The Future of Manufacturing in Resource-rich Economies: How mining could generate jobs and competitiveness beyond extraction of ore

The drive towards higher levels of productivity forces companies to pursue economies of scale, manufacturing standardized products in higher volumes at ever lower marginal costs. However, whenever an entrepreneur or an established business in a resource rich exporting country attempts to build a company, macro-economic conditions often render agricultural and industrial activities uncompetitive. Countries with rich mineral reserves and part of broad free trade zones are particularly affected by the globalized economy, where increased demand for raw materials pushes up commodity prices, which increase export revenues that strengthen the local currency against the dollar. A strong local currency driven by ore exports and direct foreign investments turn imports cheaper. This leads to a de-industrialization, or the impossibility to ever build an industry, and adversely affects agriculture that is dependent on overseas markets. This phenomena is known as the “Dutch Disease”. It affects large commodity exporting nations like Colombia. Article written by Prof. Gunter Pauli founder of ZERI and designer of The Blue Economy in preparation of the lecture at the Banco de la República (Colombia) held 7 february 2013 in the National Library Luis Angel Arango Auditorium, Bogotá, Colombia. The only way to respond to these adverse marcoeconomic effects of commodity driven export strategies is to change the business model of the mining industry. Evolving mining from a core business, focused on the extraction of ores and the export thereof, to a clustering of mining, agriculture and manufacturing using all available resources of the mine, from land to energy and waste like rock refuse and tailings. The design of a positive response strategy to social challenges like artisanal mining, combined with securing a cluster of businesses around mining could reverse de-industrialization. Better, this could create an economy that remains vibrant after the mining operations have exhausted their resources. At first sight, the process of clustering industries and social needs have no relation. However this proven strategy that is now subscribed to by leading global corporations adds value and jobs, while strengthening each competitive position in every core businesses generating growth in the country. This article describes the new business model for mining in the concrete setting of Colombia and explains how it will result in sustainable growth, while industrializing and strengthening agriculture in emerging markets, and deliver ecosystem services

Territorial Poltentialities

Design è un sostantivo inglese che significa “progetto”, deriva dal latino pro-iacere (gettare in avanti) a indicare un’attività che contiene in sè l’idea di proiezione in avanti, di futuro. La parola design ha acquisito nel tempo molteplici significati: oggi non riguarda solo più il prodotto e la comunicazione ma anche i servizi, le strategie e i sistemi intrecciando in modo sempre più stretto i temi della sostenibilità ambientale. I designers oggi devono occuparsi non soltanto dello sviluppo di un singolo prodotto, ma dell’intero sistema-prodotto collocato in un preciso contesto sociale, politico, economico e culturale. Il designer sistemico, in particolare, progetta relazioni virtuose tra persone e attività produttive generando ricadute positive a scala sociale e ambientale. La mostra “Le Potenzialità del territorio” restituisce le direzioni più innovative della ricerca in design offrendo alcune indicazioni progettuali su come valorizzare un contesto sociale e territoriale caratterizzato da attività industriali e agricole non relazionate tra loro. Si propone un nuovo modello economico-produttivo che renda coese e forti le relazioni tra i diversi soggetti, generando benefici, anche in termini di salute, per l’intera collettività. Il territorio è qui visto come un’opportunità da studiare e valorizzare in tutte le sue componenti sociali, culturali, materiali e climatiche. Oggi il mondo naturale e quello artificiale hanno traiettorie che non si intersecano: è più che mai urgente riavvicinarli ricostruendo la trama dei loro rapporti

Yes, we should! EU priorities for 2019-2024. EPC Challenge Europe Issue 24, April 2019

The European Union (EU) is not alone in its struggle to grapple with the major headaches of our times. The Western world as a whole is affected. Inside the Union, the crises in and of its national societies and democracies have radiated to the EU level. Half of the member states have minority governments. If they are politically weak in their own countries, how can the Union be strong? The EU is, after all, also the sum of its member states

Design of indicators for measuring product performance in the circular economy

This paper explores measurement of product performance with respect to circular economy (CE) principles. Potential indicators are assessed with special attention given to questions such as: the variables that should be measured; how these variables should be assessed; and in which format they should be presented. The resulting considerations are used to develop a prototype whose design is informed through feedback from CE experts. The prototype uses a points-based questionnaire which converges into a simple final result with minimum and maximum limits. The selected approach is critically appraised, and its utility for decision-making discussed. The prototype is tested against a product in the chemical processing industry. The strengths include: ease of use; simplicity; speed; and an effective metaphor for the diffusion of CE principles. The limitations include: the opaque and potentially misleading nature of a single metric; superficial engagement with decision-making; and the reliance on context-specific assumptions. Future developments could include refining the approach to encourage deeper reflection, and generalisation of the approach to different industry sectors or sustainability frameworks

Human subcortical brain asymmetries in 15,847 people worldwide reveal effects of age and sex

The two hemispheres of the human brain differ functionally and structurally. Despite over a century of research, the extent to which brain asymmetry is influenced by sex, handedness, age, and genetic factors is still controversial. Here we present the largest ever analysis of subcortical brain asymmetries, in a harmonized multi-site study using meta-analysis methods. Volumetric asymmetry of seven subcortical structures was assessed in 15,847 MRI scans from 52 datasets worldwide. There were sex differences in the asymmetry of the globus pallidus and putamen. Heritability estimates, derived from 1170 subjects belonging to 71 extended pedigrees, revealed that additive genetic factors influenced the asymmetry of these two structures and that of the hippocampus and thalamus. Handedness had no detectable effect on subcortical asymmetries, even in this unprecedented sample size, but the asymmetry of the putamen varied with age. Genetic drivers of asymmetry in the hippocampus, thalamus and basal ganglia may affect variability in human cognition, including susceptibility to psychiatric disorders

Subcortical volumes across the lifespan: Data from 18,605 healthy individuals aged 3–90 years

Age has a major effect on brain volume. However, the normative studies available are constrained by small sample sizes, restricted age coverage and significant methodological variability. These limitations introduce inconsistencies and may obscure or distort the lifespan trajectories of brain morphometry. In response, we capitalized on the resources of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to examine age‐related trajectories inferred from cross‐sectional measures of the ventricles, the basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens), the thalamus, hippocampus and amygdala using magnetic resonance imaging data obtained from 18,605 individuals aged 3–90 years. All subcortical structure volumes were at their maximum value early in life. The volume of the basal ganglia showed a monotonic negative association with age thereafter; there was no significant association between age and the volumes of the thalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus (with some degree of decline in thalamus) until the sixth decade of life after which they also showed a steep negative association with age. The lateral ventricles showed continuous enlargement throughout the lifespan. Age was positively associated with inter‐individual variability in the hippocampus and amygdala and the lateral ventricles. These results were robust to potential confounders and could be used to examine the functional significance of deviations from typical age‐related morphometric patterns

Cortical thickness across the lifespan: Data from 17,075 healthy individuals aged 3-90 years

Delineating the association of age and cortical thickness in healthy individuals is critical given the association of cortical thickness with cognition and behavior. Previous research has shown that robust estimates of the association between age and brain morphometry require large‐scale studies. In response, we used cross‐sectional data from 17,075 individuals aged 3–90 years from the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta‐Analysis (ENIGMA) Consortium to infer age‐related changes in cortical thickness. We used fractional polynomial (FP) regression to quantify the association between age and cortical thickness, and we computed normalized growth centiles using the parametric Lambda, Mu, and Sigma method. Interindividual variability was estimated using meta‐analysis and one‐way analysis of variance. For most regions, their highest cortical thickness value was observed in childhood. Age and cortical thickness showed a negative association; the slope was steeper up to the third decade of life and more gradual thereafter; notable exceptions to this general pattern were entorhinal, temporopolar, and anterior cingulate cortices. Interindividual variability was largest in temporal and frontal regions across the lifespan. Age and its FP combinations explained up to 59% variance in cortical thickness. These results may form the basis of further investigation on normative deviation in cortical thickness and its significance for behavioral and cognitive outcomes

The Future of Manufacturing in Resource-rich Economies: How mining could generate jobs and competitiveness beyond extraction of ore

The drive towards higher levels of productivity forces companies to pursue economies of scale, manufacturing standardized products in higher volumes at ever lower marginal costs. However, whenever an entrepreneur or an established business in a resource rich exporting country attempts to build a company, macro-economic conditions often render agricultural and industrial activities uncompetitive. Countries with rich mineral reserves and part of broad free trade zones are particularly affected by the globalized economy, where increased demand for raw materials pushes up commodity prices, which increase export revenues that strengthen the local currency against the dollar. A strong local currency driven by ore exports and direct foreign investments turn imports cheaper. This leads to a de-industrialization, or the impossibility to ever build an industry, and adversely affects agriculture that is dependent on overseas markets. This phenomena is known as the “Dutch Disease”. It affects large commodity exporting nations like Colombia. Article written by Prof. Gunter Pauli founder of ZERI and designer of The Blue Economy in preparation of the lecture at the Banco de la República (Colombia) held 7 february 2013 in the National Library Luis Angel Arango Auditorium, Bogotá, Colombia. The only way to respond to these adverse marcoeconomic effects of commodity driven export strategies is to change the business model of the mining industry. Evolving mining from a core business, focused on the extraction of ores and the export thereof, to a clustering of mining, agriculture and manufacturing using all available resources of the mine, from land to energy and waste like rock refuse and tailings. The design of a positive response strategy to social challenges like artisanal mining, combined with securing a cluster of businesses around mining could reverse de-industrialization. Better, this could create an economy that remains vibrant after the mining operations have exhausted their resources. At first sight, the process of clustering industries and social needs have no relation. However this proven strategy that is now subscribed to by leading global corporations adds value and jobs, while strengthening each competitive position in every core businesses generating growth in the country. This article describes the new business model for mining in the concrete setting of Colombia and explains how it will result in sustainable growth, while industrializing and strengthening agriculture in emerging markets, and deliver ecosystem services

Innovations that transform society beyond robotics, genetics and artificial intelligence

A "Must-See" Exclusive Guest Lecture at Nazarbayev University by Entrepreneur and Author of "The Blue Economy" Gunter Pauli! Often called "The Steve Jobs of Sustainability," Gunter nowadays is one of the key speakers in the world! He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Novamont, and Founder and Director of ZERI [How to design business models that use all that is available, generate no waste, strive for innovations that generate jobs, and build up social capital.]

Volver a Adam Smith

En este articulo el presidente de la Fundación ZERI presenta algunos proyectos de tipo práctico que se han construido en la aplicación de la iniciativa "Producción con cero emisiones"; sugiere hacer un giro significativo para la sustitución de los modelos tradicionales de industria lineal, donde los desechos son considerados la norma, por sistemas integrados en los que todo tiene su uso. Anuncia el comienzo de una nueva revolución industrial en el que la industria imita los ciclos autosostenibles de la naturaleza para ponerlos al servicio de la humanidad, y en vez de seguir explotando la tierra para producir más, se aprende de ella a hacer mas con lo que la misma produce