Open innovation as a strategy for small high–tech companies

Little academic research has been conducted in the area of open innovation as a strategy used by SMEs in their innovation process. In addition, small companies are subjected to liabilities to smallness and newness, for which open innovation could be the solution. This thesis focuses on two small Swedish high– tech companies. On the one hand we concentrate our studies on a software consultancy company providing programming services, on the other hand, the thesis also look on a small nano–technology company creating their product around material science innovation. The purpose of this study is to investigate what strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats these specific high-tech companies perceive in using open innovation in their business model. For accomplishing the investigations we have conducted two case studies. Through a review of relevant literature, a theoretical framework was first constructed, up on which we based the formulation of open-ended questions, to serve as a foundation for further data gathering. For the first case study, data was collected by interviewing the case firm’s CEO and for the second case study we used the participant observation method. The collected data was analysed and discussed in comparison to the literature. Additionally, the findings of each case were schematically evaluated by performing a SWOT analysis on open innovation, as observed by each of our two case firms and related to literature findings. Conclusions. We conclude that small firms are hampered in their innovation and commercialisation process is limitations related to smallness and newness. It was identified that, although limited by financial and structural constrains, small companies are able to use a considerable amount of open innovation aspects in their business model. These being especially those that are less resource demanding, such as employee involvement and co-creation with the customer or with other sources to innovation, like universities. It was also recognized that, while being open when capitalizing on certain aspects of open innovation to boost their innovation and commercialization process, the case firms also recognize the importance for especially small firms to protect the core technology knowledge from being leaked externally, as this is the vital component of their existence

Open innovation as a strategy for small high–tech companies

Little academic research has been conducted in the area of open innovation as a strategy used by SMEs in their innovation process. In addition, small companies are subjected to liabilities to smallness and newness, for which open innovation could be the solution. This thesis focuses on two small Swedish high– tech companies. On the one hand we concentrate our studies on a software consultancy company providing programming services, on the other hand, the thesis also look on a small nano–technology company creating their product around material science innovation. The purpose of this study is to investigate what strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats these specific high-tech companies perceive in using open innovation in their business model. For accomplishing the investigations we have conducted two case studies. Through a review of relevant literature, a theoretical framework was first constructed, up on which we based the formulation of open-ended questions, to serve as a foundation for further data gathering. For the first case study, data was collected by interviewing the case firm’s CEO and for the second case study we used the participant observation method. The collected data was analysed and discussed in comparison to the literature. Additionally, the findings of each case were schematically evaluated by performing a SWOT analysis on open innovation, as observed by each of our two case firms and related to literature findings. Conclusions. We conclude that small firms are hampered in their innovation and commercialisation process is limitations related to smallness and newness. It was identified that, although limited by financial and structural constrains, small companies are able to use a considerable amount of open innovation aspects in their business model. These being especially those that are less resource demanding, such as employee involvement and co-creation with the customer or with other sources to innovation, like universities. It was also recognized that, while being open when capitalizing on certain aspects of open innovation to boost their innovation and commercialization process, the case firms also recognize the importance for especially small firms to protect the core technology knowledge from being leaked externally, as this is the vital component of their existence

FASTIGHETSBOLAGS BESLUTSFAKTORER VID FÖRVÄRV AV AVKASTNINGSFASTIGHETER

Uppsatsen behandlar fastighetsbolags olika påverkande faktorer för fastighetsförvärv. Den granskar även skillnader i olika företag baserat på dess affärsmässiga förutsättningar. Uppsatsen visar olika sätt att värdera fastigheter, både med hjälp av ekonomiska kalkyler och andra påverkande faktorer såsom geografisk placering och utvecklingsmöjligheter

Human Anti-Oxidation Protein A1M—A Potential Kidney Protection Agent in Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has been in clinical use for 15 years to treat metastatic neuroendocrine tumors. PRRT is limited by reabsorption and retention of the administered radiolabeled somatostatin analogues in the proximal tubule. Consequently, it is essential to develop and employ methods to protect the kidneys during PRRT. Today, infusion of positively charged amino acids is the standard method of kidney protection. Other methods, such as administration of amifostine, are still under evaluation and show promising results. α1-microglobulin (A1M) is a reductase and radical scavenging protein ubiquitously present in plasma and extravascular tissue. Human A1M has antioxidation properties and has been shown to prevent radiation-induced in vitro cell damage and protect non-irradiated surrounding cells. It has recently been shown in mice that exogenously infused A1M and the somatostatin analogue octreotide are co-localized in proximal tubules of the kidney after intravenous infusion. In this review we describe the current situation of kidney protection during PRRT, discuss the necessity and implications of more precise dosimetry and present A1M as a new, potential candidate for renal protection during PRRT and related targeted radionuclide therapies

Kidney protection with the radical scavenger α1-microglobulin (A1m) during peptide receptor radionuclide and radioligand therapy

α1-microglobulin (A1M) is an antioxidant found in all vertebrates, including humans. It has enzymatic reductase activity and can scavenge radicals and bind free heme groups. Infused recombinant A1M accumulates in the kidneys and has therefore been successful in protecting kidney injuries in different animal models. In this review, we focus on A1M as a radioprotector of the kidneys during peptide receptor radionuclide/radioligand therapy (PRRT/RLT). Patients with, e.g., neuroendocrine tumors or castration resistant prostate cancer can be treated by administration of radiolabeled small molecules which target and therefore enable the irradiation and killing of cancer cells through specific receptor interaction. The treatment is not curative, and kidney toxicity has been reported as a side effect since the small, radiolabeled substances are retained and excreted through the kidneys. In recent studies, A1M was shown to have radioprotective effects on cell cultures as well as having a similar biodistribution as the somatostatin analogue peptide177Lu-DOTA-TATE after intravenous infusion in mice. Therefore, several animal studies were conducted to investigate the in vivo radioprotective potential of A1M towards kidneys. The results of these studies demonstrated that A1M co-infusion yielded protection against kidney toxicity and improved overall survival in mouse models. Moreover, two different mouse studies reported that A1M did not interfere with tumor treatment itself. Here, we give an overview of radionuclide therapy, the A1M physiology and the results from the radioprotector studies of the protein

Non-invasive imaging methodologies for assessment of radiation damage to bone marrow and kidneys from peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. : -

Background/Aims: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is becoming clinical routine for management of neuroendocrine tumours. The number of PRRT cycles is correlated with treatment effect but theoretically limited by off-target radiation damage to kidneys and bone marrow. New imaging biomarkers for assessment of PRRT tissue damage would enable evaluation of novel renal and bone marrow protective agents, as well as personalised PRRT treatment regiments. Methods: Mice treated with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE PRRT or vehicle were examined at baseline and following treatment with [18F]fluorothymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) and technetium-99m-mercapto-acetyl-tri-glycine ([99mTc]Tc-Mag3) single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) to assess dynamic changes in bone marrow proliferation and renal function, respectively. Results: Bone marrow proliferation as assessed by [18F]FLT was decreased 2 days after PRRT treatment, but not vehicle, compared to baseline (target-to-background ratio [TBRmax] baseline:1.69 ± 0.29 vs. TBRmax PRRT: 0.91 ± 0.02, p < 0.01). Renal function as assessed by [99mTc]Tc-Mag3 SPECT was similarly decreased 2 days following PRRT compared to vehicle (fractional uptake rate [FUR] vehicle: 0.030 ± 0.014 s–1 vs. FUR PRRT: 0.0051 ± 0.0028 s–1, p < 0.01). Conclusion: [18F]FLT PET and [99mTc]Tc-Mag3 SPECT are promising techniques for assessing bone marrow and renal injury from [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE PRRT and may potentially improve patient management by allowing evaluation of protective interventions as well as enabling personalised PRRT treatments

Biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of recombinant α1-microglobulin and its potential use in radioprotection of kidneys.

Peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is a systemically administrated molecular targeted radiation therapy for treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. Fifteen years of clinical use show that renal toxicity, due to glomerular filtration of the peptides followed by local generation of highly reactive free radicals, is the main side-effect that limits the maximum activity that can be administrated for efficient therapy. α1-microglobulin (A1M) is an endogenous radical scavenger shown to prevent radiation-induced in vitro cell damage and protect non-irradiated surrounding cells. An important feature of A1M is that, following distribution to the blood, it is equilibrated to the extravascular compartments and filtrated in the kidneys. Aiming at developing renal protection against toxic side-effects of PRRT, we have characterized the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of intravenously (i.v.) injected (125)I- and non-labelled recombinant human A1M and the (111)In- and fluorescence-labelled somatostatin analogue octreotide. Both molecules were predominantly localized to the kidneys, displaying a prevailing distribution in the cortex. A maximum of 76% of the injected A1M and 46% of the injected octreotide were present per gram kidney tissue at 10 to 20 minutes, respectively, after i.v. injection. Immunohistochemistry and fluorescence microscopy revealed a dominating co-existence of the two substances in proximal tubules, with a cellular co-localization in the epithelial cells. Importantly, analysis of kidney extracts displayed an intact, full-length A1M at least up to 60 minutes post-injection (p.i.). In summary, the results show a highly similar pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of A1M and octreotide, thus enabling the use of A1M to protect the kidneys tissue during PRRT