Andrea Ciccarelli

This paper investigates the long-run relationship between research and de- velopment (R&D) expenditure and patent-based innovative output in Italy, focusing on the role of institutional funding sources and territorial hetero- geneity. Using a dataset considering Italian macro-areas (1995–2022) within a knowledge production function framework, we apply a Panel Autoregres- sive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to estimate cointegrating relationships and short-run dynamics. The principal results show that business R&D expenditure has a significant positive long-run association with patenting ac- tivity. Conversely, both government and higher education R&D expenditures exhibit significant negative long-run coefficients, suggesting institutional mis- alignment and potential crowding-out effects. The analysis of medium-term cycles using the Baxter-King filter reveals that higher education R&D is the most cyclically synchronized component with patents across all regions, highlighting its role as a structural driver with delayed effects. The major conclusion is that the effectiveness of R&D policies depends critically on in- stitutional coordination, the timing of impacts, and regional characteristics. Policies should be redesigned to mitigate crowding-out by targeting early- stage research, recognize heterogeneous temporal dynamics, and account for territorial specificities to strengthen long-term innovation performance.

Literature review discusses the evolution of economic growth theories, particularly the transition from the neoclassical model to endogenous growth theories that emphasize the role of knowledge, ideas, and human capital in increasing productivity and output. Empirical research supports the positive relationship between R&D and productivity growth, with university R&D showing long-term benefits and corporate R&D yielding quicker returns. Moreover, innovation is historically considered the main driver of economic and social development and, above all, investments in R&D are considered essential for enhancing national competitiveness and productivity. This study investigates the impact of patent and research and development (R&D) expenditures by universities and firms on economic growth in Italy, highlighting the mechanisms of innovation propagation and diffusion and contributing to the debate on the differential role of universities versus firms in growth processes. Utilizing a panel data technique, the analysis demonstrates a positive correlation between value added per worker and R&D expenditures per capita. The empirical findings indicate that university R&D expenditures have a higher impact on value added per worker compared to firm R&D expenditures. Gross fixed investments show an immediate but lower impact, while patents significantly influence economic growth after a five-year lag. Notably, the results reveal a time lag in the impact: university R&D investments generally exhibit an immediate effect on economic growth, whereas firms experience positive spillovers on regional growth after some years. The findings suggest that policies supporting technology transfer should strengthen the role of universities in areas with low industrial intensity by enhancing intermediation tools (such as Technology Transfer Offices, incubators, and contamination labs).

Consumers’ perception of the region of origin represents a critical issue for building a valuable and sustainable business in the wine sector. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the region of origin in Italian sparkling wines, comparing consumers’ perception of emerging wines with a designation of origin in regions not traditionally associated with sparkling wine production (Abruzzo and Romagna), with an affirmed brand (Prosecco) and with generic Italian sparkling wine. The three most important markets for Italian sparkling wines (Italy, the USA, and the UK) are considered. The importance of the region of origin is analyzed within a set of wine attributes, including color and sugar content, applying the conjoint analysis technique to simulate realistic market conditions, offering multiple options for wine attributes. There is no cumulative effect of the perception of wines with a Protected Designation of Origin in the three markets since consumers who positively perceive a specific designation do not extend this positive perception to others in comparison with generic sparkling wine. Positive and negative utilities associated with each designation of origin are calculated and used to discriminate consumers according to socio-demographic variables, consumers’ behavior, and attitudes.

Recent investigations have highlighted the controversial role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation in human cutaneous melanoma. Survivin has been proposed as a valid prognostic marker for invasive and metastatic melanomas and lymph node melanoma metastasis in human cutaneous melanoma and is a promising therapeutic target. Our aim was to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of survivin and β-catenin in canine cutaneous melanocytic tumours, in order to understand their prognostic significance. Twenty-one melanocytic tumours (10 melanocytomas and 11 melanomas) were investigated by immunohistochemistry using specific anti-survivin and anti-β-catenin antibodies. A semi-quantitative method was used to analyse the results; β-catenin immunolabelling in neoplastic cells was evaluated as cytoplasmic, membranous or nuclear. The number of survivin-positive cells was counted within ~1000 neoplastic cells. Results were related to histopathological features, evaluated in haematoxylin- and eosin-stained slides, and to the clinical data obtained through a telephone survey with referring veterinarians. Despite a low level of expression in the majority of cases, β-catenin was found to be correlated strongly with malignant behaviour (P < 0.01). An overexpression of nuclear survivin was statistically related to histological features of malignancy, presence of metastasis and death related to melanoma spread (P < 0.01). The low nuclear β-catenin expression, mainly found in metastatic cases, would indicate that β-catenin activation may have only limited importance in the development or progression of canine cutaneous melanoma. The correlation of nuclear survivin expression with malignancy would indicate that survivin is possibly a useful prognostic marker and therapeutic target in canine melanoma patients.

Osteosarcoma (OSA) represents the most common canine primary bone tumour. Despite several pathways have been investigated so far, few molecules have been identified as prognostic tools or potential therapeutic targets, and there is still the need to find out molecular pathways with specific influence over OSA progression to facilitate earlier prognosis and treatment. Aims of the present study were to evaluate the immunohistochemical pattern and levels of expression of a panel of molecules (survivin, β-catenin, caspase 3 -inactive and active forms- and p53) involved in cell cycle and apoptosis regulation in canine OSA samples, known to be of interest in the study also of human OSA, and to detect specific relations among them and with histological tumour grade, disease free interval (DFI) and overall survival (OS). Nuclear β-catenin immunostaining was detected in normal osteoblasts adjacent to the tumour, and in 47% of the cases. Cytoplasmic and/or membranous immunostaining were also observed. Nuclear survivin and p53 positive cells were found in all cases. Moderate/high cytoplasmic β-catenin expression (≥10% positive cells) was significantly associated with the development of metastasis (P = 0.014); moderate/high nuclear p53 expression (≥10% positive cells) was significantly associated with moderate/high histological grade (P = 0.017) and shorter OS (P = 0.049). Moderate/high nuclear survivin expression (≥15% positive cells) showed a tendency toward a longer OS (P = 0,088). The present results confirmed p53 as negative prognostic marker, while suggested survivin as a potential positive prognostic indicator, rather than indicative of a poor prognosis. The detection of nuclear β-catenin immunostaining in normal osteoblasts and the absent/low expression in most of the OSAs, suggested that this pathway could not play a major role in oncogenic transformation of canine osteoblasts. Further studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses.