International Cooperation on Innovation: Empirical Evidence for German and Portuguese Firms

In this paper we investigate the factors that lead firms to cooperate with partners from foreign countries on innovation activities. Portuguese and German data from the harmonised Community Innovation Survey (CIS III) allow us to compare innovation cooperation behaviour of private firms in the two countries. Using a bivariate probit model, we show that the characteristics of firms cooperating with foreigners in both countries are quite similar. International activities other than cooperation, firm size and the importance of protection methods for knowledge have a positive influence in both countries on the decision to cooperate with foreign partners. Some differences remain, however: In Germany, exporters are more likely to cooperate with foreign partners than non-exporters, whereas in Portugal this is not the case. --International cooperation,Innovation,CIS III,Germany,Portugal

Formal and Strategic Appropriability Strategies of Multinational Firms: A Cross Country Comparison

International knowledge spillovers, especially through multinational companies (MNCs), have recently been a major topic of discussion among academics and practitioners. Most research in this field focuses on knowledge sharing activities of MNC subsidiaries. Relatively little is known about their capabilities for protecting valuable knowledge from spilling over to host country competitors. We extend this stream of research by investigating MNC appropriability strategies that go beyond formal methods (patents, copyrights, trademarks) to include strategic ones (secrecy, lead time, complex design). We conceptualize the breadth and depth of a firm?s knowledge protection strategies and relate them to the particular situation of MNC subsidiaries. Moreover, we argue that their approaches differ with regard to host country challenges and opportunities. We address these issues empirically, based on a harmonized survey of innovation activities of more than 1,800 firms located in Portugal and Germany. We find that MNCs prefer broader sets of appropriability strategies in host countries with fewer opportunities for knowledge sourcing. However, munificent host country environments require targeted sets of appropriability strategies instead. We deduce that these results are due to a need for reciprocity to benefit fully from promising host country knowledge flows. --Appropriability,Multinational Companies,Patenting

International cooperation on innovation: empirical evidence for German and Portuguese firms

In this paper we investigate the factors that lead firms to cooperate with partners from foreign countries on innovation activities. Portuguese and German data from the harmonised Community Innovation Survey (CIS III) allow us to compare innovation cooperation behaviour of private firms in the two countries. Using a bivariate probit model, we show that the characteristics of firms cooperating with foreigners in both countries are quite similar. International activities other than cooperation, firm size and the importance of protection methods for knowledge have a positive influence in both countries on the decision to cooperate with foreign partners. Some differences remain, however: In Germany, exporters are more likely to cooperate with foreign partners than non-exporters, whereas in Portugal this is not the case. --International cooperation,Innovation,CIS III,Germany,Portugal

Nematoxic effect of essential oils and their fractions against the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

The pinewood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a highly pathogenic plant parasite that greatly affects pine forests. In Portugal, the most affected species is Pinus pinaster Aiton. Despite great efforts, since its fist detection in 1999, the PWN has spread through the country, including Madeira Island, having been recently detected in Spain [1,2]. Containing this pest is of the utmost importance for European pine forest safeguard. Since most synthetic chemicals used to control phytoparasites are toxic to humans and animals, and can accumulate in the soil and in food plants [3], in the present work, the nematoxic potential of over 80 essential oils (EOs), isolated from the Portuguese flora, were assessed against the PWN. EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS [3]. EOs hydrocarbon and oxygen-containing fractions were obtained as in [4]. Direct-contact assays, adapted from [3], were performed by adding EOs/methanol stock-solutions to 50-100 mixed-stage PWN suspensions. After 24h in darkness, dead and live nematodes were counted under an inverted microscope. Assays were repeated at least 10 times in two series. Mortalities ≥96% were obtained with 2μL/mL of the EOs isolated from Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus citriodora, Mentha arvensis, Origanum virens, Origanum vulgare, Ruta graveolens, Satureja montana, Syzygium aromaticum, Thymbra capitata, Thymus caespititius (carvacrol and/or thymol-rich), Thymus vulgaris and Thymus zygis. These EOs were further tested at 1, 0.5 and 0.25μL/mL. Minimum lethal concentrations (LC100) <0.4μL/mL, were obtained for the 2-undecanone-rich R. graveolens EO and the carvacrol and γ-terpinene-rich S. montana and T. capitata EOs. Assays with EO fractions revealed that the monoterpene-rich nematoxic EOs control PWN through their combined hydrocarbon and oxygen-containing fractions through additive and/or synergic relations. As complex mixtures of active components, EOs may prove to be effective nematoxic age nts

Formal and strategic appropriability strategies of multinational firms : a cross country comparison

International knowledge spillovers, especially through multinational companies (MNCs), have recently been a major topic of discussion among academics and practitioners. Most research in this field focuses on knowledge sharing activities of MNC subsidiaries. Relatively little is known about their capabilities for protecting valuable knowledge from spilling over to host country competitors. We extend this stream of research by investigating MNC appropriability strategies that go beyond formal methods (patents, copyrights, trademarks) to include strategic ones (secrecy, lead time, complex design). We conceptualize the breadth and depth of a firm’s knowledge protection strategies and relate them to the particular situation of MNC subsidiaries. Moreover, we argue that their approaches differ with regard to host country challenges and opportunities. We address these issues empirically, based on a harmonized survey of innovation activities of more than 1,800 firms located in Portugal and Germany. We find that MNCs prefer broader sets of appropriability strategies in host countries with fewer opportunities for knowledge sourcing. However, munificent host country environments require targeted sets of appropriability strategies instead. We deduce that these results are due to a need for reciprocity to benefit fully from promising host country knowledge flows

Virtual Power Player Using Demand Response to Deal with Unexpected Low Wind Power Generation

Demand response is assumed as an essential resource to fully achieve the smart grids operating benefits, namely in the context of competitive markets and of the increasing use of renewable-based energy sources. Some advantages of Demand Response (DR) programs and of smart grids can only be achieved through the implementation of Real Time Pricing (RTP). The integration of the expected increasing amounts of distributed energy resources, as well as new players, requires new approaches for the changing operation of power systems. The methodology proposed in this paper aims the minimization of the operation costs in a distribution network operated by a virtual power player that manages the available energy resources focusing on hour ahead re-scheduling. When facing lower wind power generation than expected from day ahead forecast, demand response is used in order to minimize the impacts of such wind availability change. In this way, consumers actively participate in regulation up and spinning reserve ancillary services through demand response programs. Real time pricing is also applied. The proposed model is especially useful when actual and day ahead wind forecast differ significantly. Its application is illustrated in this paper implementing the characteristics of a real resources conditions scenario in a 33 bus distribution network with 32 consumers and 66 distributed generators

Demand response in electrical energy supply: an optimal real time pricing approach

In competitive electricity markets with deep concerns for the efficiency level, demand response programs gain considerable significance. As demand response levels have decreased after the introduction of competition in the power industry, new approaches are required to take full advantage of demand response opportunities. This paper presents DemSi, a demand response simulator that allows studying demand response actions and schemes in distribution networks. It undertakes the technical validation of the solution using realistic network simulation based on PSCAD. The use of DemSi by a retailer in a situation of energy shortage, is presented. Load reduction is obtained using a consumer based price elasticity approach supported by real time pricing. Non-linear programming is used to maximize the retailer’s profit, determining the optimal solution for each envisaged load reduction. The solution determines the price variations considering two different approaches, price variations determined for each individual consumer or for each consumer type, allowing to prove that the approach used does not significantly influence the retailer’s profit. The paper presents a case study in a 33 bus distribution network with 5 distinct consumer types. The obtained results and conclusions show the adequacy of the used methodology and its importance for supporting retailers’ decision making

Stresse e competências psicológicas : estudo com jovens atletas

Orientação: Ângela LeiteO presente estudo, de caráter exploratório, objetiva conhecer e compreender as relações e interações entre as competências psicológicas e os processos de avaliação cognitiva na emergência e na resposta de stresse aos estímulos e situações do contexto desportivo. 107 jovens atletas do sexo masculino, com idades compreendidas entre os 10 e os 16 anos, de diversas modalidades e escalões competitivos, participaram no presente estudo. A todos os participantes foi administrado um protocolo de avaliação psicológica que incluía: Questionário Sociodemográfico e Desportivo, Inventário de Competências Psicológicas para o Desporto e Escala de Avaliação Cognitiva da Competição Desportiva – Perceção de Ameaça. Os resultados do estudo demonstraram que as competências psicológicas desempenham um papel importante na avaliação cognitiva de ameaça, uma vez que, as competências psicológicas evidenciaram estar negativamente correlacionadas com a perceção de ameaça e também revelaram predizer negativamente os níveis de perceção de ameaça experienciados pelos jovens atletas durante a competição desportiva. O estudo contribui para a identificação dos principais conteúdos de perceção de ameaça em jovens atletas, bem como para a identificação das principais dificuldades apresentadas ao nível das competências psicológicas. Por último, este estudo evidenciou a existência de diferenças nas competências psicológicas em função da modalidade praticada, da idade de início da prática da modalidade e das horas semanais de prática desportiva. Desta forma, o estudo permitiu concluir quanto à importância das relações e interações entre diversas variáveis e processos psicológicos interdependentes na explicação da experiência de stresse em contextos desportivos. A informação disponibilizada no presente estudo pretende contribuir para a implementação de intervenções psicológicas mais eficazes na redução dos níveis de stresse experienciados pelos jovens atletas.This exploratory study aims to know and understand the relationships and interactions between psychological skills and cognitive appraisal processes in emergency and stress response to stimuli and situations in the context of sports. 107 young male athletes , aged between 10 and 16 years, of different competitive levels and sport modalities , participated in the study. A psychological assessment protocol was applied to all participants which included: Sociodemographic and Sports Survey, Psychological Skills Inventory for Sports and Cognitive Appraisal Scale in Sport Competition – Threat Perception. The results of the study demonstrated that psychological skills play an important role in cognitive appraisal of threat, since psychological skills seem to be negatively correlated with threat perception and they also seem to negatively predict the perception threat levels experienced by young athletes during sport competition. The study contributes to the identification of the main contents of threat perception in young athletes, as well as to identify the main difficulties presented at the level of psychological skills. Finally, this study showed the existence of differences in psychological skills depending on the practiced sport modality, the age of onset of the practice modality and the weekly hours of sports. Thus, the study allowed to conclude upon the importance of relationships and interactions between different variables and interdependent psychological processes in explaining the stress experience in the context of sports. The information available in the present study aims to contribute to the implementation of more effective psychological interventions in reducing stress levels experienced by young athletes