http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.techfore.2012.04.011

Since the turn of the 21st century ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) has emerged as the preferred solution to treat acute malnutrition without complications. RUTF is a more appropriate technology than formerly prevalent powdered milk solutions because it enables outpatient care, simpler treatment protocols and production in the field. In this paper we analyze the forces driving the diffusion of RUTF as an innovation to treat child malnutrition and discuss the main features characterizing the new technological regime that results from its wide adoption. We combine the theoretical discussion and the review of secondary sources with insights from field research in Ethiopia, encompassing personal interviews with relevant parties and direct observation of how RUTF works in practice. This technology assessment exercise enables us to suggest some opportunities for policy intervention

Innovation to fight hunger:the case of Plumpy'nut

A simple invention can at times prove extremely useful. This is the case with Plumpy‟nut, a variety of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) conceived in 1999 that is shaping a new regime for emergency interventions to alleviate child malnutrition. This paper applies concepts from the innovation systems literature into the analysis of Plumpy‟nut with the aim of identifying the forces driving its successful diffusion as an innovation. Special attention is paid to three features that define the diffusion process: 1) shifting from inpatient to outpatient treatment, 2) building networks through licences, franchises and partnerships, and 3) exploring further varieties of application. We combine the theoretical discussion with insights from field research in Ethiopia, including personal interviews with relevant parties and direct observation of how Plumpy‟nut works in practice. The ultimate objectives of this technology assessment exercise are to better understand the innovation journey of Plumpy‟nut and to identify possible opportunities for policy intervention

MERITUM and Danish Guidelines for Reporting on Intangibles: a Comparative Study

This paper presents and compares two of the most renowned guidelines---the Danish and the MERITUM---on reporting of intangibles which have been developed in Europe in recent years. Both works propose a set of recommendations on how to complement traditional financial statements with the publication of an intellectual capital report disclosing additional information on a firm’s intangible resources and activities. The study observes some differences between these two guidelines in their methodology and scope, the terminology they use, and the way they classify actions and indicators. The study, based on personal interviews, has important policy implications and recommendations for practitioners

Un nuevo horizonte para el desarrollo africano

La presentación oficial de la Nueva Alianza para el Desarrollo de África (NEPAD), en julio de 2001, ha generado grandes expectativas. Aunque hasta la fecha los resultados hayan sido en cierta medida decepcionantes, y a pesar del largo camino todavía por recorrer, ha mejorado sustancialmente el marco institucional y el rango político de la propuesta africana en el sistema internacional. Recientemente han tenido lugar acontecimientos importantes para el NEPAD como las elecciones de Zimbabue, la visita a África del primer ministro británico Tony Blair, la conferencia de Naciones Unidas en Monterrey o las reuniones del G8 con representantes africanos para preparar la cumbre de junio, que supuestamente dedicará una especial atención al desarrollo del continente. Este artículo presenta un resumen de los últimos sucesos y una reflexión crítica sobre la situación actual de los programas políticos para impulsar el desarrollo del continente africano

La complejidad sudafricana

Thabo Mbeki atraviesa un momento difícil como presidente de Suráfrica. Ha recibido fuertes críticas por su gestión respecto a la epidemia del SIDA, su ambigüedad frente a la minoría blanca surafricana y su postura ante la explosión racial de Zimbabue. Su apuesta por la ortodoxia económica cada vez es más cuestionada dado que no está produciendo los resultados deseados. La pobreza persiste, la redistribución de la riqueza ha sido escasa y tanto la crisis sanitaria como la criminalidad se han agravado desde su llegada al poder en 1999. Sin embargo, su Gobierno es uno de los más eficaces y menos corruptos de África. Destaca su trabajo como representante del continente africano que, como pudo verse en la última cumbre del G-8, está produciendo resultados significativos. Mbeki es un líder imprevisible y enigmático, tan respetado como temido. Igual de dual se presenta el futuro de Suráfrica, que se enfrenta a serias amenazas pero a la vez es la gran esperanza del continente

Policies to benefit from the globalization of corporate R&D: An exploratory study for EU countries

This article explores how the globalization of corporate R&D has led to the emergence of new policy strategies across the EU, involving a more proactive role of governments and a closer connection between innovation policies and FDI promotion policies. The first part presents an analytical framework encompassing the main policy objectives and instruments at stake, which aims at facilitating the design and evaluation of policies geared towards the globalization of corporate R&D. Both the policies to attract inward FDI in R&D and those towards R&D offshoring are addressed, as well as the distinct policy implications of alternative entry modes. The second part provides evidence of the evolution of European policies in response to the globalization of corporate R&D, pointing out a set of country-specific examples and suggesting avenues for policy intervention at the EU level. Although the focus is on the EU, this study may inform policy learning in other developed and developing countries alike

Intellectual Capital Reporting and Credit Risk Analysis

This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here (https://repositorio.uam.es). Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited."Purpose – Aims to increase our understanding of the role of intangibles in credit risk analysis and of the main factors which enable or disable the impact of intellectual capital (IC) reports. Design/methodology/approach – Discusses recent findings from the European Union‐funded E*Know‐Net project (2001‐2003) and reviews other works on the subject. This literature review is complemented with two case studies. The first presents the results of an experimental workshop with 12 credit risk analysts from Banco Santander Central Hispano, a major Spanish bank. The second case study looks at how the European Investment Bank integrates intangibles into its project appraisal process. Findings – Provides a comprehensive conceptual framework to analyze the impact of IC reporting in credit risk analysis. Argues that there is a significant gap between the perceived potential impact of IC reports and their real impact in practice, and proposes a classification of the barriers in the market for corporate information that help explain this apparent paradox. The case studies presented illustrate some of the factors that enable or disable the impact of IC reporting in practice. Originality/value – Increases understanding of the relevance and impact of intangibles and IC reports in the lending process. Draws conclusions for companies, credit institutions and policy makers.This article was produced within the context of E*Know‐Net, a EU‐funded research project on intellectual capital coordinated by the Autonomous University of Madrid and integrated by 15 European research centers. An earlier version of this paper was submitted to the EU Commission in January 2004 as part of the Final Report of E*Know‐Net (STRATA Program, Ref: HPV1‐CT‐ 2001‐50002)

Government Strategies to Attract R&D-intensive FDI

The final publication is available at Springer via 10.1007 / s10961-008-9091-1La competición entre países y regiones por atraer las actividades de I+D de las empresas multinacionales ha aumentado sustancialmente durante los últimos años, pero no hay suficientes estudios sobre las estrategias utilizadas por los gobiernos en esta competición. Este artículo propone una taxonomía de los principales instrumentos políticos para estimular la IED intensiva en I+D y presenta los resultados de un estudio de caso comparativo de dos países europeos: España e Irlanda. La principal conclusión es que una promoción eficiente de la IED intensiva en I+D requiere una mayor coordinación entre las políticas de innovación y las políticas de atracción de la IED, que tradicionalmente han funcionado de forma independiente. Otra recomendación que emana de este estudio es que las agencias de promoción de inversiones que deseen priorizar la IED intensiva en I+D deberían reconfigurar la gama de servicios que prestan para pasar a centrarse en los servicios postinversión (o “after-care”), ya que la IED-intensiva en I+D tiende a ocurrir a través de un proceso evolutivo y no tanto a través de inversiones “greenfield”.Competition among countries and regions to attract the R&D activities of multinational enterprises has increased substantially during the last years, but the strategies used by governments in this competition remain largely unexplored. This paper proposes a taxonomy of the main policy instruments available to stimulate inward R&D-intensive FDI and presents the results of a comparative case-study of two European countries: Spain and Ireland. The main conclusion is that an efficient promotion of R&D-intensive FDI calls for a closer coordination between innovation policy and inward investment promotion, which are two policy areas that have traditionally operated rather independently from each other. In addition, inward investment agencies targeting R&D-intensive FDI are advised to reconfigure the scope of services they provide by placing more emphasis on after-care, since R&D-intensive FDI tends to be evolutionary rather than greenfield

Competing for high-quality FDI: management challenges for investment promotion agencies

Competition for FDI is intensifying and changing in scope as governments of developed and developing countries alike place a higher emphasis on the quality rather than on the quantity of FDI. Against the backdrop of contemporary international business trends, we argue that shifting from quantity to quality in FDI promotion entails a new policy mix and a new approach to performance evaluation. We examine the challenges that investment promotion agencies targeting quality are confronted with from an intellectual capital management perspective, drawing attention to the implications for their human, structural and relational capital. This study offers a broad framework to better guide FDI policy reform and evaluation