The Metropolitan Region of Campinas, Brazil: applying the technopolis framework

This paper examines the potential of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (MRC) for becoming a technopolis. Located an hour from São Paulo, in Southeastern Brazil, the MRC has been internationally recognized as an important world technological center. This paper maps the economic and technological environment of the region and develops an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the MRC with respect to entrepreneurship and becoming a technopolis. We begin by looking at selected high-technology industry and service sectors as well as the infrastructure supporting technological innovation and entrepreneurship in the form of research institutes, a research university (Unicamp), support groups, and three incubators. We then discuss the results of two surveys of companies associated with Unicamp or one of the incubators to determine the reliance of these companies on the MRC infrastructure for financing and marketing to networking and legal assistance, as well as their policy recommendations for improving entrepreneurship in the region. We conclude that the region is attractive to many companies and has great potential for future success as a technopolis due to its high levels of both hard and smart infrastructure, the strength of support available from a variety of local institutions, and the high level of economic activity in potentially innovative industrial and service sectors. However, there are several ways that the university, incubators, and public policies could better support entrepreneurship in the MRC. Specifically, an increase in public and private partnerships as well as greater capitalization options for start-ups are key areas the region could change to provide support for greater diversification of the start-ups in the area and further development of the MRC as a technopolis.technology-based start-ups; entrepreneurship; innovation; incubation; economic development; Campinas

The Metropolitan Region of Campinas, Brazil: applying the technopolis framework

This paper examines the potential of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (MRC) for becoming a technopolis. Located an hour from São Paulo, in Southeastern Brazil, the MRC has been internationally recognized as an important world technological center. This paper maps the economic and technological environment of the region and develops an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the MRC with respect to entrepreneurship and becoming a technopolis. We begin by looking at selected high-technology industry and service sectors as well as the infrastructure supporting technological innovation and entrepreneurship in the form of research institutes, a research university (Unicamp), support groups, and three incubators. We then discuss the results of two surveys of companies associated with Unicamp or one of the incubators to determine the reliance of these companies on the MRC infrastructure for financing and marketing to networking and legal assistance, as well as their policy recommendations for improving entrepreneurship in the region. We conclude that the region is attractive to many companies and has great potential for future success as a technopolis due to its high levels of both hard and smart infrastructure, the strength of support available from a variety of local institutions, and the high level of economic activity in potentially innovative industrial and service sectors. However, there are several ways that the university, incubators, and public policies could better support entrepreneurship in the MRC. Specifically, an increase in public and private partnerships as well as greater capitalization options for start-ups are key areas the region could change to provide support for greater diversification of the start-ups in the area and further development of the MRC as a technopolis

The free software as an alternative for digital cohesion of visually impaired people

Orientador: Luiz Cesar MartiniDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: A acelerada difusão do software "livre", tanto no Brasil como no exterior, vem se mostrando cada vez mais evidente nos mais diversos âmbitos (governo, empresas, escolas, etc.). A principal motivação para a transição do software "proprietário" para o "livre" é a redução de custos, mas para efetivar essa migração é necessário que ferramentas compatíveis estejam disponíveis para a manutenção da usabilidade do sistema. Essa é ainda uma barreira para a migração do usuário deficiente visual brasileiro, pois até este momento, nenhuma das tecnologias assistivas desenvolvidas para sistemas operacionais "livres" encontram-se disponíveis no idioma português. Como solução para esse problema, esta dissertação apresenta uma alternativa que efetivará essa migração, habilitando usuários cegos para realização de tarefas como edição de texto, acesso à internet, gerenciamento de arquivos, entre outras. O trabalho baseia-se na implementação de um sintetizador de voz para o português do Brasil e na tradução de uma tecnologia assistiva desenvolvida para sistemas operacionais "livres". Como parte integrante estão documentados também o desenvolvimento de um modelo compacto de computador pessoal e os resultados de testes realizados com usuários voluntáriosAbstract: The accelerated diffusion of the "free" software, as much in Brazil as in the foreign, has beem shown more and more evident in the most diverse scopes (government, companies, schools, etc) The main motivation to the transition from "proprietary" software to the "free" one is the costs reduction, but to accomplish this migration compatible tools need to be available for the maintenance of the system usability. This is still a barrier for the migration of the brazilian visually impaired user, because up to this moment, none of the assistive technologies developed to "free" operating systems are available in portuguese language. As solution for this problem, this dissertation presents an alternative that will accomplish this migration, enabling blind users to carrying out tasks like text edition, internet access, file management, among others. The work is based on the implementation of a voice synthesizer for the portuguese from Brazil and on the translation of an assistive technology developed to "free" operating systems. As integrated part are also documented the development of a compact model of personal computer and the results of tests carried out with voluntary usersMestradoTelecomunicações e TelemáticaMestre em Engenharia Elétric

Biomineralization

This open access book is the proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Biomineralization (BIOMIN XIV) held in 2017 at Tsukuba. Over the past 45 years, biomineralization research has unveiled details of the characteristics of the nano-structure of various biominerals; the formation mechanism of this nano-structure, including the initial stage of crystallization; and the function of organic matrices in biominerals, and this knowledge has been applied to dental, medical, pharmaceutical, materials, agricultural and environmental sciences and paleontology. As such, biomineralization is an important interdisciplinary research area, and further advances are expected in both fundamental and applied research

Financial Growth Indicator of Merger and Acquisition in Indian Corporate Sector

The Indian corporate sector has experienced a major restructuring through mergers and acquisitions, with the changes brought about by the Industrial Policy Resolution of June 1991. In today’s globalized economy, mergers and acquisitions are being increasingly used the world over, for improving competitiveness of companies through gaining greater market share, broadening the portfolio to reduce business risk, for entering new markets and geographies, and capitalizing on economies of scale etc. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the impacts of merger and acquisition on profitability and liquidity performance of acquired companies. The study period is ten years before five years and after five years of M & A. This study utilizes secondary data while Ratio analysis, mean, standard deviation and student paired T -test were used in analyzing the data for a selected samples. The results of the empirical findings show that there is positive impact of merger and acquisition on liquidity performance of selected sample

Promise of small and medium enterprises

Co-published with RoutledgeThis series of books brings together results of an intensive research programme on aspects of the national systems of innovation in the fi ve BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It provides a comprehensive and comparative examination of the challenges and opportunities faced by these dynamic and emerging economies. In discussing the impact of innovation with respect to economic, geopolitical, socio-cultural, institutional and technological systems, it reveals the possibilities of new development paradigms for equitable and sustainable growth

European Union Timber Regulation Impact on International Timber Markets

The trade of illegal timber, often from illegal logging, has severe environmental, social and economic consequences. The EU’s response to this problem came with the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan, with its specific goal to end illegal logging, thereby improving sustainability of forest resources. In March 2013, an additional step was taken by implementing the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). The EUTR requires proof of timber’s origin and legality to ensure that no illegal timber is imported into the EU. To this end the EU intends to block imports of any wood or wood product which comes from unknown sources. Certification of sustainable forest management will help EU importers minimize risk, which is an essential part of their required due diligence system. Monitoring organizations are established to assist trade associations and businesses to construct comprehensive due diligence systems. National competent authorities are designated to follow the trade of the new FLEGT-licensed timber and timber products. In the first year of the EUTR there are positive impacts, of which the most important is awareness of the disastrous situation with illegal logging, driven by exports of illegal timber. Another positive development is tropical timber exporters documenting the legality of their wood exports. Yet another positive feature is establishment of due diligence systems by EU importers. However, there are considerable problems for ensuring legal trade; for example the lack of comprehensive documentation of origin and legality. Analysis of recent trends establishes changes in the European timber trade in terms of sourcing, substitution, diversion to less-demanding countries. Short-term forecasts of market trends and changes will enable further policy assessment to achieve the objectives of improved legality in international timber markets.JRC.H.3-Forest Resources and Climat

11th International Coral Reef Symposium Proceedings

A defining theme of the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium was that the news for coral reef ecosystems are far from encouraging. Climate change happens now much faster than in an ice-age transition, and coral reefs continue to suffer fever-high temperatures as well as sour ocean conditions. Corals may be falling behind, and there appears to be no special silver bullet remedy. Nevertheless, there are hopeful signs that we should not despair. Reef ecosystems respond vigorously to protective measures and alleviation of stress. For concerned scientists, managers, conservationists, stakeholders, students, and citizens, there is a great role to play in continuing to report on the extreme threat that climate change represents to earth’s natural systems. Urgent action is needed to reduce CO2 emissions. In the interim, we can and must buy time for coral reefs through increased protection from sewage, sediment, pollutants, overfishing, development, and other stressors, all of which we know can damage coral health. The time to act is now. The canary in the coral-coal mine is dead, but we still have time to save the miners. We need effective management rooted in solid interdisciplinary science and coupled with stakeholder buy in, working at local, regional, and international scales alongside global efforts to give reefs a chance.https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_icrs/1000/thumbnail.jp