Virtualization for a Network Processor Runtime System

The continuing ossification of the Internet is slowing the pace of network innovation. Network diversification presents one solution to this problem, by virtualizing the network at multiple layers. Diversified networks consist of a shared physical substrate, virtual routers (metarouters), and virtual links (metalinks). Virtualizing routers enables smooth and incremental upgrades to new network services. Our current priority for a diversified router prototype is to enable reserved slices of the network for researchers to perform repeatable, high-speed network experiments. General-purpose processors have well established techniques for virtualization, but do not scale efficiently to multi-gigabit speeds. To achieve these speeds, we employ network processors (NPs), typically consisting of multicore, multi-threaded processors with asymmetric, heterogeneous memories. The complexity and lack of hardware thread isolation in NP’s, combined with a lack of simple programming models, creates numerous challenges for effective sharing between metarouters. In this paper, we detail strategies for enabling NP virtualization at the link, memory, and processor levels, to better enable a research infrastructure for network innovation

Knowledge based entrepreneurship in the Czech Republic and Hungary: results from 4 case studies

This paper describes knowledge based entrepreneurship in the Czech Republic and Hungary, in particular the growth and development process of 4 firms are studied: Dekonta, an environmental services firm, Et netera, an IT services firm, both operating in Czech Republic, along with a data recovery firm, Kurt, and a biopharmaceutical firm, Solvo, both operating in Hungary. The objectives of the case studies are to illustrate experiences of knowledge based entrepreneurship within a transition environment in terms of their different growth and development paths. By carrying out in depth case studies using semi structured interviews with the founders, top management teams, core employees and key stakeholders in industrial associations I am able to explain the growth process of entrepreneurial knowledge based ventures. I assume an ecological view of the firm and examine the role of internal, strategic, network and external factors in this development process. I propose that the relative importance of these factors evolve over time from start up to maturity. Moreover, I anticipate that there will be complementarities between these factors in the spirit of Milgrom and Roberts (1995) and Von Tunzelmann (2003). This approach should help us better understand the complex nature of entrepreneurship. The key contributions of these case studies are the application of an ecological conceptual framework to the development of knowledge based firms in Central and Eastern Europe, and so the viability of this model is tested within the transition environment. I follow the recommendations by Ireland et al. (2005) and introduce a temporal element in order to analyse the shift in importance of the factors impacting on firm development and growth, thus hoping to deal with some of the criticisms on existing entrepreneurial research

CHORUS Deliverable 4.5: Report of the 3rd CHORUS Conference

The third and last CHORUS conference on Multimedia Search Engines took place from the 26th to the 27th of May 2009 in Brussels, Belgium. About 100 participants from 15 European countries, the US, Japan and Australia learned about the latest developments in the domain. An exhibition of 13 stands presented 16 research projects currently ongoing around the world

Between Internationalisation and Proximity: the internationalisation process of automotive first tier suppliers

The paper analyses the strategies of internationalization pursued by first tier automotive suppliers (FTS). The advent of modular production in this sector implies many changes in vertical relationships, which can in turn be used to explain the causes and forms of suppliers’ internationalization. The paper tries to explain internationalization patterns via an analytical grid wherein proximity needs are portrayed as a function of the complexity and exclusivity of inter-firm interactions. The argument applied in this article is broken down into three sections: the first reconsiders the transformations induced by modularization; the second presents some stylized facts about the internationalization of FTS; and the third part both presents an analytical grid and derives its implications in terms of location of suppliers.Internationalisation; Modularity; Industrial Geography; Vertical Relationships; First Tier Suppliers; Automotive

Beyond knowledge brokerage: an exploratory study of innovation intermediaries in an evolving smallholder agricultural system in Kenya

The recognition that innovation occurs in networks of heterogeneous actors and requires broad systemic support beyond knowledge brokering has resulted in a changing landscape of the intermediary domain in an increasingly market-driven agricultural sector in developing countries. This paper presents findings of an explorative case study that looked at 22 organisations identified as fulfilling an intermediary role in the Kenyan agricultural sector. The results show that these organisations fulfill functions that are not limited to distribution of knowledge and putting it into use. The functions also include fostering integration and interaction among the diverse actors engaged in innovation networks and working on technological, organisational and institutional innovation. Further, the study identified various organisational arrangements of innovation intermediaries with some organisations fulfilling a specialised innovation brokering role, even as other intermediaries take on brokering as a side activity, while still substantively contributing to the innovation process. Based on these findings we identify a typology of 4 innovation intermediation arrangements, including technology brokers, systemic brokers, enterprise development support and input access support. The results indicate that innovation brokering is a pervasive task in supporting innovation and will require policy support to embed it in innovation support arrangements. The paper is not normative about these arrangements

Ericsson : TV is a new game : diversification strategy for TV & Media business

The thesis hereby presented in the form of a case study aims to address the challenges faced by the multinational Ericsson throughout the process of developing a diversification strategy for the TV & Media business and the strategic options made associated to this diversification maneuver. The case study functions as an educational tool since it allows students to apply the strategic frameworks and theoretical concepts learned in class to a real business situation. Ericsson is a Swedish multinational company operating in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry, being a provider of communications technology and services and operating and investing in several business areas, among them the TV & Media business. The corporate business strategies followed by Ericsson, as well as the strategic options taken regarding the TV & Media business, and the analysis to the diversification strategy, as well as to the strategic options taken, constitute interesting topics for discussion in strategy courses, supported by the theoretical concepts and strategy frameworks proposed in the literature review. The proposed reflection focuses on the analysis and evaluation of the strategic decision to diversify into the TV & Media business and the strategic options taken, particularly, the development of the business area through an acquisitions strategy