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Technological adoptions and sector-specific innovations in a low-tech environment: key actors and sources of R&D in InsurTech

2025 · ARTICLE · en

Following financial technologies’ rapid growth, innovations and R&D are entering the insurance industry. The development of technologies such as smart sensors, artificial intelligence, and mobile technologies offers potential for disruptive innovations to revolutionise the industry. This paper identifies the key technological adoptions and R&D in the field of InsurTech considering the sources of innovations and actors through patentometrics. It analyses the main areas of granted patents and patent applications in this field. The present literature provides both quantitative and qualitative information about key areas, investments, and further financial data in the field, but a thorough patent analysis is not yet available. This study also contributes to the adoption and innovation theories. It outlines a new angle by examining the sources of innovations and technological adoptions through both academic and professional lenses. Patentometrics helps to identify the technological clusters and main actors globally. Patent applications can reveal potential future focus points. Hence, the analysis of patents can provide a more specific outlook than an extrapolation of historical financial data. In addition, interviews with experts are conducted to justify the results of the patentometrics and to collect further information. The results show how, in a low-tech environment, innovations occur with the support of third parties and industry-specific R&D and organisations. Interestingly, most adopters and innovators are within the insurance industry. Analysing InsurTech patent applications leads to the identification of R&D activities in the vehicle, health, and property insurance areas. These areas can represent the future trends of innovations in the InsurTech industry.

Foresight Methodology and Commonly Used Methods in the New Generation Foresight

2024 · CHAPTER · en

This chapter provides an overview of the Foresight methods, which were used in the South African Foresight for STI (SAForSTI) process. The SAForSTI 2030 exercise brought together a variety of qualitative and quantitative Foresight methods with innovations in their use. Over years, Foresight has embraced a spectrum of quantitative and qualitative methods from various disciplines to establish consensus among key stakeholders, identify global challenges and opportunities, explore technologies and markets, and develop alternative scenarios, visions, priorities, policies, strategies, and action. The chapter delves into the 15 most commonly used methods in Foresight, exploring their advantages, limitations, and practical applications.

Research Landscape of South Africa: Current Trends in Research Output, Thematic Focus and Scientific Partnerships

2024 · CHAPTER · en

This chapter conducts a comprehensive analysis of the research landscape in South Africa, focusing on various aspects such as the country’s publication activity, contribution to global knowledge generation, thematic structure of publications, scientific specializations, article quality measured by citation indicators and international research collaboration profiles. The analysis utilizes the Scopus database, employing a range of bibliometric indicators to examine key trends in South Africa’s research development. The findings are presented in terms of publication activity, thematic structure, citation impact and international collaboration, providing insights into South Africa’s position in the global research landscape. Additionally, the chapter compares these findings with the priorities identified in the “South Africa Science and Technology Foresight for 2030”, highlighting matches and mismatches between scientific capacity and strategic priorities. The information presented is crucial for developing strategies to support critical science and technology areas, aligning them with the country’s vision for 2030. The methodology involves deriving key indicators from the Scopus database and UNESCO Institute of Statistic and OECD Main Science and Technology Indicators databases, offering a detailed examination of South Africa’s research landscape and its relative position in global research and development.

Using Big Data for Foresight: Scientometric and Semantic Analysis for South Africa

2024 · CHAPTER · en

The South Africa 2030 Foresight study, utilizing big data analytics, aimed at advancing the national innovation system and enhancing knowledge generation capacity. This chapter presents outcomes from bibliometric and semantic analyses conducted by ISSEK HSE. Bibliometric analysis explored South Africa’s research competences, scientific capacity and global collaborators, revealing mature and emerging research areas. Semantic analysis through iFORA delved into large datasets, offering insights into emerging issues within each priority domain and thrust identified in the National STI Foresight. The study identified 7 STI domains and 25 thrusts through rigorous criteria, providing valuable evidence for strategic decision-making. This evidence-based approach combines bibliometric and semantic analyses to inform South Africa’s innovation and research objectives efficiently.

South African Foresight for STI (SAForSTI): Background, Rationales, and Objectives

2024 · CHAPTER · en

This chapter provides a concise overview of the South Africa Foresight Exercise for Science, Technology, and Innovation (SAForSTI). The primary objective of this exercise was to explore the future landscape of science, technology, and innovation (STI), with a focus on leveraging STI to enhance the well-being of all South Africans by addressing socio-economic challenges inclusively and sustainably. The outcomes of SAForSTI have played a pivotal role in shaping the priorities outlined in the new 10-year plan for STI leading up to 2030. When determining the STI areas to be scrutinised and analysed through the foresight process, several factors were considered, including: (i) Established areas of STI functioning effectively with minimal expected change, (ii) Areas demonstrating high potential for growth, and (iii) Emerging STI areas within the South African national innovation system. SAForSTI employed diverse methodologies informed by both global best practices and local context, with the analysis phase benefiting from big data analytics. A key aspect of SAForSTI was extensive stakeholder engagement. Ultimately, SAForSTI identified seven STI domains, each with its associated priorities or thrusts, including the Circular Economy, High-tech Industrialisation, Nutrition Security, ICTs and Smart Systems, Health Innovation, Sustainable Energy, and Education for the Future. These domains are intricately linked to South Africa’s prevailing challenges encompassing inequality, poverty, unemployment, food security, health, education, water, and climate, among others. Addressing these systemic societal challenges necessitates long-term planning and policy interventions spanning technological, economic, and social dimensions, transcending national boundaries. Concurrently, South Africa finds itself amidst an era of unparalleled technological advancements permeating various facets of human and planetary existence. This includes remarkable progress in information and communications technology (ICT), biotechnology, nanotechnology, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain technology, and additive manufacturing, among others. Like other developing nations, South Africa is navigating ways to harness the opportunities presented by these technologies while also preparing to mitigate unintended negative consequences. A youthful population can serve as a catalyst and significant asset amidst the rapid acceleration of technological innovation and socio-technological transformations associated with emerging technologies. This chapter draws insights from the final synthesis report of the South Africa Foresight Exercise for Science, Technology, and Innovation 2030 published by the National Advisory Council on Innovation, Department of Science and Innovation, Republic of South Africa (NACI, 2019, South Africa foresight exercise for science, technology and innovation 2030, synthesis report, National Advisory Council on Innovation, Department of Science and Innovation, Republic of South Africa. Retrieved June 3, 2024, from https://www.naci.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/South-African-Foresight-Exercise-For-Science-Technology-and-Innovation-2019.pdf).

The Future of Society

2024 · CHAPTER · en

Water Security

2024 · CHAPTER · en

The water security domain in SAForSTI 2030 aims to address water wastage, pollution, and usage challenges, focusing on rural areas. Despite the importance of water recycling, the country lags, especially in tailoring technologies to its unique environment. Although efforts to deliver breakthrough technologies increases in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in the water sector and enhanced rural water access exists, South Africa still needs to improve potency and management challenges. Neglecting water issues poses severe risks to economies, livelihoods, and populations, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences. Weak hydrological monitoring systems, data storage and sharing issues, reliance on outdated data, and managing complexity in growing cities hinder progress. Key policy considerations in water security include the need to synergize the National Water RDI Roadmap, the national water and sanitation master plan, and the water components of the industrial policy action plan. Improved coordination among institutions engaged in water research, innovation, and deployment is crucial. Supporting co-learning platforms and developing a clear framework delineating the roles of relevant parties in the water sector are also recommended to address the complex challenges faced by South Africa in water security.

Mapping intelligence concepts and positioning technology intelligence: a structural topic modelling approach

2024 · ARTICLE · en

Accelerating societal, technological, and economic changes with emerging challenges compel strategic managers to rely on scanning and intelligence tools to stay competitive. Numerous intelligence phrases have gained popularity in the last decade. This study aims to systematize and distinguish these intelligence phrases in scholarly publications, focusing on 'technology intelligence (TI)'. TI has garnered attention due to global technological change, increased R&D activities, external technology resource usage, and the growing complexity of technology development. We applied a qualitative approach for conceptual clarification, followed by a quantitative method, structural topic modelling, to position these terms in the literature. Our study identified two perspectives on 'intelligence': 'endogenous' and 'exogenous.' Clustering intelligence phrases based on these perspectives revealed that TI is part of the exogenous intelligence cluster. The quantitative analysis demonstrated that, unlike other intelligence approaches, TI is closely associated with emergence terms and technological change.

Future research avenues at the nexus of circular economy and digitalization

2023 · ARTICLE · en

Purpose The authors posit that one of the key enablers of the circular economy will be the digital transformation – in other words, “digitalization.” In this study, the authors examine and visualize the interaction of the circular economy and digitalization by using scientific publications. They explore possible synergies and future research avenues at this junction. Design/methodology/approach The authors first apply bibliometrics to explore and visualize the relationships between the circular economy and digitalization in the academic literature. Following the clustering of topics, they define key emerging factors for each cluster. Based on this analysis, they suggest future research avenues. Findings The authors find that there are four main clusters at the junction of circular economy and digitalization, including (1) sharing economy, (2) additive manufacturing, (3) business models and (4) industrial ecology and remanufacturing. They then dig deeper into these topics to better understand what factors would shape the future of the clusters. They conclude that sharing economy perspective and additive manufacturing may be enhanced by regulation-based and behavioral change-based approaches. Circular business models should be developed to maintain circularity in industry. Finally, digital manufacturing should be implemented within the framework of industrial ecology and remanufacturing principles to increase efficiency, productivity and traceability in the circular economy. Originality/value Digitalization offers significant potentials toward breakthrough sustainability by creating a circular economy. Hence, understanding the relationship between circular economy and digitalization is important to achieve sustainable development goals.

Exploring future research and innovation directions for a sustainable blue economy

2023 · ARTICLE · en

The blue economy integrates commercial, research and innovation activities across diverse industrial sectors. Achieving a sustainable blue economy requires unlocking the potential of science and innovation to develop innovative ocean sustainability solutions. This study explores the role of foresight in co-creating alternative, preferred futures for a sustainable blue economy looking towards 2030 and in establishing an interdisciplinary dialogue about research and innovation opportunities to achieve these futures. To this end, a foresight exercise is conducted with marine scientists and researchers in 6 countries in Europe. The exercise is designed in three stages: scanning, scenario-building and strategic orientation, and uses a combination of foresight methods to encourage creative thinking and exploration. The scenarios developed in the study describe alternative future worlds built on the establishment of self-sustaining communities and engaged societies; the diffusion of digitalisation and growth of blue biotechnologies; booming ecosystem services and open and collaborative research infrastructures that impact different sectors of the blue economy. A portfolio of research and innovation areas is developed that aims to inspire new research directions in four domains: (i) integrated ocean management tools; (ii) closed loop, circular polyculture systems; (iii) co-creation of innovation and transdisciplinary research; and (iv) open access and collaborative databases supporting ecosystem services. The study highlights the role of foresight in bridging across disciplinary perspectives and industry sectors. Foresight can be used to complement Decision-Support Systems and other quantitative approaches for research agenda-setting and for decision-making on policies addressing sustainability in the marine sciences. The process contributes to futures skills-building at institutional level and helps establish a futures mindset for strategic planning.