Obstáculos a la innovación y políticas públicas de apoyo a la innovación: estudio para las empresas extremeñas

En el contexto de la globalización, la innovación es una fuente de crecimiento de las economías y elemento clave de competitividad de las empresas, consideradas agentes fundamentales en los sistemas de innovación. La innovación establece un vínculo muy estrecho entre el contexto legal y el contexto social en que se desarrolla lo que implica hacer un esfuerzo para determinar, por un lado, su papel en el ámbito económico sin olvidar, por otro lado, el ambiente geográfico en que se desenvuelve, en nuestro caso la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura. Partiendo de estas consideraciones, el objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un diagnóstico de la innovación en las empresas extremeñas con el fin de extraer un perfil que sea útil para el diseño de políticas públicas, especialmente regionales, de apoyo a la misma. Para ello, se ha elaborado una encuesta ad-hoc centrada en cuestiones no contempladas en otras encuestas de innovación que considera algunos aspectos adicionales (expectativas y opiniones sobre orientación futura hacia actividades de innovación, obstáculos a la innovación, el papel que representan las ayudas públicas y aspectos de las políticas públicas se podrían modificar para atender mejor a las necesidades de las empresas facilitando, de esta forma, la decisión de innovar). Entre otros resultados, el análisis de los datos pone de manifiesto, dadas las peculiares características del tejido empresarial extremeño, una escasa disposición a innovar en las empresas no innovadoras si bien la innovación es generalmente considerada un elemento esencial de competitividad. Las empresas innovadoras detectan la presencia de obstáculos para la realización de la innovación, principalmente de costes y falta de financiación, si bien destaca también la percepción de una falta de apoyo por parte de las administraciones públicas. En contraste con ello, la mayoría de las empresas desconocen las políticas de innovación en forma de ayudas de carácter financiero (subvenciones e incentivos fiscales) siendo su conocimiento y, especialmente, su utilización, escasa en las empresas que declaran ser innovadoras. Al preguntar por acciones concretas que las empresas demandarían a la administración destaca que, además de más ayudas de carácter financiero, las empresas solicitan más asesoramiento personalizado y jornadas de información sobre innovación y ayudas a la innovación. En definitiva, sería de interés el establecimiento de una política que incremente la coordinación entre los diferentes agentes de la innovación en Extremadura, especialmente que conecte a las empresas con la administración, a fin de incentivar e incrementar la actividad innovadora teniendo en cuenta las especiales características del tejido empresarial: el tamaño, los principales sectores de innovación y los dominios tecnológicos que se pueden desarrollar. La existencia de la figura de mediadores de innovación públicos o privados que informen a las empresas del apoyo público con el que cuentan para innovar se perfila como una de las medidas que, además de simplificar y aumentar el número de ayudas de carácter financiero, es lo que están demandando a fin de lograr incrementar no solo la disposición a innovar sino también el esfuerzo innovador en la región

Business R&D Policy in Spain and Portugal: Objectives, Incentives and Outcomes

Spain and Portugal are two EU countries of different size but similar structural problems of science and technology (S&T) to address. Over recent years, the R&D policy of both countries has been designed to tackle analogous R&D structural problems and challenges aiming to increase the historical low-level expenditures on R&D (GERD), business R&D expenditures (BERD), and BERD/GERD ratio. This paper compares and discusses the R&D policy strategy of Spain and Portugal to promote R&D, with particular attention to R&D objectives and business R&D incentives. In this sense, the paper focuses on the characteristics and differences of the two main tools used by governments to stimulate business R&D: direct funding (subsidies and loans) and indirect support (fiscal incentives for R&D). The scope and design of these instruments are likely to condition the firms’ decision on how and when to invest in R&D and be able to partly reduce the problems with business underinvestment in R&D. The paper shows the differences and similarities of these tools in Portugal and Spain. Paradoxically, these countries have two of the most generous fiscal systems for R&D of the OECD but their S&T indicators of remain comparatively low. Despite the governments’ efforts, the increasing generosity of the public incentives and the general tendency to reduce the gap with the EU average, none of the main R&D policy objectives has yet been achieved. Perhaps not expected, it is a fact that the BERD to GDP ratio in Portugal has grown at higher rates than that of Spain, leading to a faster approach of Portugal to Spain and the EU average, especially after 2005. On the contrary, the R&D growth rate in Spain has slowed down and began to decrease after 2008, coinciding with the implementation of a tax reform that reduced progressively the percentage of the tax credit in the tax payable until its total elimination after 2011. There may be lessons to be learned by Spain from this rapid growth of BERD in Portugal and its connection with the financial support R&D policies

Analysis of Lisbon visitors’ internet access behavior: behavior analysis through the identification of clusters

Project Work presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Driven Marketing, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceThis master's thesis focuses on clustering the internet access behavior of urban visitors in the Lisbon urban area. To promote smart city development, the study aims to provide insights into visitors' behaviors while accessing the internet in Lisbon, enabling improved decision-making processes for city management, and enhancing the overall online and offline experience for visitors. The over-tourism phenomenon has put a strain on infrastructure, public transportation, and cultural heritage sites. Therefore, innovative methods are needed for effective smart city management, particularly in urban mobility. The increasing availability of Wi-Fi networks during travel has generated valuable data that can be used to develop groundbreaking approaches to understanding visitors’ behaviors and mobility patterns in urban areas. This knowledge enables the analysis and clustering of urban visitors' behavior, contributing to improved decision-making processes in smart city management

Farfetch IPO: how far can it go? How much can it fetch?

The following case describes the dilemma faced by Carmo, an Investment Advisor, a day ahead of Farfetch’s Initial Public Offering. It covers the company’s journey since its foundation in 2007 to its IPO in late September 2018. Over the course of ten years, the company has demonstrated a remarkable growth path as a result of the deep relationships it has built and nurtured, but it is still thriving to become profitable. As Farfetch prepares to go public, Carmo is faced with issues such as the chosen listing location, the company’s dual class structure and the offering valuatio

Bin-picking de precisão usando um sensor 3D e um sensor laser 1D

The technique that is being used by a robot to grab objects that are randomly placed inside a box or on a pallet is called bin-picking. This process is of great interest in an industrial environment as it provides enhanced automation, increased production and cost reduction. Bin-picking has evolved greatly over the years due to tremendous strides empowered by advanced vision technology, software, and gripping solutions which are in constant development. However, the creation of a versatile system, capable of collecting any type of object without deforming it, regardless of the disordered environment around it, remains a challenge. To this goal, the use of 3D perception is unavoidable. Still, the information acquired by some lower cost 3D sensors is not very precise; therefore, the combination of this information with the one of other devices is an approach already in study. The main goal of this work is to develop a solution for the execution of a precise bin-picking process capable of grasping small and fragile objects without breaking or deforming them. This may be done by combining the information provided by two sensors: one 3D sensor (Kinect) used to analyse the workspace and identify the object, and a 1D laser sensor to determine the exact distance to the object when approaching it. Additionally, the developed system may be placed at the end of a manipulator in order to become an active perception unit. Once the global system of sensors, their controllers and the robotic manipulator are integrated into a ROS (Robot Operating System) infrastructure, the data provided by the sensors can be analysed and combined to provide a bin-picking solution. Finally, the testing phase demonstrated the viability and the reliability of the developed bin-picking process.À tecnologia usada por um robô para agarrar objetos que estão dispostos de forma aleatória dentro de uma caixa ou sobre uma palete chama-se binpicking. Este processo é de grande interesse para a industria uma vez que oferece maior autonomia, aumento de produção e redução de custos. O binpicking tem evoluido de forma significativa ao longo dos anos graças aos avanços possibilitados pelo desenvolvimento tecnológico na área da visão, software e soluções de diferentes garras que estão em constante evolução. Contudo, a criação de um sistema versátil, capaz de agarrar qualquer tipo de objeto sem o deformar, independentemente do ambiente desordenado à sua volta, continua a ser o principal objetivo. Para esse fim, o recurso à perceção 3D é imprescindível. Ainda assim, a informação adquirida por sensores 3D não é muito precisa e, por isso, a combinação deste com a de outros dispositivos é uma abordagem ainda em estudo. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é então desenvolver uma solução para a execução de um processo de bin-picking capaz de agarrar objetos pequenos e frágeis sem os partir ou deformar. Isto poderá ser feito através da combinação entre a informação proveniente de dois sensores: um sensor 3D (Kinect) usado para analisar o espaço de trabalho e identificar o objeto, e um sensor laser 1D usado para determinar a sua distância exata e assim se poder aproximar. Adicionalmente, o sistema desenvolvido pode ser acoplado a um manipulador de forma a criar uma unidade de perceção ativa. Uma vez tendo um sistema global de sensores, os seus controladores e o manipulador robótico integrados numa infraestrutura ROS (Robot Operating System), os dados fornecidos pelos sensores podem ser analisados e combinados, e uma solução de bin-picking pode ser desenvolvida. Por último, a fase de testes demonstrou, depois de alguns ajustes nas medidas do sensor laser, a viabilidade e fiabilidade do processo de bin-picking desenvolvido.Mestrado em Engenharia Mecânic

A comparative analysis of business R&D policy in Spain and Portugal

This paper compares the R&D policy strategy of Spain and Portugal to promote business R&D spending by focusing on the R&D objectives, incentives and outcomes. It aims to uncover new matters for policy attention and research concerning the public support for business R&D. These countries have similar R&D structural problems to address, two of the most generous fiscal systems for R&D and comparatively low S&T indicators as compared to the EU average. Both failed to reach the R&D intensity goals of the past and it is unlikely they will reach the R&D goals set for 2020. Nevertheless, the rationale for attracting international R&D investment is competitive. Three important issues call for attention: the inverse public incentive structures for business R&D, the faster growth of the BERD/GDP ratio in Portugal over recent years and the implications of the tax reform in Spain in 2008. As a conclusion, we believe that both countries are missing opportunities for mutual learning and should coordinate their R&D public policies

Transcritical Carbon Dioxide Charge-Discharge Energy Storage with Integration of Solar Energy

New and improved energy storage technologies are required to overcome non-dispatchability, which is the main challenge for the successful integration of large shares of renewable energy within energy supply systems. Energy storage is proposed to tackle daily variations on the demand side, i.e., storing low-price energy during off-peak or valley periods for utilization during peak periods. Regarding electrical energy storage, several technologies are available with different potentials for scalability, density, and cost. A recent approach for grid-scale applications is based on transcritical carbon dioxide charge and discharge cycles in combination with thermal energy storage systems. This alternative to pumped-hydro and compressed air energy storage has been discussed in scientific literature, where different configurations have been proposed and their efficiency and costs calculated. The potential of the concept has been demonstrated to be an economical alternative, including hybrid concepts with solar thermal storage. Even at low temperatures, the addition of solar energy has proved to be cost effective. This paper explores the effect of introducing solar-based high temperature heat on the performance of different configurations of “Transcritical carbon dioxide ‒ thermal energy storage system” cycles. A base-cycle with 8-hour discharge time is compared with different layouts. Discussions include details on the models, parametric analyses -including solar technology alternatives-, and simulation results. Round trip efficiency of the base case, without solar support and at pressure ratio of 9.4, is 52%. When solar input is considered, the efficiency is above 60%, increasing the turbine inlet temperature to 950 K. Estimated levelized cost of electricity values are in the range of pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage, 90-140 USD/MWh in agreement with other works on this thermal storage technology. The global analysis shows clear advantages for advancing in the study and definition of this technology for exploitation of synergies at different power ranges, integrated with mid/high temperature solar power plants and with smaller-scale renewable installations.Unión Europea. Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional SOE1 / P3 / P0429E

The impact of objectively-measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in cardiovascular risk and healthrelated quality of life in adults: a systematic review

As doenças cardiovasculares, onde se inclui o acidente vascular cerebral e o enfarte agudo do miocárdio, são as doenças não transmissíveis mais fatais em todo o mundo. Desta forma é essencial identificar os fatores de risco das doenças cardiovasculares e promover a sua redução na população. Os fatores de risco mais comuns são a hipercolesterolemia, a hipertensão, os hábitos tabágicos, a diabetes mellitus, a obesidade, a inatividade física e o comportamento sedentário. Estes fatores de risco, para além de estarem relacionados com o aumento do risco cardiovascular (probabilidade de um indivíduo ter um evento/ doença cardiovascular em 10 anos) e com o aumento da prevalência de doenças cardiovasculares, também estão associados a níveis mais baixos de qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde. No entanto, o aumento da atividade física e a diminuição do comportamento sedentário está associado a uma diminuição dos fatores de risco de doença cardiovascular assim como a um aumento dos níveis de qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde. Deste modo, realizámos uma revisão sistemática, com o objetivo de averiguar o impacto da atividade física e do comportamento sedentário, avaliados objetivamente, no risco cardiovascular e na qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde, com especial atenção para o impacto da intensidade da atividade física nesta associação. Concluímos que a atividade física aparenta estar associada a um menor risco cardiovascular e a uma maior qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde, ao contrário do comportamento sedentário que aparenta estar associado a um maior risco cardiovascular e uma menor qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde. Verificamos ainda que atividade física de alta intensidade aparenta estar associada a níveis mais altos da componente física da qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde, enquanto que atividade física de baixa intensidade aparenta estar associada a níveis mais altos da componente mental da qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde. No que diz respeito ao risco cardiovascular, aparentemente, pessoas que despendem mais tempo a realizar atividade física, tem um menor risco cardiovascular, mesmo que seja atividade física de baixa intensidade. Será importante continuar a investigar o impacto da atividade física e do comportamento sedentário no risco cardiovascular e na qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde, assim como a associação de cada componente da atividade física, com o risco cardiovascular e a qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde

The influence of autism traits, empathy and systematization on the meaning of friendship relations : contribution to the assessment of autism spectrum disorders in adults

Tese de mestrado, Psicologia (Área de Especialização em Psicologia Clínica e da Saúde - Psicoterapia Cognitiva-Comportamental e Integrativa), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Psicologia, 2020Background: Little research attention has been extended to deficits in social relationships found in persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present work addresses this gap, employing a new Portuguese version of the Friendship Quotient (FQ) together with other instruments. Method: After translation and back-translation, the FQ was, together with the Autism Quotient (AQ), the Empathy Quotient (EQ), and the Systematization Quotient (SQ) questionnaires, administered to two samples of participants. The general population sample was composed of 498 individuals, of which 13 claimed to have an ASD diagnosis and 28 believed they would merit one. The clinical sample comprised 33 individuals with a Type 1 ASD diagnosis without major linguistic or intellectual impairment, with diagnoses certified by the institutions from which they were recruited. This sample responded to the questionnaires on paper, while the general population sample responded online. Results: Factor analyses identified two possible models for the FQ, with two (Motivation for Contact and Yielding) and five factors (Flexibility, Valuation of the Other, Physical Proximity, Empathy, Friend Role). One factor was found for the AQ, three for the EQ (Social Perceptiveness, Care/Altruism, Self-Centeredness/Insensitivity) and three for the SQ (Curiosity for Origin/Creation, Curiosity for Functioning, Cognitive Difficulties/Lack of Interest). Cronbach alphas for the derived scales varied between .29 and .86. A moderate correlation was found between the FQ and the AQ. The FQ was most strongly related to the EQ, while the SQ provided the weakest correlations. Results also show that all the instruments employed can discriminate between a normal and an ASD population, the most important source of discrimination being the AQ, followed by the FQ. Conclusion: Results indicate that the FQ and other instruments employed, with the factor subscales proposed, can provide reliable and valid data in ASD populations, opening new avenues for diagnosis, clinical assessment and research.Introdução: O presente estudo procurou suprir a escassez de investigação sobre os défices nas relações sociais de pessoas com Perturbação do Espetro do Autismo (PEA), utilizando uma nova versão Portuguesa do Questionário de Amizade (FQ) conjuntamente com outros instrumentos. Método: Após a tradução e retroversão, o FQ foi administrado a duas amostras, juntamente com o Questionário de Autismo (AQ), o Questionário de Empatia (EQ) e o Questionário de Sistematização (SQ). A amostra da população geral era composta por 498 participantes, dos quais 13 indicaram ter um diagnóstico de PEA e 28 acreditavam poder ter um diagnóstico. A amostra clínica incluiu 33 participantes com diagnóstico de PEA tipo 1, sem comprometimento linguístico ou intelectual, com diagnósticos certificados pelas instituições onde foram recrutados. Esta amostra respondeu aos questionários em papel, a amostra da população geral respondeu online. Resultados: A análise fatorial identificou dois modelos possíveis para o FQ, com dois (Motivação para o Contacto e Capacidade de Ceder) e cinco fatores (Flexibilidade, Valorização do Outro, Proximidade Física, Empatia, Papel de Amigo). Foi encontrado um fator para o AQ, três para o EQ (Perceção Social, Cuidado/Altruísmo, Egocentrismo/Insensibilidade) e três para o SQ (Curiosidade pela Origem/Criação, Curiosidade pelo Funcionamento, Dificuldades Cognitivas/Desinteresse). Os alfas de Cronbach variaram entre .29 e .86. Foi encontrada uma correlação moderada entre o AQ e o FQ, que está mais fortemente relacionado com o EQ. O SQ obteve as correlações mais fracas. Os resultados mostram que todos os instrumentos são capazes de discriminar entre populações com e sem diagnóstico de PEA, o mais eficaz o AQ, seguido pelo FQ. Conclusão: Os resultados indicam que o FQ e os restantes instrumentos, com as subescalas fatoriais propostas, providenciam dados válidos e confiáveis na população com PEA, apresentando potencialidades no diagnóstico, avaliação e investigação

Are environmental concerns enough to increase purchase intention of plant-based protein products? A moderation effect study in the portuguese market

Dissertation presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Driven Marketing, specialization in Marketing Research and CRMOne of the primary causes of an increase in the popularity of plant-based diets is environmental concerns. This study aims to investigate the relationship between environmental concerns and the intention to buy plant-based protein products—as well as whether other factors like diet type and product quality have an effect on this relationship. To achieve it, a quasi-experimental study was conducted through a survey, collecting responses from 274 Portuguese, both vegetarian/vegan or animal-protein eaters, in order to assess their perspective on the topic. The results of the conducted survey show that type of diet definitely reinforces the importance of environmental concerns when purchasing plant-based protein products, especially in animal-protein eaters. It also shows that, when the products are high-quality, a higher level of environmental concerns increases purchase intention of the products. Finally, when combining both factors, environmental concerns positively influence purchase intention in animal-based dieters when the products are high-quality, and negatively influence plant-based dieters when the products are low-quality. These results suggest that, despite environmental concerns’ positive effect on purchase intention of plant-based protein products, other factors like type of diet or product quality must not be ignored. The results will be discussed, and their implications for the marketing area explored