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Startup accelerators, which aim to improve the set of choices representing a startup's entry strategy, have become increasingly influential in both regional development and the strategies of individual startups. This article explores an accelerator's impact on startup performance and whether that impact varies substantially by features of the startup's founding environment. Leveraging data from a leading startup accelerator, I use a regression discontinuity framework to hold startup quality constant so that I can compare the performance of admitted startups to those that do not make the cut, and I examine whether any observed performance differentials are driven by accelerator admission and by characteristics of the startup's earlier environment. I find evidence that startups from better pre-accelerator environments experience stronger gains from accelerator admission. I also find evidence of home bias, as local startups have a stronger treatment effect. These results provide evidence of ecosystem effects whereby the impact of one organizational sponsor in an ecosystem is strongly moderated by other features in the ecosystem. The findings help to explain the concentration of accelerator programs in already successful entrepreneurial ecosystems and reveal how such programs may interact with founding environments to complement resource abundance or magnify prior resource inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial Park of Wuda District is typical of industrial parks associated with coal bases in North China. Previous studies on this industrial park have focused mainly on inorganic components, such as mercury, fluorine, and water-soluble ions, with little research on polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). In this study, the contamination characteristics and potential health risks of alkyl polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (aPAHs) and 16PAHs in soil of the industrial park were examined. Under the combined influence of its own enterprises and the upwind coal fire area, the average concentration of ΣPACs was 10,176 μg·kg−1 and ranged from 177 to 42,794 μg·kg−1, exceeding the threshold for severe pollution. The average concentration of aPAHs was 7146 μg·kg−1, which was approximately twice that of the 16PAHs (3029 μg·kg−1). The parent 16PAHs were dominated by medium and high carbon rings, while the aPAHs were dominated by alkylnaphthalenes and alkylphenanthrenes. PACs were concentrated in areas of heavy polluting enterprises such as coal chemical industries and coal-fired power plants that generate point source pollution. Using the characteristic ratio method and positive matrix factorisation (PMF) analyses, it was inferred that the study area was mainly affected by petroleum sources (coal and weathered coal gangue particles) and coal fire residue, followed by wastes from coal and biomass combustion. Coal coking and transportation sources have had fewer impacts. Additionally, the toxicity levels of PACs in the soil of the industrial park exceeded regulatory thresholds. The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was in the range of 1.0 × 10−7 to 1.7 × 10−5, indicating that the PACs in the industrial park pose a potential threat to human health. Owing to the presence of publicly accessible areas affected by coal mining, coal fire, and industrial parks in North China, the potential for widespread PAC pollution is worth consideration and investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The aim of this article is to exploit an innovative spatial econometric approach to map and study the evolving patterns of industrial districts (IDs). The procedure can be classified as a k $k$‐means cluster‐wise regression procedure and is designed to detect homogeneous areas of subcontracting activity. These spatially contiguous aggregations of subcontractors are identified in terms of production function homogeneity and are defined as spatial regimes. Using this procedure, it is possible to detect two important sources of agglomeration economies that are commonly associated with the presence of an industrial district. The methodology is tested on a sample of Italian micro and small‐sized subcontracting firms operating in the footwear industry, showing its effectiveness in identifying the most commonly known IDs in this sector. Most ID regimes are persistent over time, despite the high turnover rates in the local subcontracting population after the 2008 financial crisis. These results can be explained by the presence of locally rooted competencies and context‐specific knowledge bases that persist despite the changing actors operating in the locality. Our evidence also shows that location in an ID does not necessarily entail benefits in terms of performance for subcontracting firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While innovation literature has extensively explored geographic proximity, limited attention has been devoted to geographic proximity with competitor. In this study, we build a framework to elucidate how geographic proximity with competitor impacts small firm innovation, based on the theoretical perspectives of the liability of smallness and knowledge spillovers. We propose that geographic proximity with competitor has a U-shaped relationship on R&D intensity and a moderating effect on R&D intensity-small firm innovation relationship. Moreover, we propose that industrial park entry moderates the effect of geographic proximity with competitor on R&D intensity. Based on a sample of 673 firms from the China Micro and Small Enterprise Survey (CMES), our results underscore the relevance of geographic proximity with competitors for small firm innovation. Our study advances existing literature by contextualising geographic proximity within a competitive framework and investigating the role of geographic proximity with competitor across the two stages of small firm innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the decline of industrial communities suffering from both the aging of physical space and the breakdown of social relations. How to make marginalized and closed industrial communities actively integrate into the development of urban renewal has gradually become an issue of concern. The paper takes the "Jingzhou New Town Industrial Park Urban Design Project" as an opportunity to explore a transformation path suitable for China's national conditions through the study of the history, culture, current problems, and renewal strategies of this heritage-type industrial community. The study finally proposes three renewal strategies for industrial communities, which provide samples with certain reference value for the renewal of old industrial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying environmental variables that affect the distribution of pest and/or nuisance species promotes effective management strategies by improving urban planning and the targeted application of direct interventions like population control. Australian white ibis Threskiornis moluccus are considered a nuisance species throughout Australia, having increased significantly in abundance in coastal urban landscapes following declines in their native inland habitats over the past three decades. Few management interventions thus far have successfully reduced conflicts between ibis and humans, necessitating a better understanding of conditions driving ibis distribution and abundance. We surveyed 26 ibis colonies throughout the Moreton Bay region in central eastern Australia and quantified the effects of a range of spatial (e.g. connectivity with waste management facilities, urban land and wetlands) and habitat (e.g. nesting tree species, density and size) variables on ibis and nest abundance. Ibis and their nests were most abundant at sites within 10 km of waste management facilities, and < 60 m from residential or industrial estates. Ibis were also more abundant at sites with tree canopy height < 10 m and lower tree species richness. Nests were most abundant on water bound islands with tree density > 0.5 trees/m2. Urbanisation had contrasting effects, with nest numbers increasing with higher connectivity (i.e. closer proximity) to urban land, while ibis numbers decreased (relative to waste management facilities). Multifaceted approaches are required for controlling ibis populations, including restricting access to anthropogenic food resources, managing the condition of remnant habitats, and considering population control at sites with high connectivity to foraging grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compositional diversity of vitrified silicate ceramics has been quantified through multivariate statistical analysis and by means of specific chemical parameters of bodies. Distinct compositional spaces can be drawn for porcelains, porcelain stoneware, red stoneware, and silicate glass-ceramics. Porcelain and vitreous china bodies are strongly peraluminous with commonly a potassic character. A sharp boundary at ∼79 % alumosity separates them from porcelain stoneware bodies, which are peraluminous with a predominantly sodic character. The comparison of glazed versus unglazed porcelain stoneware revealed essential differences in iron content, but a deeper analysis is needed at the manufacturing district scale. Glass-ceramic bodies are peralkaline and low in silica. Red stoneware is characterized by Fe 2 O 3 content about 3–9 wt% and variable Na/K and alkali-to-alkali-earths ratios. The compositional gap between red stoneware and porcelain stoneware bodies (1.5 % < Fe 2 O 3 < 3 %), still unexploited by industry, is crucial to enable many resource efficiency and waste recycling actions. The formulation of waste-based silicate ceramics usually implies a shift of the chemical composition towards higher Fe 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 ratio and lower alkali-to-alkali earth ratio. This can lead to batches that fall outside the compositional space of porcelain or porcelain stoneware, opening to technological behaviour and technical performance that require further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of combined sewer overflow (CSO) triggered by rainfall has become a significant obstacle to the improvement of water environment quality. This study conducted a long-term monitoring of three types of rainwater outlets, i.e., combined sewer overflows (Test-CSO), separated sewer outlets (Test-SSO), and partially separated sewer outlets (Test-PSSO), to reveal the characteristics of overflow pollution and trace its sources by monitoring the pollutants from different underlying surfaces across various urban functional areas. The results showed that the major pollutants in overflow events exhibited the following order: COD ≥ TSS > TN > TAN > TP. Rainwater elevated COD and TSS in the Test-CSO, while reducing nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations by dilution. The Test-PSSO experienced varying degrees of overflow pollution, primarily due to the sewer sediment. A negative relationship between the rainfall and peak time of overflow pollution was observed. The traceability analysis indicated the overall pollution intensity exhibited the following order: residential areas > industrial parks > commercial areas. In addition to commercial areas, the pollution intensity across underlying surfaces generally exhibited the following order: roofs > roads > grasslands. The roof runoff was an important source of pollutants for overflow pollution, and TSS and COD were the major contributors. Notably, grasslands had a buffering effect on pollutants and pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ascertain whether rapid industrialization has affected the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), China, the occurrence and ecological risk of HMs, including Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, As and Hg in sediments were analyzed. The results indicated that total concentrations of HMs (mg kg−1) were in the descending sequence of Zn (235.28) > Cr (95.71) > Cu (78.91) > Ni (55.51) > Pb (23.96) > As (22.12) > Cd (0.38) > Hg (0.14). The concentrations of HMs, except for Ni and Cd, were found to be below the probable effect level (PEL). Correlation analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that HMs in SIP mainly originated from anthropogenic activities. HMs were mainly in residual fractions (55.5 ~ 95.1%), and the exchangeable fractions of Zn and Cd were relatively high. The risk assessment results indicated that Hg and Cd significantly contributed to ecological risks, whereas Cr and Pb made relatively minor contributions. Our findings indicated that intense anthropogenic activities promote HMs accumulations in streams in SIP during rapid industrialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of an active near‐infrared laser heterodyne system using a supercontinuum light source as the light signal for trace species detection is experimentally demonstrated. The characteristics of the supercontinuum light source and the data processing methods used in heterodyne detection are described. The measurement of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) absorption spectra was carried out in the laboratory to evaluate the active laser heterodyne system, and high‐resolution absorption spectra of CO₂ and CH₄ were recorded simultaneously. The stability of the active laser heterodyne system is analyzed using Allan variance analysis of long‐term observation data. The active near‐infrared laser heterodyne detection system demonstrated in this paper has great potential for the development of industrial parks' gas monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low-middle income countries, industrial development is essential in driving economic growth, improving social progress, and creating employment to alleviate poverty. This study used the time series of night-time light (NTL) from 2000 to 2020 to assess the industrial park growth and its impact on poverty reduction at the village level. The emerging hotspot analysis has been used to identify the space-time pattern of night-time light data over the study period. Our study reveals that industrial parks keep growing and generate new neighbourhood growth. NTL growth patterns and Gross Provincial Product (GPP) are significantly correlated. Also, the multidimensional poverty index (MPI) increases with the distance from industrial park areas. Conclusively, using space-time data mining with NTL time series data can help the local government understand and monitor industrial growth at a low cost. The NTL data is a suitable proxy indicator for studying human activities and solving the incomplete and discontinued dataset. A further study utilizing the time series NTL data is still beneficial for developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high-density cities around the world, the contradiction of sustaining development and limited resources has become more evident. Transforming historic industrial buildings, through both functional and spatial adjustments, has emerged as a key strategy to manage these challenges effectively. There is a significant demand for the quick regeneration of industrial heritage districts, resulting in the emergence of various implementation modes (IMs). While the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have gained widespread acceptance, the integration of sustainability principles into urban regeneration practices has strengthened globally. However, in many regions, approaches to achieving sustainable regeneration are still unclear, with a lack of evaluation and adjustment of sustainability performance (SP). This paper combines qualitative analysis and a quantitative assessment of indicators to compare three representative case studies with different IMs. It explores whether there is a connection between the chosen IM and SP, examines the mechanisms of impact, and discusses how to select the most suitable IM for industrial heritage regeneration. The study confirms the practicality of an SP evaluation system and identifies key factors within IMs that affect SP. Future research is expected to produce tools that support the promotion of sustainability in industrial heritage regeneration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to classify the business incubators in Spain according to the four phases of the startup's incubation process. Considering that the graduation rate implies greater survival and business success of the incubated companies, they have been identified at each stage of the incubation (spread of entrepreneurship, pre-incubation, advanced incubation, and graduation). The activities that present higher impacts on the success of the incubated companies and the activities carried out by the business incubator that have a greater relevance on the graduation of the companies have concretely been considered. Principal component (PC) cluster analysis has been applied. All the incubation variables were used simultaneously, reducing their number and grouping them into factors. Finally, the cases were grouped according to these latent variables. Principal component analysis reduced dimensionality to eight factors with a 74% explained variance. Factor 1 was positively related to pre-incubation variables; factor 2 was linked to training and collaboration variables within the entrepreneurship diffusion phase. Factor 3, named activity monitoring and control, was related to phase 3, or basic incubation variables. Cluster analysis facilitates the grouping of business incubators into three clusters: Group 1 (16% of the total), incubators with strong deficits in incubation phases 1, 2, and 3. They are small-sized business incubators, often located in rural areas or cities, with a low graduation rate. Group 2 (30%), business incubators with a very high graduation rate and strongly positive values in factors 1 and 2. Factor 3, although positive, is susceptible to improvement. They are the largest group of business incubators and usually located in industrial and technological parks. Group 3 (54%) is the majority, with values close to clusters 2 and 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing rate of urbanization across the world with various emerging opportunities and challenges that need effective management systems for achieving the basic objectives of sustainable urban transition. Likewise, the practices of urbanization in Ethiopia need to be effectively managed to minimize the multiple relevant socioeconomic and environmental challenges. The country has been undertaking industrial park development over the past decade as a key policy tool for promoting sustainable industrialization. However, there is a huge research gap regarding the contribution of industrial park development in the effort to achieve sustainable urban transition within the specific context of the country. Hence, the present study intends to scrutinize the existing challenges and role of industrial parks in managing them by considering the purposively selected parks with respective cities in the study area. The study applied exploratory mixed methods of data collection and analysis. Accordingly, it came up with the major findings on the current environmental, economic, social, and governance challenges impeding sustainable urban transition in Adama and Hawassa cities; and the significant contributions of the resident industrial parks in minimizing the challenges. Using the discussed and interpreted facts that have been derived from the findings, the authors suggest pertinent strategic measures that need to be emphasized to enhance the potential contribution of industrial park development in fostering the country's urban transition within the notion of sustainability while minimizing the challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling load is the main energy consumption factor for commercial buildings during summer. This paper proposes a new approach to realize short-term building cooling load prediction by combining adaptive feature extraction and deep learning models. An autonomous kernel-based neural network (AKNN) is proposed to extract intrinsic patterns from sensor data by clustering kernels in a bottom-up way. Furthermore, a recurrent neural network-based sequence-to-sequence structure is proposed to make multi-step-ahead forecasting. Tested on an industrial park, the results indicate that the proposed model achieves the lowest RMSE of 1.79 MW for 1-hour-ahead prediction. For 24-hour-ahead predictions, the proposed model maintains superior accuracy with an RMSE of 2.85 MW, while ARIMA has an RMSE of 7.27 MW. Additionally, using a public dataset, the proposed model shows an 18.02% lower RMSE than ARIMA for 24-hour prediction, verifying its accurate and stable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial Parks (IPs) in Africa, especially Ethiopia's Hawassa Industrial Park (HIP), are seen as vital for boosting exports, creating jobs, and enhancing skills. However, the global pandemic's disruptions to production and employment prompt a reevaluation of this view. Drawing upon extensive ethnographic research conducted at Ethiopia's flagship state-owned IP, the HIP, we delve into the multidimensional crises faced by the country's industry during the pandemic. We identify various methods employed by the Ethiopian government to persuade workers into accepting disproportionately low wages, with the aim of retaining foreign investors and stabilizing the national economy. Our analysis reveals the reinforcement of precarious livelihoods among HIP workers, characterized by heightened vulnerability and job insecurity due to the pandemic-induced disruptions. Contrary to the state's depiction of HIP as an emblem of industrial progress, workers at HIP champion narratives and strategies to assert their rights and improve working conditions. This research underscores the importance of reimagining Africa's industrialization strategy, emphasizing the well-being of its labor force in a post-pandemic world. Article Highlights: The study findings showed that IP workers experienced increased vulnerability and job insecurity due to disruptions caused by the pandemic. In the study, we strongly argue that contrary to the state's depiction of the IPs as an emblem of its developmentalist orientation, workers at HIP struggle for their rights and improved working conditions. The finding underscores the rise of vulnerable livelihoods, a changing landscape of challenges, and the quest for new perspectives on Africa's future progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming into eco‐industrial parks (EIPs) by applying collaborative measures and stakeholder engagement is a practical and political response to the decline of current industrial parks, and a solution for fostering sustainable industrial development. While the brownfield approach (EIP development through retrofits and new strategies of existing establishments) is common, greenfield development—where sustainability is inherent in planning, design, and construction—is gaining interest. The present study uses the case of GreenLab in Denmark to explore the emergence and development of greenfield EIPs, showcasing the potential of a middle‐out approach and emphasizing the role of curation in contrast to top‐down and bottom‐up processes. The study draws on a process‐model analytical framework, encompassing the evolutionary phases, the actors involved, and the co‐creation of the journey. The development of GreenLab is found to have passed through three phases of evolution: pre‐emergence, emergence, and probation, increasing the “networkness” in the business park. We point to several critical factors that drove these phases, among which shared vision, road mapping, and engagement and political support from local, regional, and national actors are critical. Furthermore, strategic planning, continuous funding, and strong collaboration with research institutions have been essential. The replication potential of GreenLab is substantial, and the experiences accumulated over the years can guide other greenfield EIPs and new research avenues considering greenfield EIPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study firstly summarizes the linkage paths between China-Korea (Yantai) Industrial Park and the Free Trade Zone, and secondly applies the system dynamics (SD) approach to model the park's case enterprise for in the park to analyzing the changes in economic benefits before and after the implementation of the linkage policy. For a single policy, the results show that "tax subsidy in the FTZ" under the Trade & Investment path has the most significant positive effect, while "industrial park incentive subsidy" has a negative impact on the enterprise. For the combined policy, the combination of the "tax subsidy in the FTZ" Combined with "The strength of the industrial park on the return process supervision" under the linkage path in Trade & Investment is the most obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article process-traces Ethiopia's adoption and implementation of the industrial park development strategy from the mid 2000s to the late 2010s. How does policy transfer unfold, and what characterizes China's influence on Ethiopia's Special Economic Zone (SEZ) strategy? Drawing on extensive interviews conducted during multiple field trips to Ethiopia and China between 2017 and 2023, complemented by secondary sources, we argue that policy transfer involves navigating both structural opportunities—providing incentives and resources for individuals—and individual agency to surmount structural constraints. Contributing to the growing body of literature on South-South policy transfer, our study underscores the pivotal role of individual agency in overcoming prevalent structural constraints within South-South contexts, characterized by fluid power relations and less defined policy transfer networks. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of scrutinizing the agency of host-country actors in their engagements with a rising China, rather than assuming China's impacts in a deterministic manner. Our detailed documentation offers a nuanced perspective on China's influence in Ethiopia's industrialization. We show that primary agency in the policy transfer process should be attributed to Ethiopian actors, whereas the roles of Chinese actors range from initiation, facilitation, and occasionally, reluctant responses in this intricate process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the adaptive reuse and placemaking of the Viaduc des Arts, an obsolete viaduct in Paris, and examines its impact on the city's economic, urban, cultural, and sustainable identities. It aims to showcase unconventional solutions applied to create an elevated linear park and a coherent commercial identity under the vaults while enhancing the district's imageability and attractiveness. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study analyzes various action modes in architectural and urban regeneration, highlighting ten valuable lessons learned from the Viaduc des Arts rehabilitation. These lessons provide crucial insights into effective urban regeneration and placemaking strategies, emphasizing the need to update objectives and employ appropriate methodologies for future projects. The Viaduc des Arts serves as a paradigmatic case study, demonstrating the successful transformation of an obsolete viaduct into a commercial, vibrant cultural, and urban space, underscoring the importance of updating urban regeneration objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of industrialmodernization, industrial parks have become themain body of newenergy production and consumption. However, due to the large demand for energy in industrial agglomeration, theway of energy utilization is changing to sustainable. The direct connection of distributed energy resources in industrial parks, including photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems, has an important impact on its planning and operation. Furthermore, weather scenarios can have an impact on distributed PV generation, and the uncertainty in PVpower output will, in turn, affect the uncertainty in industrial park planning. Therefore, this paper aims to address the issues of inaccurate prediction of distributed electricity generation during the planning period and the non-uniform distribution of energy resources such as electricity, heating, and cooling. This is achieved through the application of statistical machine learning (SML). This paper intends to incorporate the ideas of SML into the model for industrial park distributed energy random opportunity-constrained planning, aiming to resolve the problems of non-uniform distribution of distributed energy sources within the park, along with uncertainty in their outputs and high overall investment costs. The model takes the planning, construction, and operating costs of the industrial park as the objective function, uses the lost load cost to ensure the safety of the industrial park, and uses the Chebyshev's inequality probability to limit the output characteristics of distributed energy equipment. In terms of operation, the planning period is subdivided into heating period, cooling period, and transition period, and the balance of electricity, heat, and cold is considered. Finally, an actual example of an industrial park is used to verify the effectiveness of thismethod. Experimental validation shows that this approach can ensure safety requirements in industrial parks during the heating season, cooling season, and transitional periods by flexibly adjusting the confidence threshold. Simultaneously, it delivers significant economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a novel industrial space to cope with global competition, industrial parks have gradually become important growth poles to promote regional development and provide a large number of employment opportunities. This study utilizes mobile phone signaling data to identify the commuting origins and destinations (OD) of different industrial parks in Nanjing while comparing the distribution of the working population, residential population, and commuting patterns across varying types and levels of industrial parks. The level of coordination of the employment–residential system in each park is quantified by calculating the resident commuting index (HSCi), employee commuting index (WSCi), and their coupling coordination degree. Additionally, geographic detectors are employed to identify the influencing factors and interaction effects that impact the employment–residential balance in industrial parks. Results show that industrial parks located in the central urban area attract more residential and working populations. The commuting volume of national and municipal as well as high-tech industrial parks is higher than other types of industrial parks. Most industrial parks experience more inward than outward commuting, and there is an uneven distribution of commuting flows, resulting in a network-like pattern of "central dense, peripheral sparse". Various industrial parks exhibit a highly coupled job–housing system, and those with high HSCi tend to have high WSCi as well. The coupling coordination of industrial parks ranged from 0.16 to 0.93, with 13 being primary coordination or above and 3 being disordered. Industrial parks are classified into three types: employment-oriented, residential-oriented, and employment–residential balanced, with the residential-oriented type being predominant. The density of public transportation stops, park area, and land use mix are the primary factors affecting the employment–residential balance. Industrial parks with larger scale, better land allocation, and higher service facility levels are more likely to achieve coordination in the employment–residential system. Our work utilizes mobile signaling data to characterize the commuting patterns of industrial parks, providing insights for industrial park planning and promoting the integration of industry and city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Xining City as an example, this article analyzes the mechanism by which industrial park construction drives the expansion of urban population size and built-up area, based on a review of the process of industrial park development and urban population growth. It also discusses future urban governance models in light of urban development trends. The research finds: (1) In the process of urban development, industrial park construction is often the initial factor in the cumulative and cyclical development of a city; (2) As the level of development improves and the mode of economic growth changes, the government should timely adjust its strategies, shifting from the expansion of industrial park construction towards structural optimization and quality improvement. The most significant difference from previous research is that this paper emphasizes the importance of government planning. This study can not only demonstrate the general process of industrial parks promoting urban expansion, but more importantly, it explains the fundamental reasons for the transition of urban expansion to adjustment from a mechanism perspective, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of simply predicting urban scale evolution through data models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's coal-based energy structure and its large proportion of the manufacturing industry have resulted in China having the highest CO2 emissions in the world, accounting for about one-third of the world's total emissions. Achieving the carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, while maintaining economic development, presents a significant challenge. Industrial parks, as core units of industrial clusters, are major sites for energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Thus, industry parks with great carbon reduction potential are crucial for China's carbon reduction efforts. This review systematically examines the current state of the carbon emissions of industrial parks in China and analyzes the situation and challenges faced in the low-carbon transition of these parks. Then, the major pathways, technologies, and key policies for the low-carbon transition are summarized based on the current situation. This paper assists in the low-carbon development of industrial parks and promotes the proposal and implementation of carbon emission reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the performance of an empirical coagulation-flocculation plant to treat wastewater from a metal-mechanic industry located in an industrial park of Queretaro city, México, is studied. Wastewater samples were obtained from the homogenization tank and treated with the employed industrial reactants through an experimental jar test to obtain statistical data. Then, a response surface methodology with ANOVA analysis was used to model the process, and the ε-constraints methodology was used to optimize the coagulation-flocculation process in terms of economic and environmental impact. The results showed an improvement of phosphates removal, but a minimal increment of 1.01% of operational costs regarding to the current operating conditions. Additionally, the results offered a certain reference value for practical application of the coagulation-flocculation process using calcium hydroxide, aluminum salts, and polyacrylamide/urea for the main removal of phosphates in real effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alongside the advent of industrial capitalism in the nineteenth century, Europe witnessed a profound transformation in its social, economic and political structures. This resulted in a shift in architectural styles that reflected the changing needs and aspirations of the age. This transformation was not merely a material one, manifesting in formal architectural expressions, but also an inherent one, characterized by a transformation in living styles. The Siedlung (settlement) was a typology of architecture that emerged in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Poland in response to the socio-spatial reorganization of urban areas. It was part of a larger urban zoning plan and constituted a housing district within an industrial city. However, in addition to residential buildings, the Siedlung also included facilities such as educational, commercial and religious institutions, integrated into the settlement area with the aim of fostering a sense of community. The organization of living space in each Siedlung was not entirely identical; rather, their design was formed within a conceptual understanding that sought to address the needs of its users or the context in which it was built. This study aims to interpret the diverse architectural formulation of the Siedlung and its interaction with society. Furthermore, the objective is to propose a comparative scheme for these distinctive settlements. To this end, three cases are selected from diverse time periods, contexts and places: the Siedlung Praunheim in Germany; the Siedlung Frankendaal in Netherlands; and the Siedlung Halen in Switzerland. These cases are presented and discussed in order to illustrate the multiplicity of design concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fate of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) is significantly influenced by complex characteristics of actual soils in unsaturated zone. To systematically analyze the multiphase migration process of LNAPLs in such soils, a two-dimensional laboratory device was designed to conduct benzene injection and water leaching experiments in three soil types of silty loam, loam and sandy loam that collected from a chemical industrial park in China. In the unsaturated zone, the jagged and asymmetric edges of pollution halo were observed attributed to heterogeneity in the small pores of the sampled soils. Additionally, low permeability also resulted in a high horizontal-to-vertical ratio of above 2.2. Based on laboratory experiments, a numerical model was established to simulate multiphase fluid migration, volatilization, dissolution and adsorption processes. The measured values closely matched the simulated values. The simulation results indicated that that over 99% of benzene was entrapped, with less than 1% volatilizing during the benzene injection stage in the unsaturated zone. During the leaching process, a portion of the benzene dissolved with the water flow, accounting for 1.557–4.786%. Compared to volatilization, dissolution played a more significant role in mass transfer processes. Combined with the laboratory experiments and numerical models, this conclusion elucidates the mechanism of multiphase distribution of LNAPLs in actual sampled soils. These findings provide a theoretical basis for developing reasonable and effective remediation methods for actual contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the ongoing debate surrounding clusters and industrial districts in the context of the digital and green transitions. It explores the impact of Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, and sustainability on these localities, regions, and nations. The text highlights the importance of embracing new technologies and sustainable practices to remain competitive and resilient in a rapidly evolving landscape. Various case studies and theoretical perspectives are presented to shed light on how clusters and industrial districts can navigate and adapt to these changes while uncovering opportunities in emerging areas. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse how local agri-food systems (LAFS), compared to other production models, can offer innovative responses to the important environmental challenges facing food production under the twin transition. These responses are more conducive to community inclusion and local development. Design/methodology/approach: The paper combines territorial development, clusters and industrial districts literature with studies on agri-food industry environmental problems and twin transition technologies to develop an agri-food systems typology. This typology is based on a territorial approach to environmental challenges of food production and serves to illustrate the ways in which LAFS can provide innovative responses to these challenges. Findings: The study allows to visualise the differences between LAFS and other agri-food production models, showing how the operationalisation and implementation of digitisation occur at territorial level and how rural communities are involved in the process. The theoretical proposal emphasises not assuming that technology is inherently beneficial but ensuring that its implementation is inclusive and generates social value for the communities. Originality/value: The paper aims to enrich future research by adopting a territorial perspective to study the twin transition challenges associated with food production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to shed light on the twin transition in China in the organization of innovation processes in artificial intelligence (AI) and green technology (GT) development and to understand the role of foreign multinationals in Chinese innovation systems. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research approach is used by interviewing executives from German multinationals with expertise in AI and GT development and organization of innovation processes in China. In total, 11 semi-structured interviews were conducted with companies, and the data were analysed with a thematic qualitative text analysis. Findings: The findings show that AI applications for GT are primarily developed in cross-company projects that are led by local and regional authorities through the organization of industrial districts and clusters. German multinationals are either being integrated, remaining autonomous or being excluded from these twin transition innovation processes. Originality/value: This paper aims to fill the gap in the literature by providing one of the first qualitative approach towards twin transition innovation processes in China and exploring the integration of multinational enterprises in cluster organizations. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is one of the first twin transition studies from this perspective in emerging economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the twin transition of textile firms operating in an industrial district. The twin transition comprises two interconnected but distinct processes: the sustainable transition and the digital transition. The study specifically considers sustainability goals in terms of the triple bottom line and digitalization as the adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies. The study aims to understand how the characteristics of Italian districts influence the choices related to the twin transition and how it affects textile industrial firms. Design/methodology/approach: The author conducts a multiple-case study involving five firms of industrial textile district of Prato. Findings: The results show the relationship between the characteristics of the district, such as fragmentation of the supply chain, lean manufacturing, territorial proximity and attachment to origins and traditions and the sustainable goals and I4.0 technologies adoption. Moreover, the study proposes a framework for twin transition. Market and technology drive the process in which sustainability represents the aim, I4.0 serves as enablers and the relevant outcome is the implementation of the business model innovation. Practical implications: These findings offer valuable insights for textile firms, policymakers and stakeholders seeking to navigate the complexities of twin transition. Originality/value: The study contributes to the broader topic of twin transition. In particular, it links the particular context represented by the industrial district in which the textile firms operate to their conduct, and the two interconnected and distinct processes, sustainable transition and digital transition, with the business model innovation topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Through participant observation, this paper aims to show how the existing ecosystem has helped to attract new companies that are integrating and enriching this ecosystem, while helping to decarbonize the region's industry. Design/methodology/approach: In France, industrial and carbon-intensive regions are currently facing the challenges of environmental, energy and digital transition. Against a backdrop of reindustrialization, and to meet the objectives set by the French climate and resilience law, these regions are seeking both to support the existing ecosystem in meeting these new challenges and to diversify their economic fabric by welcoming greener industries. Findings: In Normandy, in the Caux Seine agglo area, new projects linked to bioplastics have led the region to reflect on the creation and structuring of a greener industrial district bringing together manufacturers, a research cluster and a training center. Originality/value: The authors are studying an industrial region in Normandy that is considered to be a pilot area, experimenting with new directions in terms of low-carbon industry. Based on the petrochemical industry, this little-studied area wants the industrial zone to become a genuine green energy hub. Strong political will and substantial private and public investment have enabled the emergence of a new green chemistry industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imperative to harmonize economic growth with environmental preservation has catalyzed transformations in strategic management in current global landscape. The "Port-Park-City" (PPC) model, epitomized by the success of China Merchants Group Port (CMPort), offers a compelling case of how strategic sustainability revolutionizes international business. This research probes the innovative PPC model, initially thriving within China, to assess its adaptability to international investments. Through a meticulous analysis of two pivotal investment cases—the China Belarus Industrial Park (GSIP) and the Djibouti Port Industrial Park— we investigate the replicability of the PPC model and its capacity to confer a sustainable competitive edge. Adopting a "coupling effect" perspective, we scrutinize commonalities in PPC model implementation in these cases. This research address the pressing demand for global enterprises to adapt to evolving paradigms of strategic management. Our findings underscore the PPC model's potential not only in bolstering business success but also in advancing global sustainability, fostering competitive advantage, and catalyzing business model innovation. This encapsulates the essence of sustainable strategic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) pollution has become a common and complex problem in industrial parks due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. Here, soil and groundwater were sampled from a retired industrial park to investigate the pollution characteristics of HMs. Results show that Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd, and Cu were the typical HMs in the soil. Source analysis with the positive matrix factorization model indicates that HMs in the topsoil stemmed from industrial activities, traffic emission, and natural source, and the groundwater HMs originated from industrial activities, groundwater-soil interaction, groundwater-rock interaction, and atmosphere deposition. The sequential extraction of soil HMs reveals that As and Hg were mainly distributed in the residue fraction, while Ni, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cd, and Cu mainly existed in the mobile fraction. Most HMs either in the total concentration or in the bioavailable fraction preferred to retain in soil as indicated by their high soil-water partitioning coefficients (K d), and the K d values were correlated with soil pH, groundwater redox potential, and dissolved oxygen. The relative stable soil-groundwater circumstance and the low active fraction contents limited the vertical migration of soil HMs and their release to groundwater. These findings increase our knowledge about HMs pollution characteristics of traditional industrial parks and provide a protocol for HMs pollution scrutinizing in large zones. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are significant pollutants in urban road dust, but their distribution and associated health risks remain unclear. VOC distribution in road dust from six distinct urban areas in Beijing Daxing District, China was systematically investigated. Eighteen VOCs were detected, with the highest load in commercial areas (7.73 μg/g), followed by industrial parks (6.38 μg/g), residential areas (3.35 μg/g), leisure areas (2.79 μg/g), traffic areas (2.01 μg/g) and urban-rural fringe (1.85 μg/g), much lower than in air and water phases. Typical VOCs in road dust include methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) (0.82–1.24 μg/g), benzene series compounds (0.02–4.19 μg/g) and volatile halogenated alkanes (0.002-0.095 μg/g). Incomplete combustion of road vehicle fuels is the key source of VOCs. Particular attention was given to VOCs in typical sites within the urban-rural fringe, known for their unique pollution characteristics. The VOCs loads were ranked as follows: Gas Stations (2.61–2.62 μg/g) > Intersection (1.41 μg/g) > Main Road (1.34 μg/g) > University Gate (1.27 μg/g). Increased vehicle activity and frequent stalling contribute to higher VOCs accumulation in road dust. Health risk assessment indicates there is no appreciable non-carcinogenic risk associated with exposure to road dust VOCs. Further research should consider VOCs in the broader environmental context, including air and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the impact of foreign investment, through acquisitions and mergers of local firms, on leading industrial clusters. While previous research has highlighted the increasing involvement of cluster firms in internationalization and knowledge globalization, the role of foreign investment requires further investigation. Power asymmetries between MNEs and partner firms are prevalent in global value chains, joint ventures, and strategic alliances, shaping the contemporary global economy. By analysing two clusters specialized in ceramic tile production (Castelló, Spain, and Sassuolo, Italy), this study aims to evaluate the impact of foreign investment on leading clusters, specifically distinguishing between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and investment funds. The research examines the perceived effects through a qualitative analysis, capturing the subjective impressions of local actors involved in acquired firms, independent local firms, technological suppliers, and supporting institutions. This paper contributes to the literature by addressing contradictory findings and providing insights into the balance between knowledge absorption and spillovers from MNEs or investment funds to local firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explains the effects originated by the massive entrance of foreign capital in the ceramic tile district of Castellon (Spain). Cross-fertilizing multinational acquisitions and industrial districts' literature, and using mix-methods on a focal case study, our article explores the effects that those multinationals have on districts, and whether the type of multinationals (financially-oriented vs industrial) presents different impacts on a focal industrial district. Our results point out that the massive entrance of foreign capital alters the local system. Overall, positive perceived attitudes are evidenced, along with negative attitudes associated with potential risks of lack of local-embedded ownership and the reduction of local cooperative ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a pathway for transforming small and medium enterprise-based industrial districts to eco-industrial development in newly industrialised countries. Our framework conceptualises the eco-transformation of industrial districts as a reassembling process of local-regional industrial networks toward sustainability from an 'arenas of development' perspective, highlighting how an emerging eco-transformation arena may challenge existing unsustainable industrial networks. We employ a case-study method to illuminate how such an eco-transformation arena has emerged in Shunde District in Southern China and evolved in the dimensions of continuity, scale and depth of transformation. The results show the pathway is driven by national policy intervention and local government responses. The subsequent development is likely to shift into a fluid, non-linear process unfolded through the continuing interaction of agenda setting, actors and their relationships, strategies and actions performed, translation projects and spaces of negotiation (i.e. the arena's five components) while being influenced by context and place-specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic management of corporate safety risks in industrial parks has become a hot topic. And risk prevention and control mutual aid is a brand-new model in the risk and emergency management of the park. In the context of blockchain, how to incentivize enterprises to actively invest in safety risk prevention and control mutual aid has become a series of key issues facing government regulators. This paper innovatively combines Prospect Theory, Mental Accounting, and Evolutionary Game Theory to create a hypothetical model of limited rationality for the behavior of key stakeholders (core enterprises, supporting enterprises, and government regulatory departments) in mutual aid for safety risk prevention and control. Under the static prize punishment mechanism and dynamic punishment mechanism, the evolutionary stabilization strategy of stakeholders was analyzed, and numerical simulation analysis was performed through examples. The results show: (1) Mutual aid for risk prevention and control among park enterprises is influenced by various factors, including external and subjective elements, and evolves through complex evolutionary paths (e.g., reference points, value perception). (2) Government departments are increasingly implementing dynamic reward and punishment measures to address the shortcomings of static mechanisms. Government departments should dynamically adjust reward and punishment strategies, determine clearly the highest standards for rewards and punishments, and the combination of various incentives and penalties can significantly improve the effectiveness of investment decisions in mutual aid for safety risk prevention and control. (3) Continuously optimizing the design of reward and punishment mechanisms, integrating blockchain technology with management strategies to motivate enterprise participation, and leveraging participant feedback are strategies and recommendations that provide new insights for promoting active enterprise investment in mutual aid for safety risk prevention and control. The marginal contribution of this paper is to reveal the evolutionary pattern of mutual safety risk prevention and control behaviors of enterprises in chemical parks in the context of blockchain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-tech firms is a vital driver for the economic growth of a city but their distribution and location determinants at the intra-urban level are still unclear. We aim to deepen the understanding of location determinants of high-tech firms, so we construct an analytical framework and use GeoDetector to investigate high-tech firms in Shenzhen based on firms and POI open data in 2023. We find that high-tech firms are distributed in a spatial pattern of 'one core and six clusters' with high density in the western area despite industrial heterogeneity. Agglomeration economies and amenity-based factors play a significant role in the distribution of high-tech firms. Institutional factors and classical locational factors have more significant effects on the location of high-tech service and manufacturing firms, respectively. This study contributes to the literature on study spatial units, the influence of amenities, and industrial specificities. These findings highlight public policies on industrial park planning, transportation systems, and public services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This seminal study explores systemic sustainability within the Industry 5.0 paradigm, using the strategic lens of geoanthropology to shape the emerging concept of Industry 6.0. A transdisciplinary approach is adopted, integrating geoanthropological insights into the analysis of the Italian ceramic district. Seven key factors are considered: resource consumption, production dynamics, innovation, environmental impact, social impact, market dynamics, and economic impact. Historical events such as changes in Italian industrial policy, market slowdowns, and the COVID-19 pandemic are identified as significant for the sector. A contingent analysis tailored to the unique characteristics of the ceramic district provides an in-depth understanding of its challenges and opportunities. The incorporation of geoanthropology provides a transdisciplinary perspective that allows for an in-depth examination of the complex interactions between people and their environment in an industrial setting. The study highlights the central role of innovation, digitalization, and government policies in driving positive changes in production efficiency, market dynamics, and economic impact. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including the delicate balance between environmental sustainability and resource consumption, as well as the effective management of the social impacts of digitization. To address these challenges, a systemic sustainability index derived from geoanthropological insights is proposed as a pragmatic tool to measure and guide the development of sustainability initiatives in the ceramic district. The results of this study not only pave the way for new horizons in sustainability assessment but also provide valuable insights for industrial district managers to formulate strategies that foster organizational flexibility and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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X is a state-owned enterprise operating as a holding company across various industries. In 2022, X's total consolidated assets reached Rp 49.1 trillion, encompassing financial services, industrial estates, construction, water management, media, and technology. The expansion into a conglomerate brings challenges and uncertainties, necessitating a systematic risk management process, as accommodated by the regulations in Minister of SOE Regulation Number 2 of 2023 on Guidelines for Governance and Significant Corporate Activities of State-Owned Enterprises. This research focuses on analyzing the alignment and identifying gaps in X's risk management practices based on this regulation, as well as proposing steps to enhance risk management effectiveness in X to face business challenges. The study employs a triangulation approach through document observation, interviews, and literature review. The findings reveal several gaps in the implementation of risk management at X, highlighting areas for improvement, including three lines of defense implementation, enhancing a risk-aware culture, ensuring the independence of the risk management function in its subsidiaries, involving and evaluating the roles of the board of commissioners and the director of risk management, and optimizing the integration process of risk management with its subsidiaries, both in policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]