in telecommunication, agricultural, water desalination and building industry to operate lights, pumps, engines, fans, refrigerators and water heaters.
It is very important to apply solar energy for a wide variety of applications and provide energy solutions by modifying the energy proportion, improving energy stability, increasing energy sustainability, conversion reduction and hence enhance the system efficiency. The present work aimed to study the solar energy systems utilization in industrial applications and looked into the industrial applications which are more compatible to be integrated with solar energy systems.
This Handbook integrates the insights of leading cross-cultural management researchers from 13 nations into relations between employees and their organizations, organization structures and processes, ...and the management of multiple-nation workforces, using a theoretical perspective based on cultural values, cognition, and social structures that is provided by the editors.
This study aimed to verify the intersection between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and businesses at the base of the pyramid (BOP) in Brazilian Multinational Companies (MNCs) in a Meso-level ...analysis. After analyzing fifty Brazilian MNCs, we identified six MNCs that were engaged in business activities in BOP-markets (Banco Bradesco S.A., Banco do Brasil S.A., Artecola Quimica, Vale S.A., Natura &Co Holding S.A., and Klabin S.A.). Data were collected by desk research by analyzing companies' public documents and reports. Subsequently, we conducted qualitative content analysis to synthesize the main findings. Through analysis of the MNCs' business activities in BOP markets, and comparing them with CSR theory, it was found that it is hard to find the exact point where these companies' activities stop being specific organizational actions and policies aimed to match the expectations of stakeholders (CSR) to become businesses in the BOP markets, which is the possibility of reducing poverty through profitable activities.
This study aimed to verify the intersection between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and businesses at the base of the pyramid (BOP) in Brazilian Multinational Companies (MNCs) in a Meso-level ...analysis. After analyzing fifty Brazilian MNCs, we identified six MNCs that were engaged in business activities in BOP-markets (Banco Bradesco S.A., Banco do Brasil S.A., Artecola Quimica, Vale S.A., Natura &Co Holding S.A., and Klabin S.A.). Data were collected by desk research by analyzing companies' public documents and reports. Subsequently, we conducted qualitative content analysis to synthesize the main findings. Through analysis of the MNCs' business activities in BOP markets, and comparing them with CSR theory, it was found that it is hard to find the exact point where these companies' activities stop being specific organizational actions and policies aimed to match the expectations of stakeholders (CSR) to become businesses in the BOP markets, which is the possibility of reducing poverty through profitable activities. KEYWORDS Business model, Sustainability, Low-income communities, Poverty Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar a intersecao entre responsabilidade social corporativa e negocios na base da piramide (BOP) em empresas multinacionais brasileiras em uma analise em nivel meso. Depois de analisar 50 empresas multinacionais brasileiras, identificamos seis empresas engajadas no desenvolvimento de negocios na BOP (Banco Bradesco S.A., Banco do Brasil S.A., Artecola Quimica, Vale S.A., Natura & Co Holding S.A., e Klabin S.A.). Os dados foram coletados por meio de pesquisa documental, por meio da analise de documentos e relatorios publicos das empresas. Posteriormente, realizamos uma analise de conteudo qualitativa para sintetizar os principais achados. Com os resultados da comparacao sistematica entre os negocios no mercado da BOP e a teoria da responsabilidade social corporativa, verificou- se que e dificil encontrar o ponto exato em que as atividades dessas empresas deixam de ser acoes e politicas organizacionais especificas que atendam as expectativas de partes interessadas (responsabilidade social corporativa) para se tornarem empresas dentro da BOP, que e a possibilidade de reduzir a pobreza por meio de atividades lucrativas. PALAVRAS-CHAVE Modelo de Negocios, Sustentabilidade, Comunidades de Baixa Renda, Pobreza
Taking a socially proactive stance that aligns with their economic imperatives has led multinational corporations (MNCs) to focus on social innovation that tackles environmental challenges (or ...eco-innovation hereafter). Their knowledge of eco-innovation is important to emerging markets that are facing severe environmental challenges and to emerging market firms (EMFs) whose eco-innovation activities face resource and knowledge constraints. MNCs, through their foreign direct investment (FDI) activities in host emerging markets, can divulge economic, knowledge and environmental values of eco-innovation, helping EMFs to improve their eco-innovation through knowledge spillover channels. Taking the value-based approach, we draw on the eco-innovation research and the MNC/FDI spillovers literature to develop hypotheses on the relationship between regional knowledge spillovers of MNCs and the eco-innovation of EMFs in a multi-dimensional task environment characterized by munificence, complexity and dynamism. Our empirical examination is based on a sample of Chinese manufacturing firms from 2003 to 2013. We find support for hypotheses that regional knowledge spillovers of MNCs enhance the positive effects of munificence and mitigate the negative effects of complexity and dynamism on the eco-innovation of EMFs.
