Which projects are selected for an innovation subsidy? The Portuguese case

Several empirical studies have analyzed which firm characteristics influence government evaluators in the decision to select specific firms to participate in Research and Develop- ment and Innovation subsidy programs. However, few authors have provided a precise analysis about the selection process of applications submitted for public support. The aim of the present article is to assess differences in investment project characteristics (expected impact) between firms with approved and non-approved applications and to understand which kinds of projects are selected for a subsidy. The analysis is focused on the case study of applications submitted to the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System (SI Innovation) between 2007 and 2013. The impact variables under study are those used in the selection procedure to grant the firm a subsidy, namely the expected impact on exports, value creation, productivity, patent application and qualified employment. Using a counterfactual analysis and Propensity Score Matching estimators, the results show that firms with approved applications are those that expect to invest more and forecast a higher increase in exports and productivity as the result of the investment project. However, these firms in comparison with the control group (those with non-approved applications) have investment projects with a lower contribution to growth and lower economic efficiency (return on investment in terms of productivity). The conclusions of this study could be useful for policy-makers since it provides evidence about firms’ strategic choice concerning investment projects submitted for an Innovation subsidy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

“Who Gets Public Support to Innovation? Evidence from the Portuguese Alentejo Region”

The aim of the study is to assess which factors influence the policymaking decisions to financially support an innovative investment project. Based on the case study of the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System in the Alentejo region, we estimated an econometric model based on firms’ and application’ characteristics, controlling for macroeconomic environment. The results indicate that the selection process is more focused on the expected project impact than on firms’ past performance. Furthermore, we found that government preference for promoting employment and exportation are shown to be higher than the impact on firm productivity

The Selection Process of Applications to the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System: Who Gets Financial Support?

Public policies to support entrepreneurship and innovation play a vital role when firms have difficulties in accessing external finance. However, some authors have found evidence of long-term inefficiency in subsidized firms (Bernini and Pelligrini, 2011; Cerqua and Pelligrini, 2014) and ineffectiveness of public funds (Jorge and Suárez, 2011). The aim of the paper is to assess the effectiveness in the selection process of applications to public financial support for stimulating innovation. Using a binary choice model, we investigate which factors influence the probability of obtaining public support for an innovative investment. The explanatory variables are connected to firm profile, the characteristics of the project and the macroeconomic environment. The analysis is based on the case study of the Portuguese Innovation.Incentive System (PIIS) and on the applications managed by the Alentejo Regional Operational Program in the period 2007 – 2013. The results show that the selection process is more focused on the expected impact of the project than on the firm’s past performance. Factors that influence the credit risk and the decision to grant a bank loan do not seem to influence the government evaluator regarding the funding of some projects. Past activities in R&D do not significantly affect the probability of having an application approved under the PIIS, whereas an increase in the number of patents and the number of skilled jobs are both relevant factors. Nevertheless, some evidence of firms’ short-term inefficiency was found, in that receiving public financial support is linked to a smaller increase in productivity compared to non-approved firm applications. At the macroeconomic level, periods with a higher cost of capital in financial markets are linked to a greater probability of getting an application for public support approved, which could be associated with the effectiveness of public support in correcting market failings

Competition effect on innovation and productivity - The Portuguese case

The aim of the present paper is to assess the effect of competition on innovation (patent applications) and on productivity (Total Factor Productivity and Labour Productivity), using data from 654 Portuguese firms, according to 208 NACE 4-digits sectors, and over the period 2007 to 2015. For this purpose, two different methodological approaches were used, a Poisson regression model for the patent function and a log-log fixed effect model for the productivity function. The results reveal that, on average, competition has a negative, U-shaped form effect on innovation in the short term, and a positive effect in the medium-long term. Nevertheless, the model focusing only on manufacturing sectors shows some differences from the model considering all economic activities, namely a linear positive effect of competition on innovation. Concerning the effect of competition on productivity, a positive effect on Total Factor Productivity emerged from the analysis, while for labour productivity a negative one prevails

“Productivity and Employment in Firm’s Acess to Public Funding to Support Innovation”

Innovation is at the heart of the Europe 2020 Strategy, in order to promote higher levels of employment and productivity. Special attention is given to increasing the effectiveness of innovation policy instruments, mainly as some authors found evidence that productivity could be negatively affected by subsidies. The aim of the study is to assess how the expected impact on firm productivity and employment is taken into account, when firms apply for public funding for innovation. The analysis is based on the case study of the Portuguese Innovation Incentive System in the Alentejo region. In order to understand which factors influence the public decision to financially support private investment, we estimated a logit model based on firms’ and applications’ characteristics, controlling for the macroeconomic environment. The results indicate that government preferences for promoting exports, exploiting firms R&D results and stimulating the level of qualified employment are shown to be more relevant than the impact on firm productivity. Furthermore, the cost to the government of new jobs created, measured at least by exemption of interest and financial charges on the loan, is almost twice as much for non-SMEs as for SMEs

CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE O CONTEXTO DE EMERGÊNCIA DA HABILITAÇÃO EM LÍNGUA ESPANHOLA NA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO MATO GROSSO DO SUL /CAMPUS DO PANTANAL

Este artigo apresenta a emergência do Curso de Letras – Licenciatura – Habilitação em Português/Espanhol da UFMS/CPAN, relacionando seu surgimento às políticas educacionais de implementação do ensino de língua espanhola no Brasil e a este contexto específico de região fronteiriça (Corumbá/Brasil-Arroyo Concepción/Bolívia). A primeira parte do texto traz considerações sobre leis que, no contexto educacional brasileiro, dispuseram sobre o ensino da língua espanhola; a segunda apresenta aspectos do Curso, relacionando-os ao contexto das políticas educacionais nacionais e às exigências locais. A emergência do Curso insere-se nas tendências nacionais de implementação do ensino de idioma e dialoga com as especificidades locais

CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE O CONTEXTO DE EMERGÊNCIA DA HABILITAÇÃO EM LÍNGUA ESPANHOLA NA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO MATO GROSSO DO SUL /CAMPUS DO PANTANAL

Este artigo apresenta a emergência do Curso de Letras – Licenciatura – Habilitação em Português/Espanhol da UFMS/CPAN, relacionando seu surgimento às políticas educacionais de implementação do ensino de língua espanhola no Brasil e a este contexto específico de região fronteiriça (Corumbá/Brasil-Arroyo Concepción/Bolívia). A primeira parte do texto traz considerações sobre leis que, no contexto educacional brasileiro, dispuseram sobre o ensino da língua espanhola; a segunda apresenta aspectos do Curso, relacionando-os ao contexto das políticas educacionais nacionais e às exigências locais. A emergência do Curso insere-se nas tendências nacionais de implementação do ensino de idioma e dialoga com as especificidades locais

Um Estudante Simulado para Atuação em Ambientes Multiagente de Aprendizagem em Redes Bayesianas

Este trabalho descreve o projeto de um estudante simulado para atuação em ambientes multiagente de aprendizagem. Nesses ambientes, estudantes humanos e simulados trabalham cooperativamente, através da formação de grupos de trabalho. Por meio de um editor colaborativo, os estudantes constroem uma rede bayesiana que modela um caso de estudo. O estudante simulado auxilia o grupo a sair de um estado de estagnação na construção da rede ou faz com que o grupo reflita sobre uma determinada variável ou relação. Ele propõe questões, insere e remove arcos e nodos da rede em construção. Desse modo, utiliza uma forma de comunicação adequada ao domínio e à interação com estudantes reais, sendo visto como um companheiro e não como umassistente

Actividad biológica de la Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark.- revisión sistemática

ABSTRACT The Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark (Malvaceae) is a non-endemic plant, popularly known as mutamba. Its leaves and roots are used in home remedies against dysentery and diarrhea, in the treatment of prostate, as a uterine stimulant and other diseases. Due to the characteristics presented and the growing interest in this species, a systematic review was carried out on the possible pharmacological and toxicological effects of Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark. As active compounds, the articles cited the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds and steroids in different parts of the plant and extracted with different solvents. Regarding the experimental studies, no articles were found with clinical test, and only 4 in vivo studies. About the pharmacological effects we can mention activity against leishmaniasis, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, anti-obesity, antiseptic, cicatrizant and anthelmintic. The registered toxicological tests were directed against lineages of cancer cells, proving effective, however, there is a need for studies to attest the safety of G. ulmifolia use by the population. Therefore, it is imperative to carry out further studies to ensure the use of this plant, to know doses and form of indication, as well as clinical studies in order to guarantee a correct therapy. Keywords: Guazuma ulmifolia, toxicity, medicinal plants.    RESUMO A Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark (Malvaceae) é uma planta não endêmica, popularmente conhecida por mutamba. Suas folhas e raízes são empregadas em remédios caseiros contra disenteria e diarreias, no tratamento de próstata, como estimulante uterino e outras enfermidades. Em virtude das características apresentadas e o crescente interesse por esta espécie, tanto para fins medicinais como alimentício, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática sobre os possíveis efeitos farmacológicos e toxicológicos da Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark. Como compostos ativos, os artigos citaram a presença de flavonoides, saponinas, alcaloides, taninos, compostos fenólicos e esteróides em diferentes partes da planta e extraídos com diferentes solventes. Quanto aos estudos experimentais, não foram encontrados artigos com teste clínico e, apenas 4 estudos com testes in vivo. Dos efeitos farmacológicos encontrados, pode-se citar atividade contra leishmaniose, hipoglicemiante, antiinflamatório, anticolinesterásico, antiobesidade, antisséptico, cicatrizante e anti-helmíntico. Os testes toxicológicos registrados foram direcionados contra linhagens de células cancerígenas mostrando-se efetivo, porém, há necessidade de estudos para atestar a segurança de uso de G. ulmifolia pela população. Logo, apesar de utilizada, é imperativa a realização de mais estudos para assegurar o uso desta planta pela população e conhecer doses e forma de indicação, além de estudos clínicos que garantam uma correta terapêutica. Palavras-chave: Guazuma ulmifolia, toxicidade, plantas medicinais.RESUMEN La Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark (Malvaceae) es una planta no endémica, popularmente conocida por mutamba. Sus hojas y raíces son empleadas en remedios caseros contra disentería y diarreas, en el tratamiento de próstata, como estimulante uterino y otras enfermedades. En virtud de las características presentadas y el creciente interés por esta especie, tanto para fines medicinales como alimenticios, se realizó una revisión sistemática sobre los posibles efectos farmacológicos y toxicológicos de la Guazuma ulmifolia Lamark. Como compuestos activos, los artículos citaron la presencia de flavonoides, saponinas, alcaloides, taninos, compuestos fenólicos y esteroides en diferentes partes de la planta y extraídos con diferentes solventes. En cuanto a los estudios experimentales, no se encontraron artículos con prueba clínica y, sólo 4 estudios con pruebas in vivo. De los efectos farmacológicos encontrados, se puede citar actividad contra leishmaniasis, hipoglicemiante, antiinflamatorio, anticolinesterásico, antiobesidad, antiséptico, cicatrizante y antihelmíntico. Las pruebas toxicológicas registradas se dirigieron contra los linajes de las células cancerígenas que se mostraron efectivos, pero hay necesidad de estudios para certificar la seguridad de uso de G. ulmifolia por la población. Por lo tanto, a pesar de ser utilizada, es imperativa la realización de más estudios para asegurar el uso de esta planta por la población y conocer dosis y forma de indicación, además de estudios clínicos que garanticen una correcta terapéutica. Descriptores: Guazuma ulmifolia, toxicidad, plantas medicinales