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on Project, Program and Portfolio Management |
| By: | World Bank |
| Keywords: | Urban Development-Urban Governance and Management Social Development-Social Inclusion & Institutions |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40961 |
| By: | Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) |
| Keywords: | Energy-Renewable Energy Social Protections and Labor-Labor Markets Social Protections and Labor-Skills Development and Labor Force Training |
| Date: | 2023–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41077 |
| By: | Durkin, Patrick; Keogh, Colin; O'Sullivan, Pat; Rainbird, Jenny; Trifkovic, Kata; Frizzell, Ronan |
| Abstract: | This paper introduces a novel commercialization methodology, The Commercial Pathway Methodology, tailored specifically for EU funded Research and Development (R&D) projects, integrating the principles of the Lean Startup methodology. Leveraging the unique challenges and opportunities presented by EU funded projects, this approach aims to enhance the commercial viability of R&D outcomes while optimizing resource allocation. By adopting iterative processes, customer-centric validation, and agile market entry strategies, this Commercial Pathway Methodology offers a new perspective on driving innovation from the laboratory to the marketplace within the context of EU R&D initiatives. |
| Date: | 2023–08–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:675sc_v1 |
| By: | Keogh, Colin; O'Sullivan, Pat; Albanis, Vassilios; Frizzell, Ronan; Durkin, Patrick; Roupas, Christos; Rainbird, Jenny |
| Abstract: | In the realm of EU-funded research projects, patenting innovations has historically presented multifaceted challenges, from alignment with strategic priorities to ensuring commercial viability. This paper introduces the IPF Method, a holistic approach developed over years of experience by the Inlecom team, having filed 50+ patents across both commercial and EU-funded research undertakings. The method uniquely emphasises a three-pronged assessment: technological novelty, market relevance, and strategic alignment with the European Commission's objectives. Through a comprehensive exploration, this paper highlights how the IPF approach can transform the trajectory of EU research innovations, ensuring they transcend academic archives to realise tangible market impact. While its transformative potential is evident, the method's challenges, such as evolving EC priorities and subjectivity in project review evaluations, are also dissected. Recommendations for refining and scaling the approach are proffered, emphasising feedback mechanisms, stakeholder training, and continuous refinement. The paper concludes with the assertion that the IPF Method, with its integration of commercial foresight and strategic alignment, can serve as a beacon for future EU research patenting endeavours. |
| Date: | 2023–08–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:osfxxx:dj267_v1 |
| By: | Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) |
| Keywords: | Energy-Electric Power Energy-Solar Energy Rural Development-Rural Labor Markets |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40954 |
| By: | Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) |
| Keywords: | Energy-Rural Energy Environment-Adaptation to Climate Change Rural Development-Rural Labor Markets |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40950 |
| By: | Abigail Opokua Asare (University of Oldenburg, Department of Economics) |
| Abstract: | The effectiveness of educational aid in Africa is a pressing issue, with little consensus on whether the management quality of aid has significant contribution toward achieving inclusive, equitable, and quality education on the continent by 2030. Despite substantial inflows of educational aid from both bilateral and multilateral sources, Africa continues to report the world’s highest illiteracy rates, indicating potential inefficiencies in educational aid management. This paper investigates whether the impact of World Bank–funded educational projects across Africa on literacy rates depends on the quality of project management. The findings reveal that educational projects managed in a highly satisfactory manner significantly reduce illiteracy, regardless of the quantity of aid or volume of aid disbursement. Meanwhile, projects managed in a sub-satisfactory manner show no progress at all. These findings highlight that effective management is far more critical to success than the amount of aid provided and suggest that reforming management practices could drastically enhance the impact of educational aid. By prioritizing high-quality management practices, policymakers and international organizations could improve the effects of educational aid, offering a targeted strategy to drive Africa’s educational progress. |
| Keywords: | aid effectiveness, management quality, illiteracy, DHS, World Bank, Africa |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:old:dpaper:449 |
| By: | Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) |
| Keywords: | Energy-Hydro Power Social Protections and Labor-Labor Markets |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41078 |
| By: | Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) |
| Keywords: | Energy-Hydro Power Social Protections and Labor-Labor Markets |
| Date: | 2024–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:41079 |
| By: | Schlogl, Lukas; Pfaffenbichler, David; Raza, Werner |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the intersection of export finance and climate policy with a focus on Austria and relevant peers. It addresses the role of Austria's export credit system in facilitating the global transition to a net-zero economy. Specifically, it examines how Austria's official export financing policy aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement and explores ways to reform it towards promoting a more sustainable and climate-neutral portfolio. Public export promotion policies and so-called export credit agencies (ECAs) have a significant potential to leverage change: They are based on powerful financial instruments that provide government-backed loans, guarantees, and insurance for international trade. Their influence extends globally as they reduce the risk of international business transactions and encourage economic activities abroad. However, these financial institutions have traditionally supported carbon-intensive projects, such as those in the fossil fuel sector, significantly contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, as highlighted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is increasing global pressure on governments and ECAs to align their activities with the Paris Agreement. This alignment is essential for limiting dangerous global warming to 1.5êC, as outlined by the International Energy Agency (IEA), which asserts that new fossil fuel projects must be avoided to meet these targets. Austria, like many other countries, is at a critical juncture where its export credit policies must pivot quickly and decisively towards climate sustainability. Austria's export credit portfolio, while relatively small compared to international peers, still contains exposure to fossil fuel projects. Between 2019 and 2023, new commitments to fossil fuel projects amounted to EUR 325 million, with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Canada being major recipients. Despite a growing commitment to green finance, the scale and persistence of these carbon-intensive projects pose a challenge to Austria's Paris-alignment ambitions. The study critiques Austria's lag in adopting an overarching net-zero strategy for its export credit system. In response to an EU Council Conclusion from March 2022, Austria devised a Sustainability Strategy of the Export Promotion Procedure in 2023. Though a welcome step, the strategy shows serious deficiencies: Austria embarks on one of the slowest phase-out trajectories among comparable EU peers and allows one of the most wide-ranging sets of fossil exemptions. The current strategy does not define a time-bound road map for achieving a climate neutral portfolio and thus fails to ensure alignment with the Paris Agreement. Austria's approach also includes green finance initiatives like "Exportinvest Green Energy", which offers favourable financial conditions for renewable energy projects. However, a comprehensive approach towards achieving net-zero for the vast majority of its export promotion portfolio is currently missing. This lack of coherence is also evident in the lack of a speedy and science-based roadmap required to phase out high-GHG guarantees fully. Austria's approach is contrasted with other EU countries such as Germany and Sweden, which have adopted more ambitious export credit strategies aligned with climate goals. For instance, Germany's "Climate Policy Sector Guidelines for Export Credit Guarantees" categorize projects into green, white, and red categories based on their contributions to or hindrance of climate goals. Sweden has embraced the "Fossil Free Sweden" initiative, focusing on making the country a leader in fossil-free systems and promoting the export of sustainable technologies. More importantly, both these peers have adopted methods and frameworks for assessing the GHG footprint of projects and for bringing their portfolios progressively more in line with the Paris Agreement. |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:oefser:313623 |
| By: | Bucher-Koenen, Tabea; Herforth, Anna-Lena; Kirschenmann, Karolin; Ravanbakhshhabibabadi, Monireh |
| Abstract: | The greening of the European economy will require large amounts of capital to flow into green projects. As the public sector alone will not be able to achieve this, European capital markets and the European banking system will play an important role in financ- ing the green transition. In this policy brief, we provide evidence on the drivers and barriers for private and institutional inves- tors to engage in financing the green transition from two recent projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the ZEW Sponsors' Association, respectively. For private investors, increasing (sustainable) financial lit- eracy is crucial to increase the capital market participation of EU households in general and sustainable investments in particu- lar. Furthermore, reliable and accessible information on sustainable financial products is important to facilitate retail investors' decisions to invest in green projects. For institutional investors, engagement and the integration of sustainability as an integral part of investment decisions seem to be the most promising ways to effectively create impact. For securitization to become a more attractive tool for financing the transition, it should be placed on a level regulatory playing field with other financial prod- ucts with similar risks. And while the new disclosure regulations impose high costs, their impact on sustainability remains un- clear. Overall, policymakers should focus on effective climate policies in the real economy and enabling regulatory frameworks for the financial sector. |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewpbs:314443 |
| By: | Mansur Ahmed; FNU Jonaed; Nazmul Hoque |
| Keywords: | Agriculture-Agricultural Sector Economics Agriculture-Livestock & Animal Husbandry Agriculture-Dairies & Dairying Poverty Reduction-Employment and Shared Growth |
| Date: | 2023–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wboper:40511 |
| By: | Nassiri, Somayeh; Roy, Souvik; Haider, Md Mostofa; Butt, Ali A; Pandit, Gandhar A; Harvey, John T |
| Abstract: | Research has demonstrated the multiple benefits of fibers for the early and late-age performance of concrete pavements and bridge decks. Many research studies have also shown that the expected enhancements in properties of concrete with recycled fibers could be commensurate with those of concrete reinforced with virgin fibers. However, compared with virgin polymeric fibers and steel fibers from primary steel, recycled fibers and fibers from natural sources are not as commonly implemented in construction due to several barriers. Some of these obstacles include a lack of research on recycled fibers, leading to gaps in technical performance data, case studies, test tracks, and pilot projects. The primary reason for the lack of research is related to gaps in information regarding the quality of recycled fibers compared to virgin fibers. To help overcome some of these barriers, this study included a comprehensive survey of concrete fiber suppliers. Those suppliers with recycled fiber and natural fiber manufacturing lines were identified and interviewed. The categories of fibers included in this report are recycled polymeric fibers, natural fibers mainly from cellulose, recycled steel fibers, carbon and glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites (for example, from end-of-life windmill blades), recycled carbon fibers, and glass and basalt fibers. The information gathered from the manufacturers is summarized in this report and includes the feedstock material, recycling process, geometric properties of fibers, recommended load for concrete flatwork applications, performance data (if available), cost, and environmental product declaration, if available. In addition to manufacturers’ surveys, a synthesis of performance in concrete is provided based on published technical literature for each fiber type. The topics included in the literature review are fiber dispersion and the impacts of fibers on the workability of concrete, plastic and drying shrinkage, strength and post-cracking performance, and durability of concrete. Based on this comprehensive review, many fibers from recycled and natural sources were identified for each source material. These fibers are already available on a large scale in the market, and several have been successfully implemented in concrete applications. In the case of steel and carbon fibers, recycled fibers are available at a fraction of the cost of virgin fibers, making this product more feasible in construction. Cellulosic fibers appear to have great potential to reduce plastic shrinkage cracking in concrete. Glass and basalt fibers are from natural silica sources and offer many structural advantages to the performance of concrete. These fibers are recommended for laboratory testing in the next phase of the project. |
| Keywords: | Engineering, fibers, recycled fibers, fiber-reinforced concrete, steel fibers, plastic fibers, glass fibers |
| Date: | 2025–03–01 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cdl:itsdav:qt9pf3f8gm |
| By: | Waltraut Urban |
| Abstract: | Abstract: The Belt and Road initiative (BRI), introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, is an economic and geopolitical mega-project that has become a centrepiece of China’s foreign and economic policy. The original goal was to better connect the Asian economies with Europe. However, over time the BRI has changed fundamentally. This Policy Brief will provide an overview of these changes, starting with a rapid extension of the BRI to Africa and Latin America, followed by a certain slowing down of China’s engagement. After the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant change of the pattern of projects can be observed, with a pivot away from large-scale infrastructure projects, a certain ‘multilateralisation’ of projects, and a focus on investments in ‘green energy’ and ‘green technologies’, e.g. batteries. However, securing critical minerals, strategically important transport infrastructure for trade and China’s position in the ‘Global South’ remain important. Therefore, some geopolitical aspects and challenges for Europe and the U.S. as well as possible answers (such as Global Gateway and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment, PGII) are discussed. We will conclude with some remarks on policy options for Europe respectively European and, in particular, Austrian companies. |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wsr:pbrief:y:2025:m:03:i:66- |