Coordination and integration among farms within agri-food chains are crucial to tackle the issue of fragmentation within the primary sector, both at the European and national level. The Italian agri-food system still complains about the need to aggregate supply to support market dynamics, especially for niche and quality products that characterize the Made in Italy. It is well known that the Italian agri-food sector is closely linked to the relationship between agriculture on one hand and culture/tradition on the other, which is reflected in the high number of quality products that have obtained EU PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) recognition. The development of vertical forms of coordination has found significant support in recent years from the integrated supply chain design approach, which is increasingly becoming an essential tool for implementing rural development policies. In this context, the study provides a comparison between companies that have joined the Integrated Supply Chain Projects of the Rural Development Program and those that have not applied. The aim is to highlight any differences in order to understand policy impact. The analysis is based on the Emilia-Romagna region Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) data, and the sample consists of more than 2 thousand farms. The statistical analysis conducted compares treated and non-treated using the Welch-t-test for independent unmatched samples. The main results show higher values for treated farms when structural variables are analyzed, like the utilized agricultural area or the agricultural work unit. In general, higher balance sheet performances emerged for treated farms. In conclusion, this study shows that the Integrated Supply Chain Projects represent a worthwhile tool both to increase cooperation, food quality, and to enhance a competitive agricultural sector.

Smart cities incorporate fundamental aspects such as sustainability and citizens’ well-being. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of an evaluation model of the transformation processes towards smart cities as a strategy to improve the state of the transformation processes in Lima, Peru. The research is descriptive and basic. A questionnaire was administered to 80 municipal officials in Lima, focusing on the variable “smart cities evaluation model”, covering three key dimensions: open data, smart public transport and energy efficiency, with a total of 15 questions and the variable “state of the transformation processes”, analysed through the dimensions of educational level of the population and municipal budget, with 10 questions. The results revealed that 48% expressed a gap in terms of the availability and quality of accessible information. 53% argued that stronger energy conservation and sustainability strategies need to be implemented. In addition, 53% felt that the education level needs to focus on improving local education systems. In conclusion, transformation processes drive economic, social and environmental development, improving the quality of life and promoting equality among citizens. This study contributes to a broader understanding of how to address these challenges in order to build more sustainable and liveable cities in the future.

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are intentionally designed to be easily accessible to many learners, regardless of their academic level or age. MOOCs leverage internet-based technology, allowing anybody with an internet connection to have unrestricted access, regardless of their location or time limitations. MOOCs provide a versatile and easy opportunity for acquiring top-notch education, enabling anyone to learn at their preferred speed, free from limitations of time, cost, or geographical location. Given the advantages they offer, MOOCs are a valuable method for improving the quality and availability of education in Indonesia. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and institutions have implemented the establishment of digital campuses. One important characteristic of these digital campuses is that they prioritize processes but overlook data and lack standardized standards. The problems and fundamental causes include challenges related to the comprehensive information architecture. The main factor contributing to this challenge is the absence of uniform and well-defined information standards. The existing connectivity and data exchange mechanisms in several schools are poor, leading to substantial data discrepancy among various departments due to the limited content of the fundamental data utilized. Moreover, the absence of clear information about the reliable source of data exacerbates the problem. The main objectives of data governance are to improve data quality, eliminate data inconsistencies, promote extensive data sharing, utilize data aggregation for competitive benefits, supervise data modifications based on data usage patterns, and comply with internal and external regulations and agreed-upon data usage standards. The aim of this project is to create a data governance framework that is customized to the specific conditions in Indonesia, with a specific emphasis on MOOC providers. The researcher chose design science research (DSR) as the research paradigm as it can successfully tackle relevant issues linked to the topic by creating innovative artefacts about the data governance framework for MOOC providers in Indonesia. This research highlights the necessity and significance of implementing a data governance framework for MOOC providers in Indonesia, hence increasing their awareness of this requirement. The researchers incorporated components from the data management body of knowledge (DMBOK) into their data governance framework. This framework includes ten components related to data governance, which are further divided into sub-components within the MOOC providers’ framework.

Bibliometric analysis is a commonly used tool to assess scientific collaborations within the researchers, community, institution, regions and countries. The analysis of publication records can provide a wealth of information about scientific collaboration, including the number of publications, the impact of the publications, and the areas of research where collaborations are most common. By providing detailed information on the patterns and trends in scientific collaboration, these tools can help to inform policy decisions and promote the development of effective strategies to support and enhance scientific collaborations between countries. This study aimed to analyze and visualize the scientific collaboration between Japan and Russia, using bibliometric analysis of collaborative publications from the Web of Science (WoS) database. The analysis utilized the bibliometrix package within the R statistical program. The analysis covered a period of two decades, from 2000 to 2021. The results showed a slight decrease in co-authored publications, with an annual growth rate of −1.26%. The keywords and thematic trends analysis confirmed that physics is the most co-authored field between the two countries. The study also analyzed the collaboration network and research funding sources. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the current state of scientific collaboration between Japan and Russia. The study also highlights the importance of research funding sources in promoting and sustaining scientific cooperation between countries. The analysis suggests that more efforts in government funding are needed to increase collaboration between the two countries in various fields.

This study investigates the intricate relationship between a nation’s GDP growth rate and three key variables: the number of granted patents, research and development (R&D) expenditure, and education expenditure. The purpose of the research is to discern the impact of these factors on GDP growth rates. Drawing on theoretical frameworks, including Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), and Canonical Correlation Regression (CCR) techniques, the paper employs a robust methodological approach to unveil insights into the dynamics of economic growth. Contrary to conventional assumptions, the results reveal a negative correlation between R&D expenditure and GDP growth rate. In contrast, the number of patents granted and education expenditure shows a positively significant effect on the GDP growth rate, underscoring the pivotal roles of intellectual property creation and education investment in fostering economic growth. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of a nuanced understanding of these relationships for policymakers. The research’s implications highlight the need for balanced investments in innovation and education. The originality and value of this study lie in its unique findings challenging established beliefs about the impact of R&D expenditure on economic growth.