Microstructure and superconducting properties of single grains of Y-Ba-Cu-O containing Y-2411(M) and Y2O3

Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) single grains have the potential to generate large trapped magnetic fields for engineering applications, and research on the processing and properties of this material has attracted interest world-wide over the past 20 years. In particular, the introduction of flux pinning centers to the large grain microstructure to improve its current density Jc, and hence trapped field, has been investigated extensively. Y2Ba 4CuMO2 [Y-2411(M)], where M = Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Ru, Zr, Bi and Ag, has been discovered recently to form very effective flux pinning centers due primarily to its ability to form nano-size inclusions in the superconducting phase matrix. However, the addition of the Y-2411(M) phase to the precursor composition complicates the melt-processing of single grains. The addition of Y2O3 to the precursor composition, however, broadens the growth window of single YBCO grains containing Y-2411 (M). We report an investigation of the microstructures and superconducting properties of single grains of this composition grown by top seeded melt growth (TSMG). © 2010 IEEE.

Idea Competitions under scrutiny: Acquisition, intelligence or public relations mechanism?

Idea Competitions (ICs) are becoming a popular mechanism chosen by firms to perform Open Innovation. They are a way to engage with external sources of knowledge such as individual entrepreneurs and small firms who are asked to submit ideas and compete for a prize. However, little is known about the success of ICs as acquisition mechanisms. The researchers conducted interviews in five multinational companies to evaluate the effects of using ICs as an acquisition mechanism. Although still preliminary, the results of this study show that the success of ICs as an acquisition mechanism remains uncertain because their output (i.e. the number of ideas acquired) is often low compared to the input (i.e. the number of ideas submitted) and effort required to run them (e.g. to vet ideas). Across the cases observed, ICs appear to be more successful at identifying and acquiring early-stage ideas, particularly those outside the current business focus. The study shows that ICs deliver other functional benefits such as improved intelligence and public relations and that these need to be considered as part of the evaluation of the IC's success. The paper concludes by discussing the conditions in which ICs are implemented and the implications for Open Innovation theory. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.