The evolution of public industry R&D institute – the case of ITRI

Abstract

Public industrial research institutes are important in regard to aiding industry development in many countries. Research institutes have to constantly change their strategies according to their industrial environments in order to remain influential. The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has been recognised as a successful institute in facilitating industrial development. During its 40‐year development process, ITRI has gone through three stages of strategic repositioning and organisational reforms. The evolution of the organisational structure and the interactions with its social‐technological environment are both complex and dynamic. This study proposes a framework which integrates the role of the institutes with organisation structures and strategies to analyse the process of the evolution of ITRI. Based on the framework, this study uses system dynamics to identify the underlying structure driving the process of its evolution. The result shows that it is important to align the organisational structure with development strategies; in a long‐term perspective, the strategies for short‐term and long‐term goals can reinforce each other. The recent transition of ITRI suggests a new direction‐seeking role for public research institutes to play among the national innovation systems. This study also discusses the potential impacts of the system dynamics approach to R&D management.

Unpacking the Pathogen Box—An Open Source Tool for Fighting Neglected Tropical Disease

“…noted that molecules that activate K + channels may result in K + overload of the parasite, resulting in selective toxicity . Interestingly, GIRK channels are insecticide targets including for malaria and zika vectors . Interestingly, compound 576 has been shown to disrupt plasmodial Na + homeostasis, likely through inhibition of Pf ATP4 …”

Evaluation of Enhanced Low Dose Rate Sensitivity in Discrete Bipolar Junction Transistors

“…A recent study of a large array of linear circuits from various manufacturers revealed that the magnitude of ELDRS can continue to increase at dose rates as low as 0.5 mrad(Si)/s, which is a factor of ×20 less than the standard test dose rate [7]. The low dose rate enhancement also varies significantly with different device types, such that worst cases show functional failures at 15 krad(Si).…”

Display of Potassium Channel–Blocking Tertiapin‐Q Peptides on Gold Nanoparticles Enhances Depolarization of Cellular Membrane Potential

“…The family of inward rectifier potassium (K + ) channels (Kir) plays a key role in regulating cellular excitability and resting potential as well as ion homeostasis . The downregulation or decreased expression of Kir channels has been shown to drive membrane depolarization; thus they represent a viable target for new therapeutics aimed at controlling and modulating cellular membrane potential . Importantly, while the entire Kir family of channels in the human genome has been cloned and characterized, the current suite of tools available to modulate Kir channel activity (including ions (Mg 2+ ), polyamines, peptides, and various drugs) is largely nonspecific and possesses minimal reversibility .…”