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Digital technologies are considered as factors that accelerate the pace of innovation and increase the firm’s innovation performance. However, few studies have investigated whether this claim is conditioned by other elements that contribute to innovation. Furthermore, firms increasingly rely on external knowledge sources to expand their internal knowledge base for the development of innovations. In this context, absorptive capacity can be considered as an essential organizational capability to embrace adoption of digital technologies and enhance their positive effect on innovation performance. This paper builds on this discussion and studies the contribution of digital capacity on innovation performance, proposing the mediating role of absorptive capacity in the context of the digital transformation. It uses evidence from an extensive Greek survey in 1014 manufacturing firms and analyzes the complex relationships underlying the role of digital transformation to innovation. The contribution of the paper is two-fold: (i) it provides a deeper insight into the underlying mechanisms through which firms can leverage their digital capacity to accelerate innovation, and (ii) it highlights the important mediating role of absorptive capacity in enhancing the positive effects of digitalization indicating that digital capacity is not an unquestionable asset for innovation performance. Accordingly, our results show a positive direct contribution of digital capacity to innovation performance, which is enhanced in the presence of absorptive capacity as a mediator. In fact, the indirect effect of digital capacity to innovation performance through absorptive capacity is stronger. These findings present important policy implications, as there is need for improvement in other innovation-related aspects of the business ecosystem to efficiently address the challenge of digital transformation, such as R&D efforts, training, interaction among actors, and building of communities of practice.

As more economies are transitioning away from fossil fuels for their electricity production and towards greener alternatives, many socioeconomic implications of this shift remain actively debated. The present paper attempts to assess the economic impact of investments in renewable energy sources (RESs) for Greece and whether the broader effects of this transition can offset the negative impact that will occur due to the targeted phase-out of lignite plants by 2028, which constitute the predominant power source for Greece. Our methodological approach builds on input–output analysis and the creation of composite RES industries for the estimation of the net effects of a series of monetary shocks that correspond to Greece’s phase-out investment plan, utilizing the most recent national input–output tables and satellite structural business statistics. We focus on the structural effects of these shocks on a series of socioeconomic indicators, including GDP, employment, wages, government income (through taxes), and capital formation. The results indicate that even though lignite power production still provides a significant contribution to the Greek economy, investing in renewables presents a significant opportunity for value added and job creation.

This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the effects of climate change on Greek agriculture, by evaluating and refining the current policy measures and interventions to address them through the lens and funding opportunities of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023–2027. To this end, we conducted a diagnostic analysis of the current strategic framework in Greece and provided policy recommendations around five key areas: education, consulting services, agri-food cooperation, coupling of innovation, and digitalization, as well as risk management on climate change. Overall, we found that the national strategic framework is consistent with the objectives and priorities of European policies regarding the environment and the climate, but targeted actions are needed to enable the management of the Greek agricultural sector while addressing the risks of climate change, environmental degradation, and the excessive use of natural resources. The findings highlight the importance of much-needed revisions in national strategic planning. We have suggested key interventions and actions for dealing with climate change with regards to Greek agriculture and the overarching goals of the new CAP to promote sustainability, knowledge, and innovation in the agri-food sector.

This study explores the feasibility parameters of a potential investment plan for injecting “green” hydrogen into the existing natural gas supply network in Greece. To this end, a preliminary profitability optimization analysis was conducted through key performance indicators such as the cost of hydrogen and the socio-environmental benefit of carbon savings, followed by break-even and sensitivity analyses. The identification of the major impact drivers of the assessment was based on the examination of a set of operational scenarios of varying hydrogen and natural gas flow rates. The results show that high natural gas capacities with a 5% hydrogen content by volume are the optimal case in terms of socio-economic viability, but the overall profitability is too sensitive to hydrogen pricing, rendering it unfeasible without additional motives, measures and pricing strategies. The results feed into the main challenge of implementing commercial “green” hydrogen infrastructures in the market in a sustainable and feasible manner.

The scope of this paper is to provide empirical evidence regarding intangible inputs, global value chains (GVCs) participation and their linkage with exports in the EU and the UK, utilizing data from WIOD and the newly constructed GLOBALINTO Input-Output Intangibles Database for the period 2000-2014. GVC participation metrics are calculated based on a production-based decomposition framework and include backward and forward participation indices. Intangible inputs follow a breakdown by origin into domestic and imported intangible inputs. Our empirical results suggest that GVC participation (both backward and forward) is a significant driver for exports and highlight the importance of intangibles' origin in the exporting activities of the EU economies, especially in the case of the non-Euro Area economies.

Background Robotic liver surgery is a novel technique expanding the field of minimally invasive approaches. An increasing number of studies assess the outcomes of robotic liver resections (RLR). The aim of our meta-analysis is to provide an up-to-date comparison of RLR versus open liver resections (OLR), evaluating its safety and efficacy. Materials and Methods A systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Clinicaltrials.gov for articles published from January 2000 until January 2022 was undertaken. Results Thirteen non-randomized retrospective and one prospective clinical study enlisting 1801 patients met our inclusion criteria, with 640 patients undergoing RLR and 1161 undergoing OLR. RLR resulted in significantly lower overall morbidity (p < 0.001), shorter length of hospital stay (p = 0.002), and less intraoperative blood loss (p < 0.001). Operative time was found to be significantly higher in the RLR group (p < 0.001). Blood transfusion requirements, R0 resection, and mortality rates presented no difference among the two groups. The cumulative rate of conversion was 5% in the RLR group. Conclusion The increasing experience in the implementation of the robot will undoubtedly generate more prospective randomized studies, necessary to assess its potential superiority over the traditional open approach, in a variety of hepatic lesions.

Simultaneous resections of primary colorectal cancer (CRC) and synchronous colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) have emerged as safe and efficient procedures for selected patients. Besides the traditional open approach for simultaneous resections, similar outcomes have been reported for minimally invasive approaches. Over the past years, a number of studies have sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of simultaneous robotic-assisted resections (SRAR) for patients with synchronous CRC and CRLM. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the safety, technical feasibility and outcomes of SRAR of the primary CRC and CRLM. A comprehensive review of the literature was undertaken. Nine studies comprising a total of 29 patients (16 males) who underwent SRAR were considered eligible for inclusion. The primary tumor site was the rectum in 22 (76%) patients and the colon in 7 (24%) patients. A minor liver resection was performed in the majority of the cases ( n  = 24; 82%). The median operative time and estimated blood loss were 399.5 min (range 300–682) and 274 ml (range 10–780 ml), respectively. No cases of conversion to open were reported. The median LOS was 7 days (range 2–28 days). All patients reportedly underwent R0 resection. Overall and major morbidity rates were 38% and 7%, respectively, while no perioperative deaths were reported. Despite the limited number of studies, SRAR seems to be a safe and efficient minimally invasive approach for highly selected patients always implemented in the context of multidisciplinary patient management.

Tumor recurrence complicates more than half of patients at 5 years after primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection. Repeat open liver resection (ROLR) is the standard procedure for patients eligible for repeat resection, whereas laparoscopic repeat liver resection (RLLR) has been proposed as an alternative approach. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate studies reporting on outcomes of RLLR for recurrent HCC (rHCC). A comprehensive search of the literature was undertaken. A total of 11 studies, 6 non-comparative and 5 comparative (RLLR versus ROLR), which reported outcomes for 165 patients who underwent RLLR, were included in our review. RLLRs were associated with reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stay, lower conversion to ROLR and lower morbidity rates. Selected patients with rHCC who undergo RLLR, benefit in terms of short-term outcomes. Larger prospective trials will elucidate the impact of RLLR on long-term outcomes and establish treatment guidelines.

Background Studies dealing with laparoscopic colectomy for cancer have reached conflicting results in regards to various inflammatory cytokines. Most of them have not examined potential differences with the open procedures at later postoperative days, when the immunologic advantage of laparoscopic surgery would be more demanding to demonstrate (for earlier administration of adjuvant treatment). The aim of this work is to detect differences of proinflammatory cytokines between conventional and laparoscopic colectomy for cancer. Patients and methods 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy were age, sex, and preoperative stage-matched with 30 patients treated by open surgery. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1, -6, and -8, and interferon (IFN)-γ serum levels were measured preoperatively, at 24 h, and at the 7th postoperative day (POD). Results CRP and IL-6 postoperative values (24 h and 7th POD) were significantly higher than baseline for both groups ( p  = 0.001), but the respective values at the 7th POD were less than at 24 h ( p  = 0.001). IL-1 and -8 levels did not show any differences between assessment timepoints. A higher IFN-γ measurement was demonstrated at 24 h compared with baseline for the laparoscopic group only ( p  = 0.03). This difference was not maintained at the 7th POD. IFN-γ levels at 24 h and the 7th POD were significantly less for the open compared with the laparoscopic group of patients ( p  = 0.001). No correlation was revealed between measured serum values and age, sex, tumor location, or stage. Conclusions This matched case–control study verifies the already reported lack of differences regarding IL-1. Controversy still exists on likely IL-6 differences. The inadequately studied IL-8 does not seem to play an important role in immunologic differences. The immunologically beneficial IFN-γ, produced by the principal effectors of cell-mediated immunity Th1 cells, seems to have a more active presence following laparoscopic colectomy, potentially contributing to an immunologic “advantage” by counteracting “harmful” cytokines, such as IL-1.

Infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is affecting about 3% of the world's population, leading to liver damage, end-stage liver disease, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma, being thus the first indication for liver transplantation in the USA. Apart from the cirrhotic-liver-derived clinical signs and symptoms several conditions with immunological origin can also arise, such as, glomerulonephritis, pulmonary fibrosis, and thrombocytopenia. HCV-related autoimmune thrombocytopenia shows specific pathogenetic characteristics as well as symptoms and signs that differ in severity and frequency from symptoms in patients that are not HCV infected. Aim of this short paper is to estimate the epidemiological characteristics of the disease, to investigate the pathogenesis and clinical manifestation, and to propose treatment strategies according to the pertinent literature.