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This study explores the relationship between the governance of architecturally embedded applications and their longevity in organizational use. Using a contingency-fit logic, it posits that alignment between application governance (distribution of decision rights) and architectural contingencies contributes to sustained durations of organizational use. Architectural contingencies include internal application modularity, application inter-connectedness, and governance of surrounding application clusters. Evidence for the governance-architecture fit hypothesis is derived from analyzing temporally ordered data about applications (n = 225, n = 498, n = 193) from organizations in the media, banking, and utilities sectors over five years. Using a two-step approach with ordinal regression, along with Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models, our findings indicate that a fit between observed governance and the governance induced by architectural contingencies reduces the likelihood of application decommissioning. The study advances the fields of information systems (IS) governance and architecture by offering a micro-level perspective on the longevity of organizational IS use while also shedding light on the importance of governance choices aligned with unique architectural application properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately portraying the spatially linked network characteristics of digital infrastructure and exploring its energy-saving effects are highly valuable for enhancing the synergy in digital infrastructure development and expanding its network spillover effects on energy conservation. This paper uses panel data at the city level in China and employs a modified gravity model to calculate the centrality of digital infrastructure spatial correlation network nodes. Based on this, an econometric model is constructed, incorporating variables such as digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality and urban green total factor energy efficiency. The model is used to analyze the effects and transmission paths of digital infrastructure network node centrality on urban green total factor energy efficiency. The analysis yields the following conclusions: (1) Digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality significantly improves urban green total factor energy efficiency, with considerable variability due to city geographic location, city scale, and city attributes. (2) Nonlinear testing results indicate that as digital infrastructure construction advances, its impact on urban green total factor energy efficiency shifts from inhibitory to promotional. (3) The impact mechanism shows that digital infrastructure node centrality enhances urban green total factor energy efficiency through green technology innovation. Additionally, it promotes advanced industrial structures and reduces capital mismatch, further influencing energy efficiency. (4) Digital infrastructure node centrality not only boosts urban green total factor energy efficiency but also facilitates regional convergence, increasing the convergence rate from 0.094 to 0.170%. The findings of the research offer policy guidance for the government on advancing digital transformation initiatives and enhancing energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The years we are experiencing are often identified as those of the age of digital technologies, where "digital" is commonly associated with intelligence, efficiency, and convenience. The emergence of digital technologies has significantly impacted and transformed various aspects of our society compared to the past. In this panorama, some arising questions regard transportation infrastructure systems and, first of all, highway infrastructure. This research focuses on one central issue: how highways fit into this digital revolution. Actually, the work in this paper can be described as follows. Although there are many different theoretical model systems for the architecture of the digital twin, we have chosen to review the main body of research on the digital twin in highway infrastructure based on a relatively well-established modeling framework, the five-dimensional model of the digital twin. After discussing the components of the digital twin for highway infrastructure's five-dimensional model, the paper reviews some innovative technologies that make these items effective. In addition to this, the digital twin maturity level of highway infrastructure and the MBSE-based (model-based systems engineering) digital twin model for highway are also discussed in this paper. Therefore, the paper provides a bird's eye view of this extremely dynamic technology for a new system of intelligent highways and discusses some of their criticalities and strengths, allowing for the optimization and development of new transportation functions and services, improving the adaptability of highways to the digital revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of digital infrastructure on creating an organizational climate conducive to digital transformation. It highlights the critical role of data lakes, network connectivity, and a shared digital language in cultivating an environment that aligns managerial objectives with employee engagement in digital initiatives. Through grounded theory methodology, the research uncovers how robust digital infrastructure can bridge the gap between leadership's digital aspirations and employees' practical use of digital tools, promoting data-driven decision-making and improving organizational performance. The findings suggest that a well-developed digital infrastructure is essential for fostering a digital climate that supports strategic business goals and enhances competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of digital infrastructure on carbon emissions utilizing urban panel data spanning from 2007 to 2022 in China. The research findings reveal that digital infrastructure has mitigated carbon emissions in cities, with a more pronounced effect observed in eastern and northern regions. Notably, large cities and non-resource-based cities have reaped greater environmental benefits from digital infrastructure. Key mechanisms driving this reduction include lowering energy consumption, fostering green technological innovations, and enhancing factor allocation efficiency. Additionally, digital infrastructure construction exhibits a spatial spillover effect, where local digital infrastructure inhibits carbon emissions in neighboring cities. These discoveries offer insightful references for policymakers in planning the application of digital infrastructure to facilitate carbon reduction efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common prosperity is an important goal of China's modernization efforts, and narrowing the income gap among different regions and populations is crucial to achieving common prosperity. The construction of digital infrastructure has significantly boosted productivity and facilitated the diffusion of technology in less developed regions, leading to notable changes in labor employment and the income gap, which aligns with the goal of common prosperity. This paper explores the mechanism through which digital infrastructure influences common prosperity with a focus on employment, using panel data from 30 provinces in China between 2011 and 2021 for an empirical test. The research finds that digital infrastructure significantly promotes common prosperity. By expanding employment and increasing labor remuneration, the influence of digital infrastructure on common prosperity exhibits regional heterogeneity and a nonlinear threshold effect. The research suggests that the government should enhance investment in and construction of digital infrastructure, reduce the digital divide through policy support in rural areas, promote digital employment and skills training, and encourage industrial integration and enterprise participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether the digital infrastructure can resolve the conflict between environmental concerns and economic development is an urgent issue to be addressed in China. By taking the implementation of 'Broadband China' policy as a quasi-natural experiment and using 15 million policy statements to measure the environmental protection institution (EPI), this study investigates the environmental externality of urban digital infrastructure and the nonlinear supporting role of EPI. It is found that urban digital infrastructure is conducive to reducing regional energy intensity and carbon emission intensity. After a series of robustness tests, the conclusions are still credible. Mechanism analysis shows that promoting the structural upgrading of the service industry, accelerating the intensive development of the manufacturing industry and improving the quality of regional innovation are three impact channels. Furthermore, the EPI plays a nonlinear supporting role in the process of digital infrastructure's promoting regional energy saving and emission reduction. This study incorporates the supply of environmental protection institution into the analytical framework, thus providing a new perspective for comprehending the externality of digital infrastructure and environmental protection institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of the digital economy (DE), the traditional economic growth paradigm is no longer applicable. To explore whether the DE can improve the urban ecological problems left behind by rough economic growth, this study examines the effects of land resource mismatch (LRM) on urban ecological resilience (UER) and evaluates the mitigating influence of the DE. This analysis utilizes data from 280 prefectural-level cities in China over the period from 2007 to 2021 and reveals that LRM significantly undermines UER, with this conclusion remaining robust across a series of tests. Additionally, the detrimental impact of LRM on UER is more pronounced in megacities, cities with high levels of economic development, and those with a lower degree of advanced industrial structure. In further analysis, this study finds that the digital economy can optimize the allocation of land resources, thereby enhancing urban ecological resilience, which has the effect of "treating the root causes". In addition, digital government and digital infrastructure, as key elements of the digital economy, also mitigate the negative impacts of land resource misallocation on urban ecological resilience, having the effect of "treating the symptoms". Finally, this study proposes policy suggestions such as optimizing ecological layout, deepening land reform, and promoting digital government and infrastructure construction to provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for local governments to enhance UER and help build a new model of greener, more resilient, and sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper examines the digital infrastructure required to achieve project management success by analyzing the enabling elements of this digital infrastructure in terms of three pillars: digital readiness, digital fitness, and digital tools. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify these enabling elements and to develop a list of project management success indicators through which the success of project management can be measured. To evaluate and rank the digital infrastructure enabling elements, a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) was implemented using a hybrid approach combining Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS). The study used the digital infrastructure enabling elements as MCA alternatives and the project management success indicators identified in the literature review as MCA criteria. The results indicated that the enabling elements associated with digital tools are the most significant for project management success, with a FTOPSIS closeness coefficient (CCi) of 0.8525, followed by those related to digital fitness (CCi = 0.6481) and digital readiness (CCi = 0.1602). These findings have proven to be robust, as they remained consistent even when weights of the MCA criteria were adjusted in three new scenarios proposed in a scenario analysis. This research highlights the critical role of digital enabling elements in enhancing project management practice and achieving project management success. It also offers a strategic framework for organizations to develop and strengthen their digital infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the article is the analysis of the current state of research and practice in the field of transport, logistics and digital infrastructures in the Russian Arctic. The authors consider logistic and digital infrastructures as key communication subsystems that ensure the movement of material values, people and information, and thus serve as a prerequisite for the development of the macro-region under consid-eration. The research methods used were literature review of scientific sources and analysis of the ob-tained material. A systematic literature mapping was carried out on Scopus, Google Scholar, Elibrary data-bases. Aspects of the Arctic region development, including the role of logistics and digital infrastructures in this process, are described by scientific schools of Russia, Canada, Norway, China, USA and other countries. The analysis has shown the highly variable state of the subsystems under consideration depending on the specific region, as well as the lack of a comprehensive approach to their joint development and integration. It was stated that there is no such problem statement about the development of communication subsystems of the Arctic zone. On the basis of the analysis, the key directions for the development of logistics and digital infrastructure of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation were formulated. The authors’ recommendations, apart from the obvious tasks of developing sea routes, building and modernizing roads, railways and airports, expanding access to broadband internet and other widely discussed measures, describe the need to integrate the communication subsystems under consideration and focus on the potential of digital technologies to replace and/or supplement the logistics infrastructure in certain aspects.

The relevance of analysing the digital maturity of regions is due to the country’s desire for transformation in accordance with the concept of the digital economy. The article presents an approach that allows to assess and compare the levels of the digital maturity of various Russian constituent entities. The assessment process uses many indicators, including both infrastructural aspects (availability and quality of the Internet, the development level of telecommunications) and social ones (the degree of population’s digital skills, integration of digital technologies into the educational process and business). The assessment methodology is based on the collection and analysis of statistical data, on surveys of experts and the population as well as on the study of best digitalisation practices at the regional level. The article describes the selection criteria used to classify and rank regions according to their level of the digital maturity. An important part of the research is the analysis of problems that regions face on the way to the digital maturity. The article discusses barriers such as insufficient funding, lack of qualified personnel, underdeveloped infrastructure and low level of digital literacy of the population. Based on this analysis, recommendations are formed to accelerate the process of digitalisation of regions and increase their the digital maturity. The study results offer practical solutions and ways to optimise regional policies that contribute to the improvement of life quality in the regions and ensure the transition to the innovative economic model.

Abstract Background Global digitalization significantly impacts public health by improving healthcare access for marginalized populations. In China, socioeconomic disparities and the Hukou system create significant barriers for the migrant population to access basic public health services (BPHS). This study aimed to assess how digital infrastructure construction (DIC) affects BPHS utilization among China’s migrant populations, filling a gap in the literature regarding the relationship between digital advancements and health service accessibility. Methods This research used micro-level data from the 2018 China Migrants Dynamic Survey and incorporated variables aligned with the Broadband China policy to employ a comprehensive empirical strategy. It included baseline regressions, robustness checks through propensity score matching and machine learning techniques, and heterogeneity analysis to explore the differential impacts of DIC based on gender, age, education level, and Hukou status. Results The findings revealed that DIC significantly enhances the likelihood of migrants establishing health records and registering with family doctors, demonstrating quantifiable improvements in health service utilization. Heterogeneity analysis further indicated that the beneficial impacts of DIC were more pronounced among female migrants, those with higher education levels, younger populations, and urban Hukou holders. Conclusions DIC plays a crucial role in bridging the accessibility gap to BPHS for migrant populations in China, contributing to narrowing health disparities and advancing social equity. These results emphasize the significance of digital infrastructure in public health strategies and offer valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies on the sustained effects of DIC and tailor digital health initiatives to meet the unique needs of migrant populations, promoting inclusive health policy planning and implementation.

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Green innovation plays a crucial role in actualizing environmental sustainability. Although digitalization is acknowledged for its significant contribution to environmental sustainability, existing research has yet to delve deeply into the mechanisms and conditions under which digital development can bolster green innovation. Bridging the resource‐based view and institutional theory, this research examined how digital development impacts green innovation via the offering of financial backing for the proliferation of green technologies, termed as green finance. We also explored the moderating roles of institutional forces, that is, government support and government intervention. We base our analysis on data collated from 30 provinces in China spanning the years from 2012 to 2018 and employ fixed‐effect and random‐effect regression models, alongside a series of robustness tests. Our findings propose that green finance plays a pivotal role in mediating the relationship between digital development and green innovation. We further discerned that while government support amplifies the impact of digital development on green finance, government intervention tends to undermine it. These insights present valuable contributions to the domains of digital development research, institutional theory, and innovation for environmental sustainability and carry practical implications for policymakers striving for environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the resource orchestration theory (ROT), this research explores the significant role of digital infrastructure in enabling business model governance innovation (BMGI) within manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using a sample of 237 cases from Guangdong Province, China, linear regression analysis demonstrated that digital infrastructure could significantly facilitate such innovation. Additionally, both design and use recombination acted as mediators, with design recombination yielding a substantially stronger positive impact on BMGI. This study also highlighted the contrasting impact between discrete and process manufacturing, showing that discrete manufacturing derives more substantial benefits from digital infrastructure. The findings of this research provide valuable theoretical insights into the digital transformation and value creation of SMEs in the manufacturing sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief commentary develops an argument for a critical geopolitics of smart tourism. Several critical geopolitical issues related to smart tourism deserve more attention in tourism studies, including the digital infrastructuralization of tourism in the context of platformization and data governance geopolitics. The commentary focuses on smart tourism as a new paradigm in digitally mediated tourism, one which shifts the conversation regarding the digital geographies of tourism from controlling the transboundary flow of digital information to controlling physical spaces that have themselves become digitally platformized. The commentary also focuses on China as a paradigmatic site of smart tourism development and promotion. Here, the geopolitical issues swirling around smart tourism can be seen quite clearly. The commentary concludes with the observation that the digital infrastructuralization of tourism introduces not just a new layer of geopolitical issues to account for in the tourism encounter with places, but also technopolitical effects that also shape that encounter in important ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies and the practices that follow, from reviews and recommendations on websites to content on social media platforms characterised by real-time connectivity are now inseparable from tourist experiences. Further, the technological, and infrastructural configurations that underpin digital practices in tourism are increasingly impinged upon by non-human actors (such as algorithms and data governance and regulatory measures). This special issue considers the ways in which data in the form of content, digital infrastructures and algorithmic governance shape and transform knowledge generated within and about tourism destinations and the populations who inhabit them. We focus on digital technologies as part of emerging media technologies to emphasise the material and regulatory assemblages that are increasingly inseparable from automated processes that facilitate the collection and appropriation of data on behalf of digital platform corporations. Emerging media technologies in the tourist encounter consider such engagements across different sensory exchanges, where tourists experience other places, landscapes, weather, people, sights and knowledge. Significant issues related to the role of digital technologies such as the inequalities they may perpetuate through the platformization of tourist destinations, the impacts of 'smartness' and the ways in which digital infrastructures are embedded in wider geopolitical relations of territorialization and contestation have been increasingly recognised in tourism geographies, yet comparative regional studies are still limited. We establish a research agenda to call for further, comparative research into the unfolding consequences of the role of digital infrastructures and algorithmic governance in the shaping of tourism destinations and the practices that follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article builds on an up-to-date overview of the data governance framework developed by the People's Republic of China to gauge its influence over digital trade policy at the global stage. China has developed a peculiar data governance architecture, predicated upon domestic security. The party-state has been open to discuss only trade-related aspects of information flows while shielding national autonomy from international harmonization. This strategy is coupled with the effort to project China's data governance approach externally both through China's role in international standard setting and via new digital infrastructure, through the Digital Silk Road initiative. In this respect, China's attempts to facilitate penetration by its own companies in foreign digital infrastructure needs to be assessed against the large data access power enjoyed by the state-party vis-à-vis domestic big tech companies. The article argues that such a strategy appears in contrast with the explicit commitment to protect national self-determination, especially when host countries lack adequate legal and administrative safeguards to tackle the economic and data protection challenges brought by digitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explains that digital geopolitics is a key component of Sino-US rivalry, as digital technologies have taken the centre stage in the new global conflict between the United States and China. China's digital expansionism through its Digital Silk Road (DSR) projects is promoting its geopolitical agenda in African countries. Chinese financial institutions are funding African countries' digital infrastructure projects, which are being implemented by Chinese companies. Chinese companies, which are dominating the African digital technology space, are also setting new technology standards and norms that challenge the existing US-led global digital order. DSR projects have improved the digital connectivity of African countries, boosted the emergence of local companies, created job opportunities for Africans and enhanced governments' governance capabilities. However, African countries' dependence on the Chinese digital technology curtails local companies' growth capabilities while promoting China's 'digital authoritarianism' and 'data colonialism', as China's companies possess market manipulation tools and capabilities. In addition, unmanageable loans given by Chinese financial institutions to implement DSR projects are creating sovereignty-eroding debt traps for African countries. As China's digital expansionism poses a severe challenge to US geopolitical interests in the African continent, the United States, as a part of its counter-moves, has started a global campaign against Chinese digital expansionism, imposed a ban on Chinese tech companies, adopted the Digital Connectivity and Cyber-security Partnership (DCCP) and launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) scheme. Pursuing an aggressive strategy, the United States should launch a 'Digital Marshal Plan' to counter the Chinese digital expansionism at the global level in general and Africa in particular. Hence, in this context, using the descriptive-qualitative approach, this study is based on the content analysis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the current state of agricultural digitalization in Indonesia, focusing on its potential to transform the agricultural sector and improve farmer welfare. Using the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), the research analyzes existing conditions, challenges, and opportunities in implementing digital technologies in agriculture. The study reveals that while agricultural digitalization is recognized as a priority in Indonesia's national development plans, its implementation faces significant hurdles. These include limited comprehensive regulations, uneven digital infrastructure, low digital literacy among farmers, and varying perceptions of technology adoption. The research highlights the need for an integrated approach involving key stakeholders such as the government, private sector, and farmers. The CATWOE analysis identifies farmers as primary beneficiaries and emphasizes the importance of tailored policies and infrastructure development. The study proposes recommendations for accelerating digital adoption, including formulating comprehensive regulations, improving rural digital infrastructure, enhancing farmer education programs, and strengthening the role of agricultural extension workers. The conceptual model developed through SSM provides a framework for creating an innovative and sustainable digital agricultural ecosystem. This research contributes to the understanding of agricultural digitalization in Indonesia and offers insights for policymakers and practitioners in developing effective strategies for digital transformation in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern world, digital technologies penetrate all spheres of life, and customsadministrative services are no exception. The development of digital infrastructures in this field contributes to increasing the efficiency, transparency, and speed of customs operations. Digitalization encompasses the implementation of modern technologies and solutions that allow for the automation and optimization of many aspects of customs authorities' work, which in turn positively impacts the entire customs control and service process. One of the main directions of digitalization is the automation of customs document processing. The use of electronic declaration systems significantly reduces the time required for document verification and processing, enabling faster clearance of goods and reducing the risk of errors related to human factors. One of the key aspects of ensuring cybersecurity in the customs-administrative sphere is the implementation of modern data protection systems. This includes the use of reliable encryption, multilevel authentication systems, and regular network monitoring for potential threats. The development and implementation of incident response protocols are also important, as they allow for quick and effective neutralization of cyber threats and minimization of their impact on the operation of customs authorities. In addition, raising the awareness of customs officials about the basic principles of cybersecurity is of great importance. Regular training and education help employees timely identify signs of possible cyber-attacks and adhere to security measures when working with information systems. An essential component is also cooperation with international organizations and the exchange of experiences with other countries that implement advanced practices in the field of cybersecurity. The development of digital technologies not only increases risks but also opens new opportunities for optimizing customs processes. The implementation of artificial intelligence systems can assist in identifying potential risks, and the use of blockchain technologies ensures greater transparency and reliability of supply chains, helping to prevent fraud and increase trust among participants in foreign economic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global digitalization significantly impacts public health by improving healthcare access for marginalized populations. In China, socioeconomic disparities and the Hukou system create significant barriers for the migrant population to access basic public health services (BPHS). This study aimed to assess how digital infrastructure construction (DIC) affects BPHS utilization among China's migrant populations, filling a gap in the literature regarding the relationship between digital advancements and health service accessibility. Methods: This research used micro-level data from the 2018 China Migrants Dynamic Survey and incorporated variables aligned with the Broadband China policy to employ a comprehensive empirical strategy. It included baseline regressions, robustness checks through propensity score matching and machine learning techniques, and heterogeneity analysis to explore the differential impacts of DIC based on gender, age, education level, and Hukou status. Results: The findings revealed that DIC significantly enhances the likelihood of migrants establishing health records and registering with family doctors, demonstrating quantifiable improvements in health service utilization. Heterogeneity analysis further indicated that the beneficial impacts of DIC were more pronounced among female migrants, those with higher education levels, younger populations, and urban Hukou holders. Conclusions: DIC plays a crucial role in bridging the accessibility gap to BPHS for migrant populations in China, contributing to narrowing health disparities and advancing social equity. These results emphasize the significance of digital infrastructure in public health strategies and offer valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies on the sustained effects of DIC and tailor digital health initiatives to meet the unique needs of migrant populations, promoting inclusive health policy planning and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitation in education, where online platforms play a central role, has changed teaching and learning scenarios. In addition, it has brought an unprecedented array of public and private actors into the educational arena who provide schools with technological solutions for redesigning learning environments and practices. Though the arena is dominated by EdTech companies, non‐profit initiatives are not entirely absent. After a brief introduction to the main issues relating to the spread of educational platforms, this article will present a rare case of a non‐commercial educational platform developed, implemented and managed in complete autonomy by a community of university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the cornerstone of the digital economy, the construction of digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in promoting China's high-quality economic growth.. Against the backdrop of the "dual-carbon" goals, the development of digital infrastructure will provide new momentum for carbon emissions reduction in urban areas. This study utilizes unbalanced panel data from 277 prefecture-level cities in China between 2008 and 2019, treating the smart city construction as a quasi-natural experiment, to systematically evaluate the impact of the pilot construction of smart city on urban carbon emissions intensity. The research findings reveal that the construction of the smart city has significantly contributed to the reduction of urban carbon emissions intensity, indicating that digital infrastructure contributes to urban carbon emission reduction. The reduction of carbon emissions resulting from smart city construction is particularly significant in the East and Central regions., as well as regions with high financial development levels, regions with high human capital levels and non resource-based cities. The construction of the smart city primarily achieves the reduction of urban carbon emissions intensity through two main pathways: improving the penetration rate of digital infrastructure and enhancing technological innovation capability. Therefore, this study recommends that local governments strengthen the integration and penetration of digital infrastructure with traditional industries, foster urban innovation vitality, and accelerate the transformation towards green and low-carbon cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, the digital twin (DT) concept has effectively revolutionized conventional bridge monitoring and management. Despite their overall success, current bridge DTs encounter conceptual ambiguities, hindering their inherent potential for practical implementation. Moreover, intelligent decision support models have not been properly considered as a component of the bridge DTs framework to enhance the reliability of decisions for asset maintenance. Therefore, this paper conducts a scientometric analysis and a comprehensive state-of-the-art review, exploring current bridge DT research trends and architectures and introducing an enhanced conceptual framework for bridge DTs. To this end, more than 480 research publications have been reviewed, compared, and analyzed. The research result encompasses the redevelopment of a multilayer DT framework, fostering its implementation in the full lifecycle of bridge infrastructure while exploring the potential integration of decision support systems and data fusion from advanced technologies to improve the overall efficiency of implementing DT technology in bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open Science (OS) – an emerging global trend driven by advances in digital technologies and government's commitment to greater transparency and value for money of publicly funded research – is at its early stages, even in countries with high R&D expenditures, such as South Korea. This study provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of Korea's national OS approach, with a focus on exploring the current OS regulatory and technological environments it operates under, and uncovering its SWOT – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It concludes that internal weaknesses, such as insufficient political will to promote OS, dominate other SWOT characteristics of Korea's national OS approach. Thus, the highest priority should be given to strategies attempting to minimise both internal weaknesses and external threats, such as reinforcing domestic Open Access publishing ecosystem to mitigate Korean researchers' dependency on large international commercial publishers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge is regarded as a key driver of entrepreneurial activity and economic performance. Nevertheless, empirical evidence suggests that the extent to which knowledge spills over and translates into entrepreneurial activity differs tremendously across different regions. These inconsistent results expose the knowledge spillover mechanism as a concept that is not well understood. This paper is one of the few studies to propose an explanation for the seemingly inconclusive results that we find in the literature by considering the role of infrastructure in knowledge spillovers. Using a dataset of 67 countries, we examine the impact of different types of physical and digital infrastructure on the knowledge spillover mechanism. Our empirical results reveal that the extent to which knowledge translates into entrepreneurial activity largely depends upon the development of specific types of digital and physical infrastructure. This paper provides valuable insights into the knowledge spillover mechanism by identifying certain factors that influence the extent to which knowledge translates into entrepreneurial activity. Furthermore, it has important policy implications for countries to promote entrepreneurial activity and economic performance by developing certain types of physical and digital infrastructure. Plain English Summary: This study shows that the physical and the digital infrastructure of a country play an important role in knowledge spillover entrepreneurship. We identify certain types of infrastructure that have a pronounced impact on knowledge spillover entrepreneurship. Specifically, we identify the quality of the railroad infrastructure, the quality of electricity supply, and access to fixed broadband internet to be conducive to entrepreneurial activity. Understanding which factors encourage knowledge spillover entrepreneurship is important because knowledge spillover entrepreneurship contributes to the economic performance of a country. Our findings also provide policymakers with suggestions on how to increase the level of knowledge spillover entrepreneurship within their country by highlighting the importance of specific types of physical and digital infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionAgriculture faces significant challenges in ensuring global food security while minimizing resource costs and environmental impacts. The development of digital infrastructure offers transformative potential for agricultural systems and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This study examines the role of digital infrastructure in enhancing grain production capacity in China, a key player in the global food system.MethodsWe analyzed data from 277 prefecture-level cities in China from 2011 to 2021. A double machine learning model was employed to empirically assess the impact of digital infrastructure on grain production capacity, allowing for robust insights into causal relationships.ResultsResults reveal that digital infrastructure significantly enhances grain production. Mechanism analysis results indicate that digital infrastructure construction drives agricultural technological advancements and farmland scale, contributing to increased production capacity. Heterogeneity analysis results show that the impact of digital infrastructure construction is significant in major grain-producing regions and the central-eastern regions, while its effects are relatively limited in grain production-consumption balanced regions, main grain consumption regions, and the western regions.DiscussionThe results underscore the importance of strengthening digital infrastructure in rural areas to improve grain production capacity. Tailored policy implications are suggested to enhance sustainable food production and contribute to global food security, particularly in regions with varying agricultural dynamics.

The synergistic development of digital transformation and carbon neutrality is a key path to global sustainable development. This study utilized the Broadband China pilot policy and a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) design to comprehensively evaluate the impact of digital infrastructure on carbon neutrality using panel data from 291 prefecture-level cities in China from 2008 to 2021. The results indicate that regional digital infrastructure contributed to carbon neutralization innovation, carbon-intensive industry innovation, and carbon-emission efficiency in the pilot areas. This held true after analyzing the results with propensity score matching, coarsened exact matching, robust estimators, and instrumental variable regression. Specifically, the results of the mediation effect model indicate that digital infrastructure promotes the process of carbon neutrality through several mechanisms, including promoting the rationalization of industrial structure, promoting digital economic development, and inducing innovation in digital technology. In addition, cities with better economic development, lower resource dependence, and weaker environmental constraints have a greater carbon neutrality dividend effect from regional digital infrastructure. These findings indicate a need to optimize policies to unleash the dividends of digital infrastructure in carbon neutrality, which can drive technological, structural, and efficiency changes through digital empowerment. In addition, cities with heterogeneous endowments need to develop targeted measures.

The article analyzes the current condition and latest changes that took place in the steel-making cluster of the Russian Federation. It describes key problems and challenges that faced enterprises producing goods of ferrous metallurgy during COVID-19 pandemic and since the beginning of the special war operation. Key steps of the government of the Russian Federation aimed at supporting the cluster and stimulating its development were provided. At the same time the role and place of the steel-making cluster in global and home production were studied. On the basis of statistics the author depicted production dynamics in the industry, the level of innovation activity at enterprises, analyzed the structure of innovation costs in the cluster and showed priority tasks facing producers of goods of ferrous metallurgy and promising trends of their functioning. It was pointed out that in line with the global trend aiming at ecological innovation goods of ferrous metallurgy in the near future shall meet principles of carbon neutrality and high power-efficiency. Meanwhile, the development of digital infrastructure at industrial enterprises shall play an important role. Apart from that, the article provided factors of innovation development affecting seriously the balanced progress of home enterprises of ferrous metallurgy.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a Beijing-led format for international cooperation through the building of land and sea corridors connecting China with other countries and regions. One of its pillars is the Digital Silk Road (DSR), which aims to reduce the digital divide and improve the digital connectivity of the participating countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the DSR’s activation, which makes it urgent to study its practical implementation in different regions. The aim of this article is to analyze the conceptual foundations of the DSR and its implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The study relies on the technology leadership theory, which allows considering the DSR as an alternative format of cooperation used by China to reform digital international relations. Since it challenges the technological dominance of the West, especially the United States, the power transition theory is also of heuristic value. The methodological basis of the research covers a wide range of general scientific methods of political analysis. The primary sources of empirical analysis are government documents, papers of think tanks, international organizations and forums, statistical data, interactive maps, speeches by officials, etc. In the course of the study, the following objectives are achieved: to trace the evolution of the DSR concept in the official policy discourse; to systematize scientific works on the issue; to highlight key elements of the initiative; to identify opportunities and limitations for its implementation in the LAC region; to present the US response to the intensification of Sino-LAC digital cooperation. It is concluded that the DSR plays an important role in achieving the strategic objective of transforming China into a technological superpower. Therefore, it is highly likely to become a backbone of cooperation under the BRI.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a surge in digital payments, with over 40 % of adults in low- and middle-income countries making their first merchant payments using cards, phones, or the internet since the pandemic began. This study examines the determinants of adopting digital payments during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, the study utilized secondary data from the World Bank's most recent dataset, collected as part of the Global Findex Database 2021. A Covariance Based-Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) was applied to analyze the data and explore the intricate pathways between variables. The mediation role of the use of technological tools on the relationship between socio-economic factors and digital payment adoption was also examined. Accordingly, mobile ownership, having an ATM/Debit card, and internet access were the technological tools significantly determining digital payment adoption. Age, education, income quantile, receiving wage payment, and engagement in formal financial transactions (as a proxy for financial inclusion) were among the socio-economic characteristics influencing digital payment adoption. Engagement in formal financial inclusion, mobile ownership, having an ATM/Debit card, and internet access were also influenced by individuals' socio-economic characteristics. Mobile ownership, having an ATM/Debit card, internet access, and engagement in formal financial transactions were significant mediating factors in the relationship between digital payment and socio-economic predictors.

Improving carbon productivity is of great significance to China's "30 · 60" carbon target, while the development of the digital economy is a driving force for green transformation. However, few studies discuss the relationship between the digital economy and carbon productivity. We investigate the influence of digital economic development on carbon productivity using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2020. Spatial econometric and moderating effects are considered. The results show that (i) digital economy has a positive direct and negative spatial spillover effect on carbon productivity, and this conclusion is still valid after the robustness test and endogeneity test; (ii) digital infrastructure has a greater impact on carbon productivity than digital industrialization and industrial digitalization; (iii) the mechanism analysis shows that environmental regulation negatively moderates the relationship between the digital economy and carbon productivity; (iv) heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of the digital economy on carbon productivity is more obvious in the central region compared to the western region, while it is not significant in the eastern region. Overall, this paper not only provides a new analytical perspective for understanding the improvement of carbon productivity in the digital economy but also provides policy inspiration for promoting carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Records and archives are the footprints of any organisation due to the value of their information. In South Africa, the records and archives are governed by the National Archives and Record Service of South Africa Act No. 43 of 1996, as amended under the auspices of the National Archives and Record Services of South Africa. The current archival holding is compatible with paper, film, and audio formats as provided in the Act. This study sought to explore the strategies for developing digital infrastructure that would rescue records and archives from a stagnant state in the Government of South Africa. This being an interpretive study, qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews and augmented with content analysis. In view that this was a case study, the population comprised 10 chief information officers and records practitioners from national government departments of South Africa. The collected data were thematically analysed. This study established that the current infrastructure of record-keeping contributes heavily to the stagnant situation of records because only those in the proximity of the archival holdings can access the records by visiting the premises. This study also argues that if the current infrastructure prevails, records and archives will continue to be stagnant. In view of the emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution, the study recommends that records and archives can be saved from the stagnant state by developing the infrastructure for cloud storage within the borders of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital development provides a new impetus for the improvement of economic efficiency. Project Broadband China was a program implemented by the Chinese government that provided additional funding for a set of cities to build digital infrastructure. Based on the panel data of 283 cities in China from 2010 to 2018, we take the project as a quasi-nature experiment to examine whether and how digital infrastructure influences regional economic efficiency. Our results of multi-period difference-in-difference analyses suggest that cities that obtained the program support have higher total factor productivity, an implicit proxy for economic efficiency. We further find that this effect can be achieved through the upgrading of regional industrial structure (the transformation from manufacturing industry to tertiary industry). Heterogeneity analyses further suggest that the efficiency effect of Project Broadband China varies across different cities in terms of location, scale, administrative and urbanization levels. Our findings contribute to digitalization research and the literature on economic efficiency, as well as highlight the importance of digital infrastructure construction for improving economic efficiency. Our study also provides valuable practical implications for policymakers (i.e., expanding the scope of Project Broadband China) seeking to improve high-quality economic development through digital infrastructure construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital currencies are likely to modify the way businesses, people and governments transact in Africa. Nonetheless, several factors need to be assessed before the wide adoption of digital currencies in the continent. These factors include the regulatory environment for fintech, the condition of digital infrastructure and the degree of financial inclusion. This paper assesses the readiness of African countries for the issuance of digital currencies. The paper gives an overview of the African countries that have implemented or are considering implementing digital countries. It discusses the issues to be considered for a conducive environment to launch digital currencies. It explores the opportunities and challenges of developing and issuing digital currencies in Africa. The paper finds that although the developed mobile money network infrastructure, high mobile money penetration, the growth of the digital economy and high degrees of financial exclusion position Africa well for the adoption of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), several challenges need to be addressed. These encompass lower levels of financial inclusion, digital exclusion, the digital divide, poor digital infrastructure and regulatory uncertainty. The paper provides recommendations for improving the prospects of digital currencies in Africa. These include the creation of a legal and regulatory framework for digital currencies, investing in digital infrastructure, improving internet connectivity and educating citizens on digital currencies. Digital currencies can lead to improved economic growth, increase cross border payments, promote financial inclusion and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The “Broadband China” has enabled China to achieve leapfrog development in the construction of its high-speed broadband networks, thereby accelerating the development of digital infrastructure and unleashing the potential for financial sector growth. This has created a strong impetus for economy to shift towards high-quality development. An in-depth understanding of the empirical correlation between the development of digital infrastructure and financial progress is absent, leaving an unexplored domain of research concerning the impact of the “Broad China” strategy on financial agglomeration (Finagg), financial scale (Finscal), and digital finance (Digfina). In order to evaluate the dynamic impacts of this policy on financial development, this research builds a multi-period difference in differences (DID) model using panel data from 269 prefecture-level cities between 2011 and 2020. The study concludes that the “Broadband China” policy significantly fosters the growth of Finagg, Finscal, and Digfina, in China, and found that the “Broadband China” policy has a significant impact on the regional heterogeneity of financial agglomeration and digital finance. There are significant variations in the effects of this policy on different regions, while the regional heterogeneity differences in the impact on financial scale are relatively small. Additionally, the three mediating variables of technological innovation, fund support, and talent agglomeration play a mediating role in the mechanism of digital infrastructure on financial development.