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Open innovation is a new paradigm for the development of agribusiness in Romania and the Danube macro-region. Studies on agro-food chains and clusters are still scarce. In the Romanian agro-food sector, 7 regional and cross-regional clusters are very active. This study aims to present the state of the art on open innovation in agribusiness in Romania, identifying how it is adopted, the role of clusters and the factors that influence this process, a collaborative platform for agro-food clusters and their members and future research possibilities. Is a need for internal organizational changes, the support of communication tools and an intellectual property model that encourage knowledge sharing. The main obstacles to the implementation of the digitization process in the agro-food sector are lack of expertise, high costs or in compatibility with the field of activity. Open innovation is a field that needs to be explored in different links in the chain, clusters being facilitators of this process. The challenges of agribusiness today demand more complex and systemic innovations that can be achieved through more open processes of product development. Clusters from agro-food sector are increasingly opening their innovation processes, streamlining their research and development activities with the expectation of better results. In general, the main barrier in establishing innovation alliances refers to the inherent risk of knowledge sharing, which creates a lack of trust between partners. The study could be a good practice model for other countries from the Danube macro-region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entrepreneurship is regarded as one of the most important sources of competitive advantage for all countries. The development of entrepreneurship has important benefits, both economically and socially. The relevance of entrepreneurship for national economy is expressed by Michael Porter "invention and entrepreneurship are at the heart of national advantage" [1]. This research paper aims to present the challenges of entrepreneurship in Romania in the context of smart specialization process as basis for the next EU programming period 2021-2027. The capacity of facing the challenges and learning from any defeat is a component part of the entrepreneurial spirit that signifies innovation, flexibility, and adaptability to change, dedication, self-discipline, initiative and vision. The used research methodology was based on analysis and synthesis of the information on the decision to start a business, the risks in business development and the barriers to entrepreneurship development. In conclusion, the authors of this paper wanted to emphasize the necessity of the entrepreneurial discovery process based on approaches at a macro, mezzo and micro-levels of innovation environments, on the stakeholders involved in the different phases of this process and on measurement of outcomes. Without these elements the economic and social prosperity in the EU regions is not possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agriculture, drought is a particularly harmful natural factor. In some regions, it manifests in most agricultural crops by a moisture deficiency or an unfavorable distribution of rainfall in relation to crop requirements. To reduce the effects of drought and increase production in agriculture, it is necessary to irrigate the controlled supply of soil with additional amounts of water than those received under natural conditions, so as to ensure high and constant agricultural output. Plant development is determined by a complex of factors: humidity and aeration, heat, light and nutrients. The paper presents a method of optimizing water use in agricultural crops based on satellite information. Based on satellite imagery, the water needs of a crop at local level will be determined using various processing methods. For each crop, location, and vegetation stage, maps will be generated for water requirements. Based on maps, intelligent irrigation modules will provide local water needs for optimal crop development. Depending on the farmer's financial possibilities, the irrigation modules can be classical and will be ordered manually or semi-automatically, or can be intelligent and automatically ordered. The main elements of the proposed method are: a) satellite images, field measurements, agrotechnical prescriptions based on which water maps are generated; b) Irrigation modules made from classic fixed or mobile irrigation installations c) GPS equipment to provide location, d) how to control and control the irrigation modules (controllers, electrodes, pressure regulators, humidity sensors, various irrigation components) e) water sources, pumps, water supply under pressure, etc. The crops will be irrigated differently on the surface based on the information received from the GPS and maps with water requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a structural model of the smart farm to improve environmental protection. This model is based on a digital platform that integrates all the elements that participate directly or indirectly in decision-making into agricultural farm. An intelligent farm must manage optimally and efficiently in the spirit of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection the following components: agricultural lands, farm energy balance, inputs and outputs in accordance with the applicable regulations and environmental protection. Thus, this ensures mainly: - The optimal structure of agricultural crops and efficient rotation of these crops; - The optimized map of application of general inputs (chemical and natural fertilizers, etc.) - Optimization of the usage of the energy sources: tractor, electric power, photovoltaic energy, wind energy and other kind of renewal energy; - Optimization of the machinery (installed power, performant types, costs); - Optimization of the energy type, depending on activities, operations, etc.; - Energy efficiency through the use of combined resources; - Optimization of technologies; - Optimization of cost-benefit; - Framing into environmental norms; - Social responsibility. The informational elements and equipment are presented together with the sensors involved in development of an informational framework. Developing on a digital platform will be able to contribute to making decision and increasing the agricultural yield and environmental protection. At the same time, the platform can be a means of command and control of all components and equipment used in a farm. A special attention will be given to the next databases that can be as follows: - Traceability GIS databases: maps with the historic of cultures location, maps with the historic of agriculture yields; maps with the historic of nutrients and phytosanitary treatments distribution; - GIS databases with exploitations: yields maps; soil properties maps; maps with needed irrigations; maps and files for command and control of nutrients distribution and phytosanitary treatments using adequate equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is a collaborative instrument for developing business/technological/research partnerships for entities around the world especially SME's (Small and Medium sized Enterprises). One of the key factors for business development is innovation. Innovation management can be assessed using specific methods and instruments. One of these methods is the approach developed by the ImP3ove Academy. The ImP3ove methodology is based on an on-line questionnaire which is filled out by the entity. The questionnaire contains a set of questions from different innovation management dimensions. These dimensions are: Innovation Strategy, Organization and culture, Innovation life cycle processes, Enabling factors and Innovation results. After filling the questionnaire, according to the entity's needs regarding to innovation management, a customized benchmark can be applied. Based on ImP3ove database the benchmark can be generated for industry sectors, countries and company size or age classes. Using the filled questionnaire and the benchmarking selection the on-line software based on the ImP3ove methodology can generate a report. This report contains the relevant elements of the innovation management assessment structured on the innovation management dimensions. The paper also presents the results and analysis of the innovation management assessment for various Romanian entities. The results of the innovation management assessment can contribute to the business development, increasing market visibility and increasing client confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of synthesis chemical substances in agriculture for increasing agricultural production and ensuring food across the globe is a process that has as a reverse negative effects on the environment and human health. According to the research conducted widely it has proved that, these synthesis substances that sometimes are toxic (pesticides, herbicides, etc.) have a negative influence on human health ultimately, also by polluting the environment, which represents the biggest challenge of the humanity today - climate change. Knowing the composition of unwanted substance and all the elements of the soil contributes to the human food chain and not only, is very important. Spectrophotometric determination methods can be very useful in this matter. Spectral determination using the spectrophotometer can lead to very good results in knowing the quantitative and qualitative composition of these soil components that affect the food chain. The paper studies analysis methods of soil spectra, in order to determine their composition. Spectra for different soil types, available in international databases or own database, developed through experimental determinations are used. These spectra are compared with the spectra of the analysed soil samples. The comparison methods of the spectra can be of various ways: spectral correlation, FFT analysis (Fast Fourier Transform) etc. In this way, the soil composition is determined qualitative (very good, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory) or quantitative if the correlation is very good between sample spectrum and reference spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study of the structural models convergence, rezulted from CAD (Computer Aided Design ), based on method of estimation. The study of the structural models convergence presented a method based on the convergence, in the sense of mathematical analysis, adapted to finite strings. The convergence estimators are status sizes that characterize the response of the structural model to the given load. As convergence estimators can be used sizes that characterize the response of the structure, like follows: relative displacements (translations, rotations), specific strains, equivalent stress (Von Mises), components of the displacement velocity vector, local sizes that characterize cinematic phenomena, components of the acceleration vector, local sizes which characterize dynamic phenomena: the temperature in the body, etc. For the convergence study of a problem, one can use a single mathematical model for a given structural analysis problem. The mathematical model is resolved by numerical or analytical methods, refining the meshing, respectively, increasing the number of the series terms, until it touches the convergence. More models can also be used for a problem. Each model is refines until the results, in terms of the convergence estimators, are close enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment is in continuous transformation because of human action and natural factors. The human society is beneficiary of the environment, which through its activity and creation can produce harmful or beneficial effects on it. This paper presents a the structure and application for a spatial database based on GIS (Geographic Information System) with environmental impact effects and phenomena, designed and adapted to help the public to easy know the effects and consequences of harmful practices in interaction with the environment. GIS database will be available online under web platform and allows online access to locations with environmental impact and problems. The structure contains layers and geographical information. The interaction and administration of the database will by assured by web interfaces. The applications will be based on analysis of a county from Romania. In terms of structural, conceptual and application level, it can be adapted to a region of any European country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an integrated model of the water management systems, starting from the consideration: the society, human civilization, cannot exist without information and communication. The processes of making decisions and constitute of the policies concerning about water management must be reliant on specific information and the results obtained through simulation. The complete knowledge, the reliable information and correct data being vital for making a correct decision. Through the integrated model of water management systems, the implied factors can be integrated from point of view of information changing and communication. The integration of the standardization management systems constitutes an additional advantage in the management process, because of the advantages offered by the administration and correlation of information. The paper tries to be a promoter of the necessity professional and continuous approach of the integrated water management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research and technology development have been the foundation of impressive productivity gains in the agricultural sector. The ability of the sector to conserve natural resources and protect the environment depends, in part, on the technologies used. Agricultural research is the source of new technologies, and important new technologies have emerged that may benefit the environment if adopted. On other hand, on the market is a large offer of machines and installations designed to agriculture. However, many new and current agricultural technologies are complex and require a much higher level of human capital and managerial skills than in the past, increasing the costs of their adoption. Certain technologies may be economically desirable over time, but require substantial capital investment (for example, certain precision farming technologies). Every technology is based on a set of farm machines and implements. The paper proposes a web platform which includes o series of data referring to the cultivation technologies, mechanization technologies and farm machines and implements. Using the information from the databases the end user will be able to simulate varied mechanization technologies for varied crops using the farm machines and implements with a variety of characteristics from different manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]