Papeles de Europa

Sustainability in spanish energy companies. A proposal for indicators beyond taxonomy

Lorena Pérez-Alfonso, Clara Fuster-Navarro, María Pallarés-Renau — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyzes the sustainability of the main energy companies in the IBEX 35: Acciona, Endesa, and Iberdrola. Through a qualitative analysis of the 2023 Non-Financial Information Statements, their commitment to sustainability is examined beyond the local Environmental Taxonomy Regulation by identifying new indicators. It is concluded that the main predictors are: a Long-term Action Plan or Strategy; activities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals; Double Materiality; policies and analysis of environmental, social, and governance factors; reporting information on the company's sustainable financing; and certificates that verify the reported information.

Bibliometric Exploration of Trends in the Digital Economy, E-Commerce, and ICT (2015-2025)

Fanny Narcisa Cabrera Barbecho, Cipriano Quirós Romero — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The digital economy, e-commerce, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have profoundly reshaped business models and socioeconomic interactions over the last decade. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 135 publications indexed in Scopus (2015–2025) using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer. Results reveal sustained growth in scientific interest and a strong regional concentration of academic production. The ICT–innovation–productivity triad is consolidated as the dominant conceptual axis, with emerging lines focusing on sustainable digital transformation. Future research priorities include accurately measuring the impact of digitisation on sectoral productivity, assessing e-commerce supply chain sustainability, and designing digital well-being indicators adapted to low- and middle-income contexts.

Varios Autores, Experiencias, ilusiones y recuerdos. Economistas 1974 Somosaguas, Cuenta Atrás, Madrid, 2024, pp 359.

Carlos Berzosa Alonso-Martínez — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introducción. La innovación como eje de la transformación económica global: actores, políticas y trayectorias tecnológicas

Cipriano Quirós — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

La innovación es sin duda un elemento estructural de la transformación económica y social contemporánea, configurando nuevas dinámicas de competitividad, producción y organización en un contexto marcado por la aceleración del cambio tecnológico y la creciente interdependencia global. Al mismo tiempo, la innovación se manifiesta como un fenómeno complejo y multidimensional, en el que convergen distintos elementos: empresas, instituciones públicas, marcos regulatorios, infraestructuras tecnológicas y mercados de consumo.

Los seis artículos que conforman este monográfico de la revista de Papeles de Europa, abordan la innovación desde perspectivas complementarias. En conjunto, ofrecen una visión integrada de cómo ésta se articula desde distintos ámbitos y cómo ello condiciona las oportunidades y limitaciones de las economías en un entorno global cada vez más interdependiente.

Digitization strategies in Argentine MSMEs: Is the level of commitment associated with digital maturity?

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study analyzes the commitment of Argentine MSMEs to the digitization strategy in a context of accelerated technological transformation. Using data from the Ibero-American Observatory of MSMEs (2022), an indicator is constructed that measures this commitment and its relationship with digital maturity, sector, and business size. The results reveal structural gaps and sectoral differences, as well as the influence of leadership and strategic planning on technology adoption. Useful evidence is provided for designing policies and programs that strengthen the digital capabilities and sustainable competitiveness of the MSME sector.

The diffusion window in artificial intelligence: global dynamics and prospects for Europe

Federico Pablo-Martí, Jagoda Kaszowska-Mojsa, Juan Luis Santos — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In recent years, the “diffusion window” between the launch of advanced private artificial intelligence models and public access to open alternatives has noticeably shortened. Examples such as GPT-3 and BLOOM, or more recently LLaMA-4 and GPT-4.1, illustrate this acceleration, driven by lower computational costs, the rise of open communities, and strategic business decisions. Europe leads in open models, although it remains dependent on advanced hardware. The European AI Act could promote transparency and security, allowing the region to consolidate a model of open strategic autonomy and define its digital future.

Techno-Globalism and the EU Framework Programmes: evidence from multinational parent companies and subsidiaries

Vanesa Calvo Alonso, Juan Francisco Reyes Sánchez, Gustavo Morales-Alonso — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the participation of European multinational corporations (MNCs) in EU Framework Programs (FPs) using project-level data retrieved from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, Horizon Dashboard, and CORDIS. The research analyzes the collaboration networks formed by parent companies and their subsidiaries through participation indicators and network analysis, exploring patterns of engagement, centrality, and the role of subsidiaries in local and global knowledge exchange. Results show that MNCs widely use FPs to access strategic knowledge and technology rather than funding, with parent companies concentrated in central Europe and subsidiaries enabling the geographic dispersion of R&D activities. Network analysis reveals a collaborative structure with low density but high cohesion, consistent with a “small world” phenomenon. Subsidiaries are highly connected locally, while parent companies lead in intermediating collaborations. Internal collaboration between parent and subsidiary does not significantly affect network centrality. These findings advance understanding of technological globalization, the role of MNCs in public R&D networks and provide a replicable framework for analyzing corporate collaboration dynamics.

Deep-black is the new green: Europe-India Innovation Pathways in Laser Systems for Space-Debris Reduction

Andrea Carrera, Thomas Baumert — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The expansion of the new space economy has amplified the threat posed by orbital debris. This article maps the global value chains (GVCs) behind Europe’s laser-based technologies for debris detection and mitigation, focusing on European Space Agency (ESA) and private sector systems. The analysis highlights Europe’s dependence on semiconductor-based laser components. The article also examines the strategic potential of cooperation between ESA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the fight against space debris. India’s strengths in software development, systems integration, and cost-effective innovation complement Europe’s hardware capabilities. The study concludes that strengthened ESA-ISRO collaboration could enhance debris-mitigation capacities while reinforcing the resilience of GVCs supporting laser-ranging technologies.

FDI, Technology, and Upgrading: Rethinking Innovation Policy in Latin America

Franklin Moya, Katherin Pinzón — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI), digitalization and global value chains (GVCs) has traditionally been understood as an interdependent process. This paper proposes a development pathway for Latin America based on FDI that enables knowledge transfer and strengthens local technological capabilities, aiming to overcome dependency dynamics. This approach may foster a more productive integration into GVCs by leveraging the window of opportunity created by new digital technologies. The paper also explores key elements for innovation policy, emphasizing access to and use of digital technologies as critical factors for productivity and upgrading.

Innovation in retail marketing: sensory experience and its influence on women's footwear purchase decisions

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The main objective of this study was to identify the predominant elements influencing the purchasing decision-making process in a footwear retail setting, considering physical product attributes (design, color, price, and brand), the commercial environment (lighting and music), and customer service (quality of service provided). A quantitative, descriptive-level approach was employed, using cross-sectional data analysis. Data were collected through a survey administered to 59 randomly selected women, all aged 35 or older, who had made purchases at the store. The information was processed using descriptive statistics. The main findings indicated that 56% of respondents prioritized footwear design, while environmental and service-related elements such as lighting (84%), music (75%), and customer service (81%) significantly contributed to the decision-making process. The study confirmed that additional experiential elements related to customer service play a pivotal role in shaping purchasing decisions, with design emerging as the most salient factor when selecting footwear.