Sourcing Patterns of Foreign-owned Multinational Subsidiaries in Europe

This paper investigates the determinants of the international input sourcing propensities of foreign-owned multinational subsidiaries in four EU host countries. Major findings concern the impact of subsidiary roles and economic integration on international sourcing patterns. Regional and global integration are leading to a greater import-orientation among MNE subsidiaries, including Product Mandate firms which are assumed to be strongly embedded within host economies. The results cast serious doubts on the effectiveness of traditional criteria for investment attraction; and confirm that stimulating local sourcing is problematic. Specific policy implications are developed relating to the attraction of inward foreign direct investment and to corporate development policies.Multinational enterprises,Subsidiaries, Sourcing, Europe.

Cerberus is a feedback inhibitor of Nodal asymmetric signaling in the chick embryo

The TGF-beta-related molecule Nodal plays an essential and conserved role in left-right patterning of the vertebrate embryo. Previous reports have shown that the zebrafish and mouse Cerberus-related proteins Charon and Cerberus-like-2 (Cerl-2), respectively, act in the node region to prevent the Nodal signal from crossing to the right side, whereas chick Cerberus (cCer) has an unclear function in the left-side mesoderm. In this study, we investigate the transcriptional regulation and function of cCer in left-right development. By analyzing the enhancer activity of cCer 5' genomic sequences in electroporated chick embryos, we identified a cCer left-side enhancer that contains two FoxH1 and one SMAD binding site. We show that these Nodal-responsive elements are necessary and sufficient for the activation of transcription in the left-side mesoderm. In transgenic mouse embryos, cCer regulatory sequences behave as in chick embryos, suggesting that the cis-regulatory sequences of Cerberus-related genes have diverged during vertebrate evolution. Moreover, our findings from cCer overexpression and knockdown experiments indicate that cCer is a negative-feedback regulator of Nodal asymmetric signaling. We propose that cCer and mouse Cerl-2 have evolved distinct regulatory mechanisms but retained a conserved function in left-right development, which is to restrict Nodal activity to the left side of the embryo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sourcing Patterns of Foreign-owned Multinational Subsidiaries in Europe

The paper investigates the determinants of the sourcing patterns of foreign-owned multinational subsidiaries in a cross-country European setting. Sourcing decisions (namely, buying locally versus internationally) represent a highly relevant theme for regional and national host economies, given the potential impact these decisions can have on indigenous industrial systems. The subject under analysis attracts considerable attention in regional economics, given the importance of multinationals’ local linkages in generating externalities and technology spillovers and in supporting industrial agglomeration. Additionally, a concern with growing import levels exists, since the globalization of supply chains is creating major competitive pressures for local suppliers, as companies explore global sourcing options. Inter-firm linkages between multinationals and host country suppliers are investigated. The paper is structured as follows: firstly, a thorough literature review on local sourcing, spillovers and regional impact of multinational enterprises is offered. Then, the paper puts forward a general framework of the factors influencing the choice between international and local sourcing, and formulates hypotheses (based on that conceptual framework), on subsidiary roles/characteristics (such as subsidiary age, whether subsidiary was established before or after host country EU integration, entry mode, subsidiary size) and country (home and host) and industry characteristics. Subsequently, an econometric analysis of the main determinants of sourcing decisions is conducted. The empirical setting is multi-country, EU-based. Data result from a large-scale survey of the main foreign-owned subsidiaries in four EU countries (Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the UK). The main contributions of the paper lie in an improved understanding of the influence of foreign-owned subsidiary strategies and economic integration in sourcing patterns, topics on which little research exists. Important conclusions are drawn on the scope to increase local sourcing through policy intervention at national and regional levels. Major findings concern the impact of subsidiary roles and economic integration on sourcing patterns. Regional and global integration are leading to a greater import-orientation among MNE subsidiaries, including high value-added Product Mandate subsidiaries which are assumed to be strongly embedded within host economies.It was found that economic integration (along with age of subsidiary) has a significant impact on sourcing patterns, meaning that subsidiaries established after their host countries’ EU accession are less embedded via sourcing; and that subsidiaries in global industries buy less locally, as well as subsidiaries located in small EU economies (that have lower supplying capabilities as the local industry is less diversified). Our results did not find a significant association of subsidiary size, home country and entry mode with the import propensity of the multinational subsidiaries surveyed. This research confirms the significant body of evidence that multinationals have seldom developed extensive input linkages with their host economy, and strengthens the conclusion of previous authors that the potential for local linkages is now significantly reduced as compared with the past. The results cast serious doubts on the effectiveness of traditional criteria for investment attraction; and confirm that stimulating local sourcing is problematic. Specific policy implications are developed relating to the attraction of inward foreign direct investment and to corporate development policies

Network and firm antecedents of spin-offs: Motherhooding spin-offs

We advance firm and network conditions that are favorable for the gestation of new spin-offs by entrepreneurial employees that exit the mother firm to constitute their own companies. This type of entrepreneurial activity has some unique characteristics. We suggest that spin-offs from certain parent firms have fundamental network benefits that increase their likelihood of survival and success. These benefits accrue on the form of social resources and a unique embeddedness in networks of other offspring and mother firms, and do not require the spin-offs to engage in any direct exchanges with the parent firm. The process which we call 'motherhood' highlights the potential for a mother-progeny and child-child model that promotes entrepreneurial action through spin-offs, and allow us to understand the conditions under which interorganizational networks of firms emerge and thrive as an entrepreneurial process. We conclude that considering a motherhood process, with the characteristics defined in this paper, contributes to the study of entrepreneurship and network evolution.Entrepreneurship, spin-offs, motherhood, network benefits

THE CONFLUENCE OF I.4.0 TECHNOLOGIES AND NEW BUSINESS MODELS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Objective of the study: The study's objective is to provide a systematic literature review on the coevolution of the Technologies associated to Industry 4.0 and business models. Methodology/approach: The research was built on conceptual blocs at the interface between Industry 4.0 (I 4.0), business models (BM) and digitalization /digital business models (DBM) in order to identify relevant trends. Through bibliometric techniques, 80 articles were selected from Scopus and WoS, using specialized software. Originality/ Relevance: Few studies exist on the interface under analysis. This article contributes to this emerging literature, providing a synthesis of such literature, including both a detailed descriptive component and an analysis of the main thematic clusters associated to this interface. Main results: The literature still needs to evolve into a framework of a 4.0 business model. The majority of the existing studies focus on business models to specific technologies associated to Industry 4.0. Among the 80 articles scrutinized, 56 were associated to business models and I4.0, and 24 linked business models and digitalization. Few really described a business model that could be characterized as an I4.0 business model. Theoretical/methodological contributions: Identification of key studies underlying the elaboration of an innovative business model associated to I4.0. An immediate and useful characterization of the literature. Identification of the main thematic clusters. Social/management contributions: To provide academics and professionals (especially in Business/Economics) with a detailed and thorough review of the most relevant literature, including the main aspects underlying the creation of innovative business models based on I4.0

Identification of atmospheric pollutants control mechanisms during co-combustion of coal and non-toxic wastes

Doctoral dissertation for Ph.D. degree in Sustainable Chemistr

Impacto de los procesos de integración económica sobre las filiales de multinacionales. El caso de España.

Publicad

A Bird’s Eye View on the Origin of Aortic Hemogenic Endothelial Cells

FUNDING This work was supported by the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (PTDC/BTM-SAL/29377/2017) and iNOVA4Health (UID/Multi/04462/2019). The Advanced Imaging Facility of the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência was supported by national Portuguese funding co-financed by the Lisboa Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and FCT (PPBI-POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-022122). AT was funded by the FCT in the context of a program contract under “Norma Transitória” (DL57/2016 of 29 August, as amended by DL57/2017 of 19 July).During early embryogenesis, the hemogenic endothelium of the developing dorsal aorta is the main source of definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which will generate all blood cell lineages of the adult organism. The hemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) of the dorsal aorta are known to arise from the splanchnic lateral plate mesoderm. However, the specific cell lineages and developmental paths that give rise to aortic HECs are still unclear. Over the past half a century, the scientific debate on the origin of aortic HECs and HSCs has largely focused on two potential and apparently alternative birthplaces, the extraembryonic yolk sac blood islands and the intraembryonic splanchnic mesoderm. However, as we argue, both yolk sac blood islands and aortic HECs may have a common hemangioblastic origin. Further insight into aortic HEC development is being gained from fate-mapping studies that address the identity of progenitor cell lineages, rather than their physical location within the developing embryo. In this perspective article, we discuss the current knowledge on the origin of aortic HECs with a particular focus on the evidence provided by studies in the avian embryo, a model that pioneered the field of developmental hematopoiesis.publishersversionpublishe

A MANUTENÇÃO DA DISCIPLINA NOS EXÉRCITOS ROMANOS: UMA ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA DOS MANUAIS MILITARES DE FRONTINO E VEGÉCIO

No presente artigo, procuramos fazer uma análise comparativa entre osmanuais militares Estratagemas e Compêndio da Arte Militar, escritos respectivamentepor Frontino (séculos I e II d.C) e por Vegécio (séculos IV e V d.C.) Nesta análise,objetivamos encontrar referências que corroborem a hipótese de que havia umatradição bélica, que ligava os diferentes autores de manuais militares gregos eromanos. Para tal, nos desdobramos sobre a forma como esses autores defendiam umadisciplina dentro do corpo militar romano e como essa disciplina se relacionava comoutras características militares essenciais para os romanos

Monastic Buildings: A Review About New Uses on Former Monasteries. The Portuguese Cistercian Case

This paper aims to present a review contribution to the history of the reform and renewal in the Portuguese Cistercian monasteries, throughout nine centuries of cultural and architectural history, but focusing on the new uses on former monasteries. The monastic Orders had a vital importance, both temporal and spatial, in the development of the urban fabric of cities. It must be considered that the transformation and development of the territory have been responsible for isolated buildings and settlements which have gradually been absorbed by the expansion of the urban fabric. The Cistercian Order played a remarkable role in the affirmation of Portugal (1143) and had an unquestionable position, since the medieval period, in the construction of a significant part of the Portuguese culture. The first Cistercian monasteries appeared in Portugal, in the 12th century, far from the urban context. Portuguese Cistercian monasteries became worthy examples of the European Cistercian architecture, although, over the time, they have been adapted, enlarged and transformed according to the styles of each epoch. The disappearance of the religious Orders, in 1834, and the successive owners adapted the monastic buildings to new uses. The monasteries have provided the contemporary city, especially from the 19th and 20th centuries, with expectant spaces or new fields of experimentation as diverse as rehabilitation, reuse, renovation and conversion. These are new spaces which adapt to new situations and new uses, thus updating themselves, so that the values of the present can be included and integrated into its history. Therefore, this paper aims to discuss, in which way the ideals and the realities of these monastic buildings and related urban spaces are divergent, but also a factor of city growth and cultural development.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio