Finance

Knowledge valorisation puts research results to work for a greener, fairer society

Published

1 year ago

March 30, 2022

While knowledge itself is good, it’s even better when it’s applied to help solve the big challenges facing our societies. Many components must come together to ensure research has a lasting impact on society.

Science overflows with questions, but also brims with answers. For example, decades of meticulous research enabled multiple vaccines to be rolled out at an unprecedented pace during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Science also provided evidence as to which public behaviours and practical measures reduce the spread of the virus – such as good ventilation and and the design and use of face coverings to help reduce contagion factors.

In 2020, research and development spending in EU countries was €311 billion. Knowledge generated in Europe should benefit the people of Europe and beyond. While it is the job of scientists to generate such knowledge, others can assist in taking it out into society, notes Christophe Haunold, head of knowledge and technology transfer at the University of Luxembourg.

It is a question of how we use that knowledge. ‘This is valorisation,’ said Haunold.

Knowledge valorisation is defined as the process of creating value from knowledge by linking different areas and sectors. It transforms data and research results into sustainable products and solutions that benefit society. It improves economic prosperity, environmental benefits, social progress and policy making.

‘We want research results to create impact for society,’ said Jurgen Joossens, Head of the Valorisation Office (TTO) at the University of Antwerp in Belgium. His university focuses on valorisation in three areas: infectious diseases and environmental health, smart city and sustainable chemistry and materials.

The office has established links to the port of Antwerp, an important petrochemical site in Europe. Rather than researchers deciding how their results can be used by industry (a push approach), the Antwerp unit focuses also on what society wants – the so-called ‘flip approach’.

For example, in 2016, Professor Maarten Weyn developed a telemetric badge that could locate a person in a chemical plant and alert controllers if they fell or had an accident. But industry and unions foresaw privacy problems in tracking employees in this way.

Following a round of consultations with the chemical industry in Antwerp, Weyn redesigned the badge into a sensor that measures position, temperature and vibrations from valves within chemical plants.

A company – Aloxy – has taken the professor’s technology forward and issuing it in site trials in Europe, the US and the Middle East. ‘Because he was open and listening to their needs, he was able to reform the technology and solve a problem he wasn’t aware of,’ says Joossens.

EU Valorisation Week

Co-organised by the EU Member States and the European Commission, the EU Knowledge Valorisation Week will run from 29 March to 1 April, 2022. It will bring together and share expertise amongst experts and stakeholders from all over Europe. It will showcase best examples of policies and tools that improve investments, capacities and skills for rapid progress in the uptake of research-based solutions. Stakeholders have helped shape the programme by sharing their best practices.

Haunold will moderate a session that looks at how to fund inventions and business ideas during the proof-of-concept phase. This is after the research phase, but before something has been demonstrated to a level where a company is willing to get involved.

Transforming basic scientific discoveries into a product or service is frequently a major sticking point. Because scientists usually don’t have the skills or time to devote to this piece, as they are busy doing what they are best at – research.

‘What we expect from scientists is to be very good scientists,’ said Haunold. ‘But there can be a wide range of skills that they don’t have but which we can assist them with.’

This is when entrepreneurs and scientists can lean on the knowledge contained in the technology transfer offices (TTOs). These offices support the commercialisation of research work. Technology transfer offices help researchers communicate about their projects, file patents and assist in negotiations over technology transfer and the use of intellectual property.

Creating a new company to exploit an idea is not always feasible. Sometimes academic organisations will partner with commercial and public partners. The TTOs can help to arrange licensing for a discovery to existing companies. This can generate revenue from new products or services.

Intellectual property

‘If a researcher interacts with a company, they will not have to carry all the burden of negotiating with parts of that company, such as legal or intellectual property issues,’ said Haunold.

A success story from Luxembourg involves Dr Tahereh Pazouki, who created a mathematics educational tool for children when she was a PhD student. She was targeting a diverse linguistic community, one with several languages in daily use.

‘In Luxembourg, we have many languages and many cultures,’ said Haunold. ‘She developed a tool that allows children learn mathematics without the basic language.’

She received proof-of-concept funding, and the knowledge transfer office negotiated and provided all the intellectual property rights.

Her company, Magrid, now sells the tool all over the world. It is suited to migratory children not proficient in the language of instruction or children with special needs, such as those with autism, dyslexia or hearing or speech difficulties.

Advice on entrepreneurship will be shared during the session entitled ‘Translating the vision into action’. Ivan Štefanić, professor at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek in Croatia, runs an educational programme called Be the Role Model which entrepreneurial researchers may find very useful. The session takes place on 30 March 2022.

Entrepreneurial skills

To encourage an entrepreneurial environment means fostering a culture and positive mindset, not just technical skills. ‘When you’re surrounded by people who complain about everything, you start complaining as well,’ said Štefanić.

‘If you see people taking changes, making bold moves, and achieving something,’ he said, ‘That could spark you on the right path.’

He himself set up a business development centre in Croatia in 2002, but instead of waiting for people to walk through the door, he developed the Be the Role Model programme.

Living lab

Sometimes, you need the input of citizens in real life situations to see if an innovation will work. In Finland, a living laboratory for food and sustainability has been set up on the campus of the Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK).

Mikael Lindell, who leads the FUSSILI project on urban food systems, reveals that this April, the university cafeteria will serve experimental recipes based on ingredients that benefit the planet. It follows the EAT-Lancet diet which targets healthy diets and sustainable food production.

The project aims to reduce meat content and include more local produce in its recipes. A large local food manufacturer is involved while, crucially, staff and students on campus will be able to give feedback on their sustainable lunch fare.

In the Netherlands, Dr Linda van de Burgwal is the director of a demonstrator lab at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She herself is a serial entrepreneur who has set up multiple companies. ‘We set up a risk free environment,’ she said. ‘We see it as learning-by-doing.’

Those who enrol must present a business idea and then work on it, with regular progress check-ins. Mentoring is an essential component.

‘After five years we have had 100 projects, and 20 have registered with the [local] chamber of commerce,’ said van de Burgwal.

Ideas have included breath sensors for early detection of livestock disease, a virtual human rights lawyer and more ergonomic furniture for children.

She stresses that entrepreneurship doesn’t just help when setting up your own business. It ‘gives a set of problem solving skills that is valuable in whatever role you have,’ she said. ‘Entrepreneurship is creating something that has value, and those skills are relevant across sectors,’ said van de Burgwal.

Valorisation does not always refer to turning knowledge into products and services. It also involves informing policy changes, improving processes or educating the general public.

Teaming up

Knowledge transfer and validation requires many skills. ‘We need multidisciplinary teams,’ says Joossens, ‘Because sometimes it’s forgotten that it’s not only about the technology, but it’s also about implementation of the technology.’ This requires a complex milieu of expertise, to support knowledge creators and ensure impact.

‘There’s also society involved, there are processes, rules, laws, which are involved,’ he said.

Businesses can fail for financial reasons, and hard-nosed advice for would-be entrepreneurs is essential.

Štefanić says those setting up companies should create an intellectual property plan at an early stage. ‘Often entrepreneurs do it only when they unknowingly infringe someone’s intellectual property or someone copies them,’ he said. ‘That is a very reactive approach.’

Draw talent

He believes Europe can also draw in talent from the rest of the world by creating the right environment for entrepreneurs. ‘We can attract people from other locations and help them achieve what they couldn’t locally,’ he said. ‘So it is also about growing successful business and making Europe a desirable destination,’ he said.

The Knowledge Valorisation Week is an opportunity to raise awareness and take stock of the current work on upgrading EU guidance for better knowledge valorisation. There is an EU knowledge valorisation platform to share best practices, knowledge and expertise. It includes a repository of best practices, to which stakeholders can submit their examples any time.

The research in this article was funded by the EU. This article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. 

Finance

The Role of Edubirdie in Fostering Academic Growth: A Comprehensive Review

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2023

Newsroom

Most college students usually have a hard time studying for hours, submitting their assignments on time, preparing for upcoming exams, and finding time for their hobbies. Life becomes tougher when you have a part-time job and a family to take care of. While college life can be stressful, it doesn’t have to be. You can save a lot of time and get the results that you want by getting help from your colleagues, tutors, and online experts. When it comes to online experts, there are a lot of platforms that will help you submit your assignments on time. However, you should always use reputable ones to avoid getting scammed. Among them is Edubirdie. By googling this platform, you’ll find a lot of Edubirdie reviews on various platforms such as Reddit and numerous sites. In this post, we are going to answer the question – Is Edubirdie legit?

Why you need an Edubirdie essay

The rise of technology has led to the creation of numerous academic writing platforms in the digital space. These platforms exist to help learners submit high-quality papers on time and get good grades. Since there are a lot of essay writing platforms on the web, it’s not easy to find one that is ideal for you. It is crucial to invest time in researching and reading comprehensive reviews, for example, edubirdie.com review, and familiarizing yourself with the platform’s terms and conditions to avoid any potential pitfalls. I am pleased to report that Edubirdie ratings are quite high in the USA and other nations across the globe. The developers created a website that is not only easy to access but also navigate.

Every writer that you’ll interact with here has been screened thoroughly to ensure that you always get value for your money. If you are worried about paying huge amounts of money to the site, don’t fret. Their prices are pocket-friendly. Plus, the more you use their services, the easier it will be to get an Edubirdie discount code.

Brief Summary

Official site	edubirdie.com
Price range	Starts from $13.99
Payment options	Visa, MasterCard, PayPal
Refund policy	YES
Discount	YES
contact number	+1 888 337 5415

Pricing

Most websites that deal with academic writing usually display the services that they provide together with a price list. After reading a comprehensive Edubirdie review and testing the platform, I discovered that there is no fixed price on the homepage. However, you can easily figure out how much you’ll pay for a particular service by visiting the website, heading to my account, and inputting login information. Next, place your order and choose a writer. The platform will calculate the amount that you’ll pay based on a wide range of factors. They include the experience of the writer and the complexity and urgency of your paper assignment. Several reviews on Edubirdie at Yelp have shown that the average price of an academic paper starts from $13.99 per page. Compared to other reputable platforms in 2023, you’ll realize that Edubirdie legit is 100 percent true.

Quality of academic paper

Navigating the site is one of the easiest things that you’ll do in the essay-writing process. Once you put in the details of your assignment, you’ll be provided with a list of reputable writers who can work on your assignment. You’ll get to choose based on their qualifications and experience. And this will improve the quality of your paper. Choosing the ideal writer will ensure that your definition essay is error-free and original. You won’t have to use a dictionary to know the meaning of particular words while reading your essay.

Customer service review

A common trait of unreliable essay writing platforms is poor customer service. They may start ignoring you, especially after sending them money. This doesn’t happen at Edubirdie. I initiated contact numerous times with Edubirdie customer agents via different channels. And they responded accurately and on time. They were there to help me throughout the process. You can converse with them via social media platforms, contact number, live chat, or email. You can ask them about coupon codes, promo codes, or any other questions that you may have in mind.

Pros and cons

There is nothing perfect in this world. And this applies to Edubirdie. Here are its pros and cons:

Pros

Responsive customer service department
Unique and error-free essay papers
Easy access to screened writers

Cons

Numerous factors determine the amount that you’ll pay
Most reviewers publish inaccurate information about the site
Fake bio photos of a few writers

FAQ

1. What is Edubirdie legit?

It is one of the leading essay writing platforms in the digital space. According to Ressellerratings, it has assisted thousands of students in different countries to achieve their biggest goals in life.

2. Will I spend a fortune?

No. Edubirdie offers pocket-friendly services to its clients. While many factors determine how much you’ll pay, the starting price of a college paper is $13.99 per page. No to mention the discounts and promo codes that you’ll get in the process.

3. Will my work be 100 percent original?

Yes. Edubirdie does not tolerate any form of plagiarism. In case a writer submits duplicate content, you can always report it and have them rewrite the paper. If they fail to correct issues, they won’t be paid.

Conclusion

If you’ve been struggling with your assignments, you should consider getting help from the experts. One of the popular platforms for essay help on the web today is Edubirdie. It’s perfect for students who want nothing but the best at an affordable price. The more you use the site, the easier it will be to get discount codes. Don’t hesitate to get help from the agents via live chat, email, or phone. They will be glad to assist you achieve your long-term goals.

Finance

ETH Price Predictions and Upgrades for Ethereum in the Future

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2023

Newsroom

Excerpt: If one assumes a steep, monotonic increase in price for Ethereum, along with a natural expansion of the network across several other countries, the price of Ethereum will likely touch $16,024.42 by the end of 2030.

Ethereum, which is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, has become a vital part of the decentralized finance (DeFi) and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) environments. Ethereum, with its indigenous currency Ether (ETH), has suffered massive instability and growth over the years.

DeFi and NFTs have earned significant traction and have massively contributed to Ethereum’s valuation. DeFi proposes several financial services while NFT is a class of digital collectibles that represent exclusive ownership of assets. Both DeFi and NFT significantly depend on Ethereum’s smart contract feature, making Ethereum a vital component of the digital markets.

Several factors can change the price of Ethereum. For example, factors such as market demand, regulatory developments, technological advancements, and macroeconomic trends. Below are some of the price predictions for the upcoming years.

Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction from 2023 -2030

The entire of 2023 will be spent recovering from the crypto winter. Ethereum is estimated to touch $3,277.72, and the minimum price can be predicted at $2,185.15. The average price for the years should hover around $2,731.44. Ethereum is predicted to achieve newer heights in 2024 and present an average price of $4,552.39. In 2025, Ethereum is expected to increase to an average of $6,373.35.

If one assumes a steep, monotonic increase in price for Ethereum, along with a natural expansion of the network across several other countries, the price of Ethereum will likely touch $16,024.42 by the end of 2030. Moreover, the average price of the token will steady itself at $15,478.14. The major bull run over the past five-six years is likely to uphold the market sentiment and hence, the price of Ethereum will rise accordingly.

Several other price predictions for Ethereum in the future are provided below.

Ethereum prediction by Raoul Pal

The Chief Executive Officer of Real Vision Group, Raoul Pal says all things positive about Ethereum. In a recent interview, he estimated that Ethereum would reach $20,000 by the end of 2023, and would be a significant hike from its present price.

Ethereum Prediction by Michael Van de Poppe

According to crypto analyst and trader Michael Van De Poppe, Ethereum could achieve a price between $2700 and $3000 in the next couple of months. His estimates are based on the increasing adoption of DeFi and NFTs along with Ethereum’s incoming upgrades.

Ethereum’s Upgrade and its Impact

Etereum 2.0 is a network upgrade that is focused on enhancing the platform’s scalability, privacy, and energy efficiency. This upgrade is highly anticipated by the blockchain community and hence, can have a massive impact on Ethereum’s price.

Ethereum 2.0 is a series of upgrades curated to make Ethereum more scalable and secure. Essentially, the Ethereum network’s upgrade revolves around transitioning from the current Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to the Proof of Stake (PoS) model. PoS, which is a way to validate transactions on the blockchain, makes the network more energy-efficient and environment-friendly than the PoW model. This transition has gained traction from several investors and crypto enthusiasts who are environment-conscious and want to use a network that is easy on the planet.

Since the most recent Ethereum upgrade uses lesser gas fees, it shall be assumed as the next blockchain of choice. Moreover, the network upgrades enhance the network’s scalability via the application of sharding and several other optimizations. This will enable more transactions per second while lessening the congestion.

In the future, the price predictions are estimated to be bullish, however, the crypto market has shown its instability over the past few years and nothing can be estimated with utmost guarantee.

Finance

Bloomberg: Germany, Europe’s economic engine, is breaking down

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2023

Newsroom

Germany has been Europe’s economic engine for decades, pulling the region through one crisis after another. But that resilience is breaking down, and it spells danger for the whole continent, writes Bloomberg.

Decades of flawed energy policy, the demise of combustion-engine cars and a sluggish transition to new technologies are converging to pose the most fundamental threat to the nation’s prosperity since reunification. But unlike in 1990, the political class lacks the leadership to tackle structural issues gnawing at the heart of the country’s competitiveness.

“We’ve been naïve as a society because everything seems fine,” BASF SE Chief Executive Officer Martin Brudermüller told Bloomberg. “These problems we have in Germany are accumulating. We have a period of change ahead of us; I don’t know if everyone realizes this.”

While Berlin has shown a knack for overcoming crises in the past, the question now is whether it can pursue a sustained strategy. The prospect looks remote. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s make-shift coalition has reverted to petty infighting over everything from debt and spending to heat pumps and speed limits as soon as the risks of energy shortfalls eased.

But the warning signals are getting hard to ignore. Despite Scholz telling Bloomberg in January that Germany would ride out Russia’s energy squeeze without a recession this year, data published Thursday show that the economy has in fact been contracting since October and has only expanded twice in the past five quarters.

Economists see German growth lagging behind the rest of the region for years to come, and the International Monetary Fund estimates Germany will be the worst-performing G-7 economy this year.

Germany finds itself ill-suited to sustainably serve the energy needs of its industrial base; overly dependent on old-school engineering; and lacking the political and commercial agility to pivot to faster-growing sectors. The array of structural challenges points to a cold awakening for the center of European power, which has become accustomed to uninterrupted affluence.

To its credit, industrial behemoths like Volkswagen AG, Siemens AG and Bayer AG are flanked by thousands of smaller Mittelstand companies, and the country’s conservative spending habits put it on a stronger fiscal footing than its peers to support the transformation ahead. But it has little time to waste.

The most pressing issue for Germany is getting its energy transition on track. Affordable power is a key precondition for industrial competitiveness, and even before the end of Russian gas supplies, Germany had some of the highest electricity costs in Europe. Failure to stabilize the situation could transform a trickle of manufacturers heading elsewhere into a stampede.

Berlin is responding to concerns by seeking a cap on power prices for some energy-intensive industries like chemicals through 2030 — a plan that could cost taxpayers as much as €30 billion ($32 billion). But that would be a temporary patch, and shows Germany’s desperate situation in terms of supply.

Scholz’s administration aims to hook up roughly 625 million solar panels and 19,000 wind turbines by 2030, but promises to accelerate the rollout to months from years have yet to bear fruit. Meanwhile, demand is expected to soar due to the electrification of everything from heating and transportation to steelmaking and heavy industry.

The bitter reality is that resources for generating that much clean power are limited in Germany by its relatively small coastline and lack of sun. In response, the country is looking to build a vast infrastructure to import hydrogen from the likes of Australia, Canada and Saudi Arabia — banking on technology that hasn’t been tested at this scale.

Much of Germany’s wealth and social order rest on a vibrant manufacturing sector that provides well-paid blue-collar jobs. But that strength has led to dangerous dependencies on overseas markets for orders and raw materials — above all China.

Germany needs to address its issues with a long-term program, but that looks questionable. Scholz won the chancellery with the lowest level of support in the postwar era as voters ditched the tradition of handing a clear mandate to either the Social Democrats or the Christian Democrat-led conservative bloc.

With Scholz’s messy three-way coalition racked with bickering, Germany is poised for instability, and the far-right Alternative for Germany has seized on the political vacuum, vying for second in some polls.

In a recent report, the OECD put the scale of the challenges in stark terms: “No major industrialized economy has ever had the very basis of its competitiveness and resilience so systematically challenged by changing social, environmental and regulatory pressures.”

That in turn will ripple across the entire continent, according to Dana Allin, a professor at SAIS Europe. “The health of the German economy is crucial for the broader European economy, and the bloc’s harmony and solidarity,” he said.