Routledge Handbook of Politics and Technology


Book Description

This handbook provides a comprehensive global survey of the politics of technology. Written by an outstanding line up of distinguished scholars in the field, the handbook covers all aspects of the relationship between politics and technology including: Demand and support for new technologies and innovation by the state The effects of technology policies Technology development and innovation difference between various countries and regions Policy instruments and techno-industrial innovation Dynamism and change as outcomes of government policies Driving forces for science and innovative development Forming the basis of this handbook are examples of regional development, country studies and a rich variety of technologies, as well as topical issues such as divergent political interests in relation to technology and the economic exploitation of technologies. Employing a comparative and interdisciplinary approach in order to analyse the interplay between government activities and the development of new technologies, this handbook will be an invaluable resource for all students, scholars and practitioners working in the politics of technology, public policy and policy analysis.




The Global Innovation Index 2012


Book Description

The Global Innovation Index ranks the innovation performance of 141 countries and economies around the world, based on 84 indicators. This edition explores the impact of innovation-oriented policies on economic growth and development. High-income and developing countries alike are seeking innovation-driven growth through different strategies. Some countries are successfully improving their innovation capacity, while others still struggle.




Sustainable (Re)Construction


Book Description

The construction industry is one of the key economic sectors in Europe, but it was hit hard by the financial crisis. In the euro zone, employment in construction declined by a quarter since 2008. These difficult times raise important questions about the future path of the construction industry. The Briefing describes the various aspects of renovation and maintenance activities in the EU, and explores their potential to become the main growth driver for the European construction market.




Digital Factory for Human-oriented Production Systems


Book Description

Digital factory is a comprehensive approach providing methodologies, models and tools that support manufacturing enterprises in the rearrangement of their organizational structures to deal with expected changes in manufacturing processes and markets. Digital Factory for Human-oriented Production Systems investigates the impact of the digital factory through a consideration of the entire product/process lifecycle, and the broad network of product engineering, material and component suppliers, manufacturing equipment suppliers, and customers involved in current and next generation manufacturing. It covers the utilization and integration of: human body ergonomics models; production system discrete event simulation; 3D/virtual and augmented reality visualization; collaborative design tools; automatic data capture; and knowledge management systems based on semantic web ontologies integrated by a continuous data management. The coverage of various types of factory and manufacturing phases, representations and simulations allows researchers in academia and industry to perform a dynamic analysis and up-to-date modeling of the processes involved. Digital Factory for Human-oriented Production Systems describes the tools that allow a move towards the integrated digital factory and underlines the business impact that companies can obtain by adopting these tools. As well as benefiting international organizations, the proposed methodologies and technologies have also been developed in order to facilitate their adoption by small or medium-sized businesses, making them relevant to all product engineers and managers who want improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their enterprises.




Public-Private Partnerships


Book Description

Public Private Partnership is a key issue in the construction industry – causing much concern among contractors, funders and facility managers. Demand has been building for a thorough analysis ... This edited book will familiarise both researchers and construction professionals working with public private partnerships (PPP) with the issues involved in the planning, implementation and day-to-day management of public private projects. It will show how current risk management methods can help the complex process of managing procurement via such partnerships. The chapters - most authored by a practitioner/academic partnership - are organised round the concepts of best value and use the findings of a major research project investigating Risk Assessment and Management in Private Finance Initiative Projects. The analysis of this research will be supplemented with contributions by leading international experts from Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore, covering hospitals, schools, waste management and housing - to exemplify best practice in PPP-based procurement.




Government-Industry Partnerships for the Development of New Technologies


Book Description

This report reviews a variety of partnership programs in the United States, and finds that partnerships constitute a vital positive element of public policy, helping to address major challenges and opportunities at the nexus of science, technology, and economic growth.




Living in a networked world


Book Description

The rapid progress of information technology allows for increasingly powerful software intensive embedded systems (machines) executing integrated applications connected by and to global networks. Thus these systems are more and more networked among each other, but also with data and services on the Internet. Intelligent solutions originate which gather processes of the living environment by means of sensors and actuators, connect them to virtual software worlds and interpret, monitor and control these processes in interaction with people. In this way, so-called Cyber-Physical Systems evolve – a living in a networked world. The interlocking applications include smart cities, social infrastructures with integrated telemedicine care, enhanced connected mobility with fully or semi-autonomous driving cars and traffic systems, safety, security and privacy as well as networked production and the sustainable energy turnaround. The integrated research agenda Cyber-Physical-Systems (agendaCPS) provides a comprehensive overview of the capabilities and benefits of the arising CPS-applications and manifold technological and social challenges involved. The agenda illustrates which value the subject for economy and society has: revolutionary applications of Cyber-Physical Systems address technological and social trends and needs; at the same time they penetrate and interconnect more and more areas of life. On the basis of concrete future scenarios essential application domains are shown. Their analysis reveals which capabilities and technologies form the basis of Cyber-Physical systems and which innovation and possible conflict potential is inherent. The agendaCPS makes clear which researchand action areas are from particular importance. In these contexts opportunities, but also risks become apparent for Germany by Cyber-Physical Systems. This ist the English translation of the report agenda Cyber-Physical Systems finished three years ago as a German acatech project by a German publication.




Manufacturing in the New Urban Economy


Book Description

This book looks at the changing link between manufacturing and knowledge-based activities in urban regions drawing on insights from organization studies and regional economics and looking at case studies in Europe, South America and Asia.




The Routledge Companion to Public-Private Partnerships


Book Description

A public-private partnership (PPP) is a contractual arrangement with appropriate risk sharing between public and private partners for the delivery of public infrastructure or services, which is intended to create value-for-money to the taxpayer. The Routledge Companion to Public-Private Partnerships provides a cutting-edge survey of the field. PPPs remain a highly controversial subject matter globally and this comprehensive and authoritative volume provides a terrific compendium of information for students and scholars charged with understanding, critiquing and advancing this model. With sections devoted to legal aspects, institutional economics perspectives, finance and accountability - the editors draw together an impressive range of contributors from around the world.