Agglomeration, related-variety and internationalisation. Does a relationship exist?

This paper uses a large sample of Italian manufacturing firms over the period 2004-2006, to investigate whether different types of agglomeration externalities affect firms’ internationalisation modes. In addition to specialisation economies, Jacobs externalities are analysed following the recent contribution by FRENKEN et al. (2007) which distinguishes between related and unrelated variety. Econometric results show that agglomeration externalities – in particular, specialisation and related-variety – positively affect export, while they do not affect the multinational strategy. Moreover, results show that the impact of agglomeration externalities on firms’ internationalisation decisions is higher for small sized firms.Agglomeration, externalities, internationalisation

Determinants of technological innovation in SMEs. Firm-level factors, agglomeration economies and the role of KIBS providers

The study of the determinants of innovation processes has received great attention in both the economics and the business literature. However, only few contributions have proposed a comprehensive framework able to bring together different but not mutually exclusive research approaches. This paper contributes to the analysis of the determinants of technological innovation - namely, product and process innovations - focusing on Italian manufacturing small and medium sized firms (SMEs) by accounting, simultaneously, for firm-specific characteristics, agglomeration economies and the role of KIBS providers. Specifically, the paper provides an empirical investigation which is built on a multi-dimensional theoretical basis which gathers the resource-based view of the firm and the new economic geography framework together. The empirical exercise employs data of about 4,000 Italian SMEs observed over the period 2004-2006 and drawn from the Unicredit-Capitalia database. Parametric probabilistic models are estimated in order to identify the joint effects of several potential determinants of successful technological innovation. Overall, results suggest that technological innovation in manufacturing SMEs is mainly driven by firm-specific characteristics. It emerges that experience and knowledge accumulated over time (i.e. age) as well as availability of human and capital resources (i.e. size) matter for being innovative firms. Moreover, innovative firms show both higher labour productivity levels and higher investments in R&D activities than non-innovative firms. Results partially support previous findings on the agglomeration-innovation relationship: overall, diversification (specialisation) externalities seem to positively (negatively) affect (high-tech) firms' probability of introducing technological innovations. Finally, results suggest that the spatial agglomeration of KIBS providers - i.e. being located in an area characterised by a high concentration of KIBS firms - does not matter per se: in fact, a positive effect emerges only when firms' heterogeneity in absorptive capacity is explicitly considered. Results show that only (low-tech) SMEs which invest in R&D activities benefit from a high geographic concentration of (professional and technological) KIBS firms

Acciones de fomento de la adopción de tecnologías Industria 4.0 en empresas manufactureras de regiones europeas

Industry 4.0, a concept comprising a range of promising innovations enabled by the recent advancements in digital technologies, has become a priority of industrial policy in many European countries and regions. In this paper, we present actions undertaken by regional organisations (including the so-called Digital Innovation Hubs), fostering the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing companies. Using examples from Germany, Italy and Poland, we show actions that enable the creation of general conditions for such implementations and help companies develop an individual strategy for adopting Industry 4.0 innovations.La Industria 4.0, un concepto que comprende una serie de prometedoras innovaciones posibilitadas por los recientes avances en las tecnologías digitales, se ha convertido en una prioridad de la política industrial de muchos países y regiones europeos. En este documento presentamos las acciones emprendidas por organizaciones regionales (incluidos los denominados Centros de Innovación Digital) para fomentar la adopción de las tecnologías de la Industria 4.0 en las empresas manufactureras. Utilizando ejemplos de Alemania, Italia y Polonia, mostramos acciones que permiten crear condiciones generales para tales implementaciones a nivel regional, pero también ayudan a las empresas individuales a crear una estrategia individual para la adopción de las innovaciones de la Industria 4.0

¿De la deslocalización al "backshoring"? Evidencia de los distritos industriales italianos

In recent decades, industrial districts (ID) have experienced intense delocalisation to low-cost countries, with implications for IDs’ internal structure. Recent studies, however, highlight the advantages of relocalising manufacturing in home countries. This paper investigates ID firms’ production-location strategies and backshoring decisions. The results from a survey of 259 firms in eight Italian IDs show that firms that delocalise production do not change their strategies over time and make limited recourse to backshoring. ID production is still important to guarantee product quality and access to specialised know-how.En las últimas décadas, los distritos industriales experimentaron una deslocalización intensa hacia países de bajo costo, con implicaciones en la estructura interna del distrito. Estudios recientes destacan las ventajas de volver a localizar la producción en el mercado nacional. Este artículo analiza las estrategias de localización de las empresas del distrito de producción y las decisiones de “backshoring”. El trabajo empírico consiste en un análisis descriptivo de 259 empresas ubicadas en 8 distritos industriales en Italia. Los resultados muestran que las empresas que deslocalizaron la producción no han cambiado sus estrategias con el tiempo, con un limitado recurso al “back-shoring”. No obstante, la producción del distrito es todavía importante para garantizar la calidad del producto y el acceso a un “know-how” especializado

Is this time different?: how Industry 4.0 affects firms' labor productivity

Does Industry 4.0 technology adoption push firms’ labor productivity? We contribute to the literature debate—mainly focused on robotics and large firms—by analyzing adopters’ labor productivity returns when micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) are concerned. We employ original survey data on Italian MSMEs’ adoption investments related to a multiplicity of technologies and rely on a difference-in-differences estimation strategy. Results highlight that Industry 4.0 technology adoption leads to a 7% increase in labor productivity. However, this effect decreases over time and is highly heterogeneous with respect to the type, the number, and the variety of technologies adopted. We also identify potential channels explaining the labor productivity returns of technology adoption: cost-related efficiency, new knowledge creation, and greater integration/collaboration both within the firm and with suppliers

The decline in muscle strength and muscle quality in relation to metabolic derangements in adult women with obesity

Background & aims: The metabolic and functional characteristics related to sarcopenic obesity have not been thoroughly explored in the earlier stages of the aging process. The aim of the present study was to examine the phenotype of sarcopenic obesity, in terms of lean body mass, muscle strength and quality, in adult women with and without the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), and its relationship with the features of myosteatosis. Methods: Study participants were enrolled at the Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. Body composition was assessed by DXA. The Handgrip strength test (HGST) was performed. HGST was normalized to arm lean mass to indicate muscle quality; intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) and intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, as indicators of myosteatosis. Different indices of sarcopenia were calculated, based on appendicular lean mass (ALM, kg) divided by height squared, or weight. The NCEP-ATPIII criteria were used to diagnose the MetS. HOMA-IR was calculated. The physical activity level (PAL) was assessed through the IPAQ questionnaire. Results: 54 women (age: 48 ± 14 years, BMI: 37.9 ± 5.4 kg/m 2 ) were included. 54% had the MetS (metabolically unhealthy, MUO). HGST/arm lean mass was lower in MUO women than women without the MetS (6.3 ± 1.8 vs. 7.8 ± 1.6, p = 0.03). No differences emerged in terms of absolute ALM (kg) or other indices of sarcopenia (ALM/h 2 or ALM/weight) between metabolically healthy (MHO) vs. MUO women (p > 0.05). Muscle quality was negatively associated with HOMA-IR (p = 0.02), after adjustment for age, body fat, hs-CRP levels, and PAL. IMAT, but not IMCL, was significantly higher in obese women with the MetS compared to women without the MetS (p > 0.05). No association emerged between HGST/arm lean mass and IMAT or IMCL when HOMA-IR was included in the models. Conclusion: Insulin resistance, and not sarcopenia or myosteatosis per se, was associated with muscle weakness, resulting in the phenotype of “dynapenic obesity” in middle-aged women with the metabolic syndrome

Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the nutritional status and lipid profile of employees in a teaching hospital in Rome. A retrospective cohort study

Background: on the 9 March 2020, the Italian government declared a state of lockdown on the entire national territory aimed at reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, causing strong repercussions for people's lifestyles. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of the lockdown on the nutritional status and lipid profile of employees of an Italian teaching hospital. Methods: an observational retrospective cohort study was carried out at the Department of Occupational Medicine of the Umberto I General Hospital of Rome, including all employees who underwent two consecutive occupational medical examinations before and after the first lockdown (9 March 2020-18 May 2020). Employee medical records were used as a data source. Results: 1014 employees were involved in the study (50.6% nurses, 31% physicians, 14.8% technical staff, 3.6% administrative staff). Post lockdown BMI, total cholesterol and LDL values increased statistically significantly compared to pre lockdown ones. Nurses showed a significant association with increased BMI (p < 0.001), while workers with heart disease were inversely associated with total cholesterol (p < 0.001) and LDL (p < 0.001). Conclusion: this study showed that lockdown had a significant impact on employees' lifestyles. Further studies are needed to understand changes in health-related behaviors, such as diet and physical activity, of specific categories of workers over time under lockdown conditions

Statistical Process Control of assembly lines in a manufacturing plant: Process Capability assessment

Abstract Among the main strategies adopted by companies for enhancing their competitive advantage as well as for improving the internal efficiency is the quality management. Several tools can be involved when dealing with this issue; one of these is the Statistical Process Control, which includes the employment of statistical methods and metrics to monitor and control a process' quality. In this paper, indeed, two statistical metrics are involved for assessing the process capability of a filler machine produced by an Italian company operating in the food context. Specifically, two processes are inspected: the slewing ring-pinion backlash and the handling clamps height check, both showing excellent performances after having carried out the control and provided appropriate adjustments. Results are also compared with those obtained from the Six Sigma theory, another tool involved for quality controls which is in line with principles of lean manufacturing. Moreover, for the second process, a software was implemented for speeding up operations and achieving benefits in terms of time. The reliability of these analysis is confirmed by the application of the ANOVA Gage R&R tool, which allowed to assess the precision of the measurement system involved

Economic evaluation of automated guided vehicles usage in a food company

Abstract Nowadays, companies are more and more attracted and interested by the possibility of automating processes which can be easily carried out by devices or machines instead of employees, allowing saving in costs, higher productivity and flexibility. Among the most spread ways of automating processes, more precisely in this specific case the flow of materials, the Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) stand out. But the main question that everyone asks is the following: is it convenient or not? In this paper, the answer is provided for a company operating in the food context, which intends to automate the transport of raw ingredients from the kitchens where they are produced and prepared to the filling lines; to this end, an economic feasibility study is carried out, taking into account three different levels of automation for three different lines. Results from all the three scenarios demonstrate the convenience in terms of achievable revenues, saved hours and manpower, and will support the management in their operational decisions

Asenapine in Clinical Practice: Responders Vs Non-responders

ntroduction Asenapine is a second-generation antipsychotic approved in Europe for the treatment of manic or mixed episodes. Objective To describe the clinical features of Asenapine responders and non-responders. Methods A naturalistic, observational study is ongoing in patients treated with Asenapine. We have already recruited 37 manic patients with a lifetime diagnosis of Bipolar I (BDI) or Schizoaffective Disorder referring to our Psychiatric Ward. Patients are assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) at baseline (T0), and after 1 (T1) and 4 weeks (T2) of treatment. According to YMRS scores, patients are classified as responders and non-responders. Results The preliminary results highlight a significant improvement of the YMRS score from T0 to T2 in most patients. Asenapine seems particularly effective in patients with less severe manic symptoms, and responders are more likely to have lower baseline YMRS score. No correlation has currently emerged between responder status and diagnosis. Non-responders in our sample are females sharing some clinical features: early onset BDI diagnosis, several previous treatments (antipsychotics, mood stabilizers), initial cognitive impairment confirmed with the Mini Mental State Examination, Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale and neuroimaging. Conclusions Elderly manic patients with neurological impairment and/or dementia may have poorer therapeutic outcomes and poorer response to pharmacological treatment, which may prove effective in reducing agitation but not mania ratings. Diagnosis (BDI or schizoaffective disorder) does not seem to have a significant impact on Asenapine efficacy. The further recruitment and assessment of patients is expected to support the results described above