For the development process in the rapidly growing economies, knowledge transfer and technology cooperation are becoming important issues. Research and technological competences are key indicators for the absorptive c...For the development process in the rapidly growing economies, knowledge transfer and technology cooperation are becoming important issues. Research and technological competences are key indicators for the absorptive capacity of sustainability technologies and for the ability to export them. These issues are analyzed empirically for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Sustainability related research in BRICS is mostly carried out within broader, more sector oriented programmes. Specialization patterns of international patents and in foreign trade indicate various strengths and weaknesses of the BRICS countries. The differences within the countries imply that the analysis must proceed at a technology specific level. China has considerable capabilities in technologies such as photovoltaics, solar thermal or buildings. There is a strong need for strategic positioning of the countries and for coordination of the various policy fields involved.展开更多
On February 22,2011, Christchurch in New Zealand experienced a magnitude 6.3 earthquake which devastated many of the buildings in the city, especially those made of masonry construction. Janus Facades was asked to ins...On February 22,2011, Christchurch in New Zealand experienced a magnitude 6.3 earthquake which devastated many of the buildings in the city, especially those made of masonry construction. Janus Facades was asked to inspect the facade of a fourteen storey building which had a curtainwall-clad tower and granite and tile cladding on the three storey podium. The unitised curtainwall was not well designed. It did not have adequately sized joints in accordance with industry standards to absorb seismic effects and it was never really weathertight. Most of the damage to the curtainwall was caused by the damaged structure. Damage to the structure and internal fittings was also observed.展开更多
Multilateral energy cooperation among BRICS countries remains largely at the stage of initiatives with few substantial actions that have been taken so far. Three main reasons can account for it. One is a contending co...Multilateral energy cooperation among BRICS countries remains largely at the stage of initiatives with few substantial actions that have been taken so far. Three main reasons can account for it. One is a contending concern of energy security that constrains energy cooperation between energy producing countries and energy consuming countries. The second is energy diplomacy with self-help logic as the main principle, which discourages BRICS countries from taking collective actions to secure their energy security. The third one is the international energy system that conditions BRICS countries to participate in the international energy cooperation. As a result, multilateral energy cooperation is of secondary importance in the agenda of BRICS countries, and the degree of their involvement in global energy cooperation is relatively low.展开更多
The emergence of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa （the BRICS） poses important challenges to social scientists in these five countries. Increasing contact among the BRICS countries is resulting in greate...The emergence of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa （the BRICS） poses important challenges to social scientists in these five countries. Increasing contact among the BRICS countries is resulting in greater awareness of differences. Conflicts among them are inevitable. This paper focuses upon the relations between social actors from the BRICS countries, and is written from a Brazilian perspective. After a brief examination of the BRICS concept and a review of some contemporary challenges to sociological research and visions of globalisation, the paper will examine three distinct dimensions of relations between BRICS partners in a globalising world： supra-national organisation, economic and cultural exchanges（ Wieviorka 2008 ）. The key assumption of this paper is that it is necessary to build research agenda that can help develop sociological knowledge and provide a basis for building mutual understanding of the diverse forms of social interaction produced when actors from these countries enter into contact with each other. For example, increasingly cultural content produced in each of the BRICS is transmitted to others, the study of how such content is received and incorporated into the world views of different categories of receivers, especially youth, appears as a fertile area for study. The analysis of emergent conflicts is also an area to which sociological analysis can make an important contribution. As the BRICS develop, meaningful dialogue becomes both a value and a necessity. The aim of the paper is to structure a research agenda for the new times.展开更多
文摘For the development process in the rapidly growing economies, knowledge transfer and technology cooperation are becoming important issues. Research and technological competences are key indicators for the absorptive capacity of sustainability technologies and for the ability to export them. These issues are analyzed empirically for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Sustainability related research in BRICS is mostly carried out within broader, more sector oriented programmes. Specialization patterns of international patents and in foreign trade indicate various strengths and weaknesses of the BRICS countries. The differences within the countries imply that the analysis must proceed at a technology specific level. China has considerable capabilities in technologies such as photovoltaics, solar thermal or buildings. There is a strong need for strategic positioning of the countries and for coordination of the various policy fields involved.
文摘On February 22,2011, Christchurch in New Zealand experienced a magnitude 6.3 earthquake which devastated many of the buildings in the city, especially those made of masonry construction. Janus Facades was asked to inspect the facade of a fourteen storey building which had a curtainwall-clad tower and granite and tile cladding on the three storey podium. The unitised curtainwall was not well designed. It did not have adequately sized joints in accordance with industry standards to absorb seismic effects and it was never really weathertight. Most of the damage to the curtainwall was caused by the damaged structure. Damage to the structure and internal fittings was also observed.
文摘Multilateral energy cooperation among BRICS countries remains largely at the stage of initiatives with few substantial actions that have been taken so far. Three main reasons can account for it. One is a contending concern of energy security that constrains energy cooperation between energy producing countries and energy consuming countries. The second is energy diplomacy with self-help logic as the main principle, which discourages BRICS countries from taking collective actions to secure their energy security. The third one is the international energy system that conditions BRICS countries to participate in the international energy cooperation. As a result, multilateral energy cooperation is of secondary importance in the agenda of BRICS countries, and the degree of their involvement in global energy cooperation is relatively low.
文摘The emergence of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa （the BRICS） poses important challenges to social scientists in these five countries. Increasing contact among the BRICS countries is resulting in greater awareness of differences. Conflicts among them are inevitable. This paper focuses upon the relations between social actors from the BRICS countries, and is written from a Brazilian perspective. After a brief examination of the BRICS concept and a review of some contemporary challenges to sociological research and visions of globalisation, the paper will examine three distinct dimensions of relations between BRICS partners in a globalising world： supra-national organisation, economic and cultural exchanges（ Wieviorka 2008 ）. The key assumption of this paper is that it is necessary to build research agenda that can help develop sociological knowledge and provide a basis for building mutual understanding of the diverse forms of social interaction produced when actors from these countries enter into contact with each other. For example, increasingly cultural content produced in each of the BRICS is transmitted to others, the study of how such content is received and incorporated into the world views of different categories of receivers, especially youth, appears as a fertile area for study. The analysis of emergent conflicts is also an area to which sociological analysis can make an important contribution. As the BRICS develop, meaningful dialogue becomes both a value and a necessity. The aim of the paper is to structure a research agenda for the new times.
