"Origine ed evoluzione del filone dell'innovazione collaborativa: analisi bibliometrica e sviluppo di un framework interpretativo"
Student: Dario Bartolini, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio
Date of defence: July 22, 2014
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the research topic of Virtual Organization Breeding Environment (VBE) taken from a collaborative innovation standpoint. Concerning this research topic, this work aims at finding out an answer to three specific research questions: 1. Which knowledge areas gave rise to this research topic? 2. Which intellectual structure lays the theoretical and empirical foundations for this research topic? 3. Which conceptual model may be identified in order to interpret such foundations? To shed light on them, major scientific contributions (in English) were selected through the use of specialized search engines. A database with the selected items has been created and bibliometric and diversity analyses, performed. Bibliometric analyses were conducted with the software VOSviewer, which created clustered maps. Downstream of the analysis process, two main areas of knowledge that gave rise to the field of research have been identified; subsequently, the structure of these areas has been mapped according to different perspectives. We carried out a literature review based on selected items and developed an interpretive framework. The contributions of the various authors have been mapped on the basis of this framework. Finally, findings and avenues for future research have been discussed.
Student: Dario Bartolini, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio
Date of defence: July 22, 2014
Abstract
This thesis focuses on the research topic of Virtual Organization Breeding Environment (VBE) taken from a collaborative innovation standpoint. Concerning this research topic, this work aims at finding out an answer to three specific research questions: 1. Which knowledge areas gave rise to this research topic? 2. Which intellectual structure lays the theoretical and empirical foundations for this research topic? 3. Which conceptual model may be identified in order to interpret such foundations? To shed light on them, major scientific contributions (in English) were selected through the use of specialized search engines. A database with the selected items has been created and bibliometric and diversity analyses, performed. Bibliometric analyses were conducted with the software VOSviewer, which created clustered maps. Downstream of the analysis process, two main areas of knowledge that gave rise to the field of research have been identified; subsequently, the structure of these areas has been mapped according to different perspectives. We carried out a literature review based on selected items and developed an interpretive framework. The contributions of the various authors have been mapped on the basis of this framework. Finally, findings and avenues for future research have been discussed.
"Modeling the impacts of Agile SW implementation over Learning and Innovation in a multi-national company in the telecommunications industry"
Student: Laura Peonia, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Maria Carmela Annosi; Francesco P. Appio
Date of defence: September 24, 2014
Abstract
This thesis is the result of the six months internship carried out at a R&D center of a Swedish company, world leader in ICT. The thesis project’s aim is to deepen the relationship between Agile implementation and the organizational innovative performances. In fact, after the global adoption of Agile methods, the company headquarter observed some issues tied to innovation domain. My project, born from the collaboration between the company, the Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm) and the University of Pisa, provided a Product Development Unit (PDU), headquartered in Stockholm, with an extensive and in-depth assessment of the problem, to understand its root causes and provide possible solutions. Data collection was performed within four organizations belonging to the PDU, through interviews, collection of internal documents and previous internal global survey’s results. All data were analysed with the support of a specific mixed-methods tool (MaxQDA), to develop a model showing the linkages among the emerged concepts and to formulate research hypotheses. All results achieved were presented in Stockholm during several meetings with the PDU leadership team and the project sponsors. The analysis showed how Agile adoption brought negative effects over product learning and innovation. As last project phase, a survey was built up to validate the research hypotheses. The survey was tested on a representative sample and then distributed to the 1700 employees, involving all organizational levels.
"Exploring the multi-faceted nature of Smart Specialization: first insights from a field research"
Student: Alessio Caroti, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio
Date of defence: December 3, 2014
Abstract
This thesis focuses on a relatively recent concept: Smart Specialization. Its multi-faceted nature points out a wide range of phenomena namely, Global Value Chain, Global Innovation Network, Global Production Network and Regional Innovation System. By means of a systematic review of the literature covering the last decade, supported also by patent data, the aim is unveiling the antecedents at the roots of the Bioinformatics industry rise using the lenses of the Regional Innovation Systems framework. There are three research questions (RQs) addressed in the thesis: 1) which are the industry main drivers; 2) which are the main actors and how do they interact; 3) which are the main consequences of the clustering phenomenon in this industry. To shed light on the above RQs, an analysis of the history of the field, an econometric and a cluster analysis have been performed. Subsequently, the attention turned to the actor behaviours, at both global and regional level (in two specific US regions). What emerges from the data analysis it is the interdisciplinary nature of this field and the need of a pattern for science and technology recombination to get radicalness in innovation.
"Development of a simulation tool for evaluating Product/Service Systems: Analysis of the bike sharing system in Copenhagen"
Student: Irma Foschini, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio; Tim C. McAloone; Aris Pagoropoulos
Date of defence: April 29, 2015
Abstract
This thesis is the result of six months carried out at “Technical University of Denmark”. The aim of this work was to develop a new methodology for evaluating the Product service system (PSS) behaviors, providing a new way to organize and use the data as part of the simulation. The problem to be solved is the following: companies have often to compete in an uncertain and competitive market and they need to assess if their offer fully meets customers’ requirement. In these cases, the simulation models could represent a right solution. Problems related to bad organization of data and the lack of a formalized language (containing symbols unambiguous and structured) often lead companies to build and analyze models that do not completely reflect the reality and then to make decisions that are not always appropriate to the context. In order to prevent the above issue, I have created an ontology through a dedicated program (Protégé). This allowed me to use an accurate and formalized representation of the concepts under study in the early stages of the simulation. Then I continued my project building a simulation model, analyzing the results. More precisely, the tools presented above are used to represent and simulate the bike sharing system behavior in Copenhagen.
"Creation and validation of a new metric for measuring the robustness of a products and mechanisms"
Student: Ilenia Gaglioti, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio; Thomas J. Howard
Date of defence: April 29, 2015
Abstract
The thesis work focuses on the development of new metrics for robust design, that make the products/processes more robust and less sensitive to changes caused by factors outside our control. It deals with the construction and validation of these metrics using data mining techniques and statistical analysis. Then, I applied these metrics to a real case study, to measure the sensitivity of the specific system parameter. Finally, I developed a C++ program to examine all of the combinations of process parameters.
"Bio Inspired Design: how do designers use biomimicry tools during new product development process?"
Student: Davide Sanna, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio; Sofiane Achiche; Catherine Beaudry
Date of defence: June 23, 2015
Abstract
My thesis is the result of a project lasted six months done in the “Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal”. The work focuses on a new product development process which has had an increasing trend in the last fifteen years: Biomimicry. The goal of the project is to analyze this process from both practical and theoretical point of view. In particular we focused on the study of biomimicry tools used by designers and researchers during the process. To do that we answered three research questions: 1) Do designers use the tools made available from literature? 2) How do they use these tools? 3) Is their utilization useful? The data collection has been made through two ways: a survey submitted to designers and researchers from around the world and working in different kind of companies, and a face to face interview with the CEO of the Mawashi Protective Clothing Inc.
"Open Innovation in the Life Science Industry: Drivers, Barriers and Importance to be part of a Cluster"
Student: Michela Vetrallini, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio; Sofiane Achiche; Catherine Beaudry
Date of defence: June 23, 2015
Abstract
This thesis work has been made possible thanks to a six-month internship at the École Polytechnique de Montréal. The project aims to explore how companies, which belong to the field of Life Science, implement practices of open innovation: what are the main driver; what barriers and what the advantage for companies belonging to a cluster. To investigate the above, a survey of seventeen closed questions was carried out and it was then sent to companies that belong to the Quebec and Tuscany cluster. After that, a comparison between the results obtained through this project and those obtained from previous research carried out in Denmark, in the Medicon Valley, was realized.
"Diversification and Specialization as different Strategies for Regional Economic Development. A Patent-based Analysis on European Regions"
Student: Alberto Peretti, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio; Bart Van Looy; Julie Callaert
Date of defence: June 23, 2015
Abstract
Several causes, including the impact of the economic crisis, the increasing globalization and the diffusion of General Purpose Technologies, are forcing regions to rethink their overall approach to regional economic development. For this purpose, a European strategy labelled ‘Smart Specialization’ has been presented as instrumental to create economic welfare at regional level; its main goals are the identification and the support of domains where the region presents an existing or potential competitive advantage. The aim of this thesis is to analyze whether and to what extent different industrial policies of specialization and diversification can affect the regional performance. On this base, after providing a review of the literature on this debate, it has been collected a dataset including patent-based indicators of specialization and diversification and socio-economic data of 268 EU regions on which econometric analyses have been performed. What emerges are further evidences about the value of technological diversification, mainly the one related with regional assets, as a mechanism for developing new and beneficial growth paths for regional economy.
"Patent portfolio diversity and firm profitability: a study on the form of the relationship"
Student: Daniela Tuveri, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio; Luigi De Luca; Robert Morgan
Date of defence: July 22, 2015
Abstract
To understand the logic hidden behind firms' patenting activity, it is necessary analyze patent portfolios' structure. The aim of this work is to investigate the relationship between patent portfolio diversity and firm’s performance. In particular, considering the International Patent Classification to establish the technological fields of patents, we analysed diversity at three levels of classification. Moreover, we study how forward citation, as measure of firm's market importance and spillover, influence this relationship. This work contributes to the literature studying the relationship between patent portfolios diversity at different levels and firm’s performance and the moderating effect of forward citations. Modeling this relationship offers guidelines towards where to direct firms’ efforts.
"An adaptive stigmergy-based system for evaluating technological indicator dynamics in the context of smart specialization"
Student: Luca Alfeo, Ing. Informatica
Supervisors: Mario Cimino; Gigliola Vaglini; Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio
Date of defence: September 25, 2015
Abstract
Regional innovation is more and more considered an important enabler of welfare. It is no coincidence that the European Commission has started looking at regional peculiarities and dynamics, in order to focus Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization towards effective investment policies. In this context, this work aims to support policy makers in the analysis of innovation-relevant trends. We exploit a European database of the regional patent application to determine the dynamics of a set of technological innovation indicators. For this purpose, we design and develop a software system for assessing unfolding trends in such indicators. In contrast with conventional knowledge-based design, our approach is biologically-inspired and based on self-organization of information. This means that a functional structure, called track, appears and stays spontaneous at runtime when local dynamism in data occurs. A further prototyping of tracks allows a better distinction of the critical phenomena during unfolding events, with a better assessment of the progressing levels. The proposed mechanism works if structural parameters are correctly tuned for the given historical context. Determining such correct parameters is not a simple task since different indicators may have different dynamics. For this purpose, we adopt an adaptation mechanism based on differential evolution. The study includes the problem statement and its characterization in the literature, as well as the proposed solving approach, experimental setting and results.
"Exploring the geographical and technological nature of smart specialisation in European clusters: a longitudinal patent-based analysis"
Student: Valentina Brescia, Ing. Gestionale
Supervisors: Antonella Martini; Francesco P. Appio
Date of defence: February 24, 2016
Abstract
The thesis is part of the MIT-UNIPI project, whose aim is twofold: first, aiming to detect the scientific and technological paths describing Regions’ development; second, providing policy makers with useful indications for a better allocation of public resources. The thesis explored European clusters and their evolutionary dynamics, assessing the policy implications for the Smart Specialisation Strategies (SSS); The latter aims to consolidate the regional strengths and make effective and efficient use of public investment in R&D. Three topics are investigated: 1) the possible relevance of the geographical proximity to the innovative activity; 2) major current clusters of sector (e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry); 3) space-time evolution of the clusters. The work required a review of the literature on the topic of regional clusters, as well as econometric analysis and spatial autocorrelation analysis, performed with patent data, socio-economic (GDP per capita) and spatial (longitude and latitude) data, relative to 203 EU Regions. The main results show the importance of geographical proximity to innovation activity, highlighting the technological diversification through complementary sectors as a fundamental driver to promote economic growth within the EU Regions.
"Digitisation and Open Innovation in Smart Cities: Exploring Altran's Contribution"
MBA students: Atmadeep Das, Bibin Ponnachan, Ludovic Callier
Supervisors: Francesco P. Appio, Altran Technologies
Date of defence: October 2017
"Industry 4.0: a smart future for the manufacturing industry?"
MSc student: Giulia Romeni
Supervisors: Francesco P. Appio, Altran's representative
Start of the project: September 2017
"Social Media and Open Innovation"
MBA students: Elysa Dzeuang, Kevin Lao
Supervisor: Francesco P. Appio
Date of defence: October 2017