Innovation is not what it was in the 20th century; the classic century of R & D based innovation. The nature of innovation is changing, only in part because different technologies dominate innovation. This paper identifies three main societal trends that are of major importance for strategic management of innovation in industry and for government industrial- and technology policies. These trends are: - Growing complexity - Globalisation - Citizen participation As a result, innovation strategy and technology policies cannot be determined by ad hoc technology push and market pull factors popping up. Strategic planning, not just of products and technologies but also of sites and alliances becomes increasingly important. Transparency and stakeholder dialogue require new competencies of the technology manager.
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''This research aims to address a post-earthquake urgent strengthening measure to enhance the residual seismic capacity of earthquake-damaged reinforced concrete wall structures with coupling beams. The study consists of a series of tests on half-scale prototype coupling beams with various detailing options, including confined with reduced confinement, partially confined, and unconfined bundles, under cyclic loading conditions. The methodology employed involved subjecting the specimens to displacement-controlled reversal tests, and carefully monitoring their response using strain gauges and potentiometers. The main results obtained reveal that GFRP wrapping significantly enhances the seismic performance of earthquake-damaged coupling beams, even in cases where specimens experienced strength loss and main reinforcement rupture. The strengthened beams exhibit commendable ductility, maintaining high levels of deformation capacity, and satisfying the requirements of relevant seismic design codes. The significance of the study lies in providing valuable insights into the behavior and performance of damaged coupling beams and assessing the effectiveness of GFRP wrapping as a rapid and practical post-earthquake strengthening technique. The findings can be particularly useful for developing urgent post-earthquake strengthening strategies for high-rise buildings with structural walls. The method may be particularly useful for mitigating potential further damage in aftershocks and eventual collapse. In conclusion, this study represents a significant advancement in understanding the post-earthquake behaviors of coupling beams and provides valuable guidance for practitioners in making informed decisions regarding post-earthquake strengthening projects. The findings contribute to the overall safety and resilience of structures in earthquake-prone regions.''
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