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Biotechnology has a Valley of Death challenge. Arrhenius's model is used to consider this journey by visualizing the factors critical to identifying appropriate business models. Examples illustrate this interplay and the routes to industrial readiness. The insights provided are useful to research and development managers, policy makers, entrepreneurs, and biotechnologists.

This paper discusses the challenges of technological entrepreneurship education in the current education system and the questions that need to be answered to improve the efficacy and efficiency of technological entrepreneurship education. The nature of technological entrepreneurship requires a diversified set of skills for success; however, the traditional education system focuses on single discipline. Consequently, it is difficult for either engineers and scientists who are lacking managerial skills or management students who are lacking of engineer or science oriented knowledge to be successful. A further concern is that different communities have entirely different perceptions of how entrepreneurship is defined often causing both confusion and disagreement in communications between researchers and educators with each other. The paper considers the existing literature and develops a series of comprehensive questions that still need to be addressed. By answering these questions, the traditional education methods can be transformed to be more appropriate and useful for technological entrepreneurship education.

PurposeCharacterize how metabolic function in the murine retina and retinal pigment epithelium-choroid-sclera (eyecup) complex is impacted by natural aging.MethodsWe examined scotopic and photopic visual function of young (3-6 months) and aged (23-26 months) C57Bl/6J mice using electroretinograms (ERGs). Metabolic changes in retina and eyecup explants were characterized by measuring uptake and usage of U-13C-glucose or U-13C-glutamine at different timepoints by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), measuring oxygen consumption rate (OCR) using a perifusion apparatus, and determining ATP levels with a bioluminescence assay.ResultsScotopic and photopic ERG responses declined in aged mice. Glucose metabolism, glutamine metabolism, OCR, and ATP pools in retinal explants were mostly unaffected by the age of the mouse. In eyecups, glutamine usage in the Krebs Cycle decreased while glucose metabolism, OCR, and ATP pools remained stable.ConclusionsThe ex vivo approach in our study to examine aging glucose and glutamine metabolism in retina and RPE showed negligible impact of age on retina and an impairment of glutamine anaplerosis in eyecups. The surprising metabolic stability of these tissues ex vivo suggests age-related metabolic alterations in these tissues may not be intrinsic. Future experiments should focus on determining whether external factors including nutrient supply, oxygen availability, or other structural changes influence ocular metabolism in vivo.

Do you remember the slogans regarding the 3 Rs; well, there is actually 12. Each R can provide opportunity, but can also create peril if a management team is unacquainted with it at an inopportune time. Hence, we revisit the urgent need for companies—and society in general—to rethink supply chain strategy with respect to Rs. The expansion of the 3 Rs to 12 is inherent with the view that consumers and markets are focusing on product life extension—not product obsolescence. In an obsolescence economy, there are only three Rs and the R most revered and reported is Recycling. However, if the focus is on product life extension—getting all the value possible from a product and the by-products that result from the production, use and disposal of the product—recycling is considered the least attractive of the Rs. This is increasingly important as we face millennial challenges associated to greater glocal sustainability. The pandemic of 2020 shows us that even with tremendous shuttering of the world economy, greenhouse gas emissions and other measures of pollution are still substantial. In fact, the level of economic activity during the height of global lockdowns is described as being consistent with what is needed to keep the global average temperature to the target of 1.5 °C above baseline. Consequently, marshalling and extending our technical knowledge and related managerial skills is needed to meet the challenges of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring sustainability more broadly. Firms that are unaware of their position and that of their supply chains in relation to the 12 Rs, will have difficulties at multiple points in the future. Supply chains that engage the 12 Rs in an appropriate manner not only can avoid future difficulties but reduce their cost basis at a time when the growth in many markets is flat at best.

Many countries are directing their attention to the support of technological innovation with the intent to obtain economic and social benefits at home while positioning themselves for high margin, high technology export markets. The under-considered and under-exploited role of arts, humanities and social science in innovation is explored in this study. Examples of programs and activities in a variety of countries are illustrated. Insight into why the arts, humanities and social sciences are important to the generation of social and economic benefits through innovation is offered. Furthermore, recommendations are provided for better accessing the benefits that the arts, humanities and social science can provide.

The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) account for 25% of global biotechnology patents. To understand the current and future landscape of the domain, it is important to better understand the capacity of these contributors. Here, we consider the thematic priorities, strategies, and key players of the BRICS countries in biotechnology patenting.

The application of technology readiness levels alone to the design of fusion power plants and demonstrators is examined and shown to be inadequate for differentiation between competing component and system designs. An additional and complementary method for assessing different design options and minimizing risk to stakeholders is examined. A brief example of the methodology applied to the selection options for heating and current drive systems is presented.

This study investigates the impact of environmental knowledge and perceived product quality on purchasing intention and purchasing behavior of recycled products: A4 paper, mobile phones and printers. The intent is to understand how to move future generations toward more sustainable behavior, as currently unsustainable amounts of waste are generated across the Far East. Expectancy value theory and the theory of reasoned action are applied to the purchase of products with recovered and/or recycled content (n = 215). The study indicates: (1) a significant positive relationship was found between both the intention to purchase and the purchase of recycled products; (2) the perception of recycled product risk has a significant negative impact on the perception of recycled product quality and the attitude toward environmental protection; (3) perceived quality of recycled product is positively related to attitude toward environmental protection; (4) perceived quality of recycled product and attitude to environmental protection are positively related to intention to purchase recycled products; and (5) surprisingly, knowledge regarding environmental damage and pollution is unrelated to attitude toward environmental protection. This study offers new insights into the impact of education on environmental protection, purchasing of greener products and the need for environmental education to move from a goal of understanding to that of action.

The paper introduces a conceptual approach explaining how end users, user communities and /or for-profit firms provide benefits to society through new product or service development. We show that innovation may occur in different economic environments including non-market ones as well as that social innovation will not occur on its own in a purely producer for-profit environment. To explain such cases, we suggest integrating product and user innovation paradigms into the Producer-User Social Innovation (PUSI) Model that demonstrates how infrastructure and enabling technology is provided either by producer or user to introduce new market product or service. To provide face validity and illustrate the versatility of the proposed approach we consider five very different cases. These illustrative examples allowed to provide evidence that user-driven innovation is socially oriented in its nature as it implicitly addresses community or societal needs. In addition to providing insights into the nature of social innovation, the model can be utilized to help understand why social innovation may fail and how to increase the likelihood of success by engaging with appropriate for-profit producers, communities, and users. Implications to policy and practice are provided, including the opportunity for government to encourage social innovation directly and indirectly.

Supply chain disintegration is considered, due to its importance as an enabler for the management of technology innovation. This research is urgent as it is relevant to a wide range of other occurrences outside of technology innovation management, including: major policy or regulatory changes, industrial actions, economic sanctions, trade wars, trade realignment – such as Brexit, natural disasters, civil disorder and conflict, and financial crises. Disintegration is the re-alignment of partners and coordination within a supply chain to enhance customer value. This process is driven by one of more of the following: introduction of new technology or input, elimination of existing technology or input, change in customer requirements, and/or change in other external factors. The interdisciplinary nature and intellectual foundations of disintegration are considered. Finally, areas of research need are offered.

This special issue is critical to keeping Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Education in synchrony with the changing landscape resulting from developments in Information and Communication Technology. Six papers address the interaction of these enabling technologies with Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Education. The issue provides theoretical and empirical insights that are of value to entrepreneurs, educators, economic development community, policy makers and the management and leadership of educational institutions (colleges and universities).

This is the second of a pair of special issues in Technovation (Volume 57–58 November‐December, 2016) and the Journal of Small Business Management that explore the interface between Technology Inno...

Standard financial and economic theories suggest that the stock value of RD and a more dynamic component with high volatility reflecting bursts of large and rapid changes associated with Schumpeterian outcomes of explorative processes. A mixture of two normal distributions provides an overall function that is more reflective of the empirical evidence and provides a quantitative measure for the theory that firms engage in concurrent exploration/exploitation activities. A linear relationship between the two components of the mixture distribution that describe the stock value of these firms also emerges. By understanding this dual nature and its impact on stock value, firms can better manage resources and prepare for the increase in variability that are associated with exploration activities. A more accurate financial description of HTSF that reduces or that anticipates uncertainty may lead to financial tools and option pricing methods that put a premium on the value of HTSF markets, incentivizing investors to invest more in such firms.

Theories that consider technology as the basis for economic growth focus on products – fundamental innovations. These theories have created much interest due to their ability to explain many economic events. However, technology-based long wave theories have been the subject of much criticism by traditional economists. Many of these concerns are addressed by changing a focus on products to engineering materials and forms of energy that are critical for the success of the fundamental innovations. Changing the focus from product to materials and energy not only addresses concerns of economists, but provides insights to scientists and engineers on the development of materials and energy and the management of research throughout the lifecycle of engineered materials and forms of energy.

Emerging Technology Supply Chains (ETSCs) are critical to economic growth and renewal as they determine the timing and extent to which economic and social benefits are achieved from future industries like additive technologies, advanced materials, alternative energy, and biotechnology. However, little is known regarding this topic and many of the questions underpinning ETSCs remain understudied. Emerging Technology Supply Chains (ETSC) are the relationships and flows between the ‘string’ of operations and processes that initiate, evolve and develop during determination of the art and associated techniques of doing something novel to produce value in the form of new products and new services to the ultimate consumer. The literature on ETSCs is considered and summarized. An interdisciplinary call to research that includes the consideration of over 20 topics and disciplines is provided.

Glucose metabolism in vertebrate retinas is dominated by aerobic glycolysis (the “Warburg Effect”), which allows only a small fraction of glucose-derived pyruvate to enter mitochondria. Here, we report evidence that the small fraction of pyruvate in photoreceptors that does get oxidized by their mitochondria is required for visual function, photoreceptor structure and viability, normal neuron–glial interaction, and homeostasis of retinal metabolism. The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) links glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism. Retina-specific deletion of MPC1 results in progressive retinal degeneration and decline of visual function in both rod and cone photoreceptors. Using targeted-metabolomics and (13)C tracers, we found that MPC1 is required for cytosolic reducing power maintenance, glutamine/glutamate metabolism, and flexibility in fuel utilization.

At its extremes, the review process is the part of publishing that can lead to either non-publication of research or transformation of good work into a seminal article. While this process has tremendous importance and impact, very little is written about it. Consequently, a brief article is provided to offer advice and guidance in assisting new and experienced researchers in navigating this process. While the article is based on the experience of a management/social science researcher, similar advice has been found helpful to colleagues in other departments and faculties. Consequently, the guidance is worth considering regardless of what academic discipline that you are writing for.

Technologists and non-technologists have different perspectives that complicate their understanding of innovation. The taste and smell of Scotch Whisky is offered as a sensual experience (smell and/or taste) to assist people in gaining an understanding and appreciation of how process innovation leads to and is intertwined with product innovation for foods, chemical and engineered materials. The contribution of this paper is to demonstrate how to enhance learning and understanding about innovation through a straightforward exercise in experiential learning.

The article considers how the past and present tendency to focus on selecting the best projects based on the sole criterion of meritorious science may result in a sub-optimal portfolio. The authors argue that scientists need to proactively engage in the discussion over the need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of societal investments to ensure that the next generation of the management and decision-making process for our science, technology and innovation system is rooted in sound principles.The classic peer review process tends to provide unintended overlap and allows for an ill fit between some of the pieces and unwanted gaps to occur. Areas of high risk and high return can be missed due to their controversial nature and split decisions typically resulting in negative funding decisions. In general, high risk and a high frequency of split decisions tend to be replaced with lower risk initiatives. The authors propose herein supplementing peer review with research portfolio evaluation approaches and decision-making tools that can better assess research uncertainties and other special features of the transformation of the resulting knowledge into improved social well-being. A coupling of research quality review by peers with more systematic portfolio meta-analysis of recommended projects is both possible and essential.

Refurbishing products, which are increasingly sold in business-to-consumer markets, is a key strategy to reduce waste. Nevertheless, research finds that consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for refurbished products is low. Strategies for a higher WTP are needed in order to grow consumer markets for refurbished products. Eco-certification of refurbished products may be a key strategy here. Drawing on the consumer WTP literature concerning “green” products, we investigate the impact of independent eco-certificates. Our analysis is based on a survey of 231 potential customers. The results suggest that, across various product categories, the WTP for products with refurbished components is significantly lower. Adding an eco-certificate tends to return the WTP toward the virgin product level. We show that consumers with proenvironmental attitudes particularly exhibit green buying behavior. Our findings indicate that eco-certification is often worthwhile because it enhances the business rationale for producing products with refurbished components

The Black-Scholes model and the peer-review process are combined to offer more insight into the apparent value of research projects. In doing so high-risk/high-return research is found to be more attractive and financially rational than under the traditional peer review approach. In other words projects with the highest disagreement amongst panel members should sometimes be selected even though the average panel score may not be the highest under consideration. This finding is important as it improves the existing peer review process by utilizing not only the mean value of peer reviews, but also their standard deviation. This note also opens the consideration of the potential of Real Options approaches for decision support for project selection and management of research.

This editorial aims to assist authors in maximizing the impact of their work. While the editorial is written specifically for the journal Technovation , many items of advice are equally applicable to other publishing outlets. While the value of any article is its unique core contribution, the best way to present an article's core value is quite consistent and is the focus of this editorial.

Metabolomics studies in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in animal models or postmortem donors are essential to understanding the retinal metabolism and to revealing the underlying mechanisms of retinal degenerative diseases. We have studied how different methods of euthanasia (CO2 or cervical dislocation) different isolation procedures and postmortem delay affect metabolites in mouse retina and RPE/choroid using LC MS/MS and GC MS. Compared with cervical dislocation, CO2 exposure for 5 min dramatically degrades ATP and GTP into purine metabolites in the retina while raising intermediates in glucose metabolism and amino acids in the RPE/choroid. Isolation in cold buffer containing glucose has the least change in metabolites. Postmortem delay time-dependently and differentially impacts metabolites in the retina and RPE/choroid. In the postmortem retina, 18% of metabolites were changed at 0.5 h (h), 41% at 4 h and 51% at 8 h. However, only 6% of metabolites were changed in the postmortem RPE/choroid and it steadily increased to 20% at 8 h. Notably, both postmortem retina and RPE/choroid tissue showed increased purine metabolites. Storage of eyes in cold nutrient-rich medium substantially blocked the postmortem change in the retina and RPE/choroid. In conclusion, our study provides optimized methods to prepare fresh or postmortem retina and RPE/choroid tissue for metabolomics studies.

Aryl-hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein-like 1 (AIPL1) is essential to stabilize cGMP phosphodiesterase 6 (PDE6) in rod photoreceptors. Mutation of AIPL1 leads to loss of PDE6, accumulation of intracellular cGMP, and rapid degeneration of rods. To understand the metabolic basis for the photoreceptor degeneration caused by excessive cGMP, we performed proteomics and phosphoproteomics analyses on retinas from AIPL1-/- mice at the onset of rod cell death. AIPL1-/- retinas have about 18 times less than normal PDE6a and no detectable PDE6b. We identified twelve other proteins and thirty-nine phosphorylated proteins related to cell metabolism that are significantly altered preceding the massive degeneration of rods. They include transporters, kinases, phosphatases, transferases, and proteins involved in mitochondrial bioenergetics and metabolism of glucose, lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, and RNA. In AIPLI-/- retinas mTOR and proteins involved in mitochondrial energy production and lipid synthesis are more dephosphorylated, but glycolysis proteins and proteins involved in leucine catabolism are more phosphorylated than in normal retinas. Our findings indicate that elevating cGMP rewires cellular metabolism prior to photoreceptor degeneration and that targeting metabolism may be a productive strategy to prevent or slow retinal degeneration.