Digitalization in the Bioeconomy

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures16

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes16

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation18.10.2022

Responsible UnitInstitute of Economics and Finance

Course developer

Ekonomikas un finanšu institūts

Sandija Zēverte-Rivža

Dr. oec.

Course abstract

Students acquire knowledge and understanding of the digitalization and use of digital technologies in bioeconomy sectors. Students learn the stages of economic development and the concept of Industry 4.0; they study the aspects of elaboration of innovative products and processes and their introduction into the market and integration into the enterprise. Students get to know the aspects of intellectual property protection in the field of digitalization. The course provides a comprehensive overview of the digital tools used in the bioeconomy and specific digital solutions applied in the particular sectors of the bioeconomy through identifying advantages and risks for the employment of various digital tools in enterprises of a bioeconomy sector. Students obtain a comprehensive understanding of the introduction of digital tools into a bioeconomy sector and integration of the tools into entrepreneurship.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Students will be able to demonstrate:
KNOWLEDGE of
1. Economic development trends related to digitalization (Discussion, a test).
2. Digitalization processes, trends, technologies and their classification (Group work, a presentation, a test).
3. Application of digitalization technologies in bioeconomy sectors (Group work, a presentation, a study trip).
4. Aspects of intellectual property protection and cyber security in connection with digitalization (Practical assignments).
SKILLS
Professional skills to
1. Identify trends and regularities in the development of the economy and digitalization (Discussions in classes, final group work, and a presentation).
2. Constructively analyse the application of digitalization solutions in bioeconomy companies (Discussions in classes, final group work, and a presentation).
3. Identify the potential of digitalization in companies of the bioeconomy sector (Discussions in classes, final group work, and a presentation).
4. Find practical solutions to problems by using the knowledge acquired during the course (study trip).
Soft skills to
1. Plan their own time for completing the assignments given (Independent and group work).
2. Cooperate with group members in conducting educational research (Group work and final group work).
COMPETENCES to
1. Design a practical strategy and proposals for introduction of digital technologies into a company (group work, a study trip, final work).
2. Assess the benefits and risks of digitalization at the bioeconomy sector and company levels (group work, a study trip, final work).

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures (16 hours)
1. Economic development, the stages and their characteristics, preconditions for modern economic development, Industry 4.0. Digitalization and digital technologies, their classification and applications. Cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality, system integration and traceability. (2 hours)
2. General digitalization trends and the specifics of introduction of digitalization technologies into bioeconomy sectors. Integration of digital technologies into companies. Use of sensors, robots and drones in the bioeconomy. Big data, their collection and analysis and the role of data acquisition in various sectors of the bioeconomy. (4 hours)
3. Preconditions and motivation for development and introduction of innovations, the aspects of protection of intellectual property rights in the field of digitalization. Cyber security, data management and data security. Benefits and risks of digitalization. (2 hours)
4. Digitalization and digitalization solutions in bioeconomy sectors, best practice examples and technological development. Digital technologies in primary production in bioeconomy sectors, analyses of EU and national examples. (4 hours)
5. Digitalization in agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and forestry. Digitalization in food production, food chain integration, food safety and traceability. The role of digitalization in coping with challenges in food production (e.g. traceability of antibiotics or pesticides). (4 hours)
6. Digitalization technologies in other bioeconomy and related sectors (renewable energy production, manufacturing, tourism etc.). Use of digitalization technologies in production and processing chains in bioeconomy sectors. (2 hours)
Practicals (16 hours)
1. Discussions on economic development, factors in development and the stages of development, Industry 4.0 and future economic development. (2 hours)
2. Analyses of examples of digitalization and application of digital technologies in various industries. Group work and a presentation on general digitalization trends in business. (2 hours)
3. Practical work on introduction of digitalization technologies into bioeconomy sectors and the integration of digital technologies into companies. Benefits and risks of digitalization. Analyses and discussions of examples. (1 hour)
4. Digital technologies in the bioeconomy; applications of sensors, robots and drones. Study tour. (2 hours)
5. Practical work on the role of collection and analysis of big data and of data acquisition in various industries of the bioeconomy. (2 hours)
6. Practical work on innovations and protection of intellectual property rights in the field of digitalization. (2 hours)
7. Economic development and digitalization. Multiple choice test. (1 hour)
8. Digitalization in agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and forestry. Digital technologies in primary production in bioeconomy sectors, digitalization in food production, food chain integration, food safety and traceability. The role of digitalization in coping with challenges in food production. Digitalization technologies in other bioeconomy and related sectors. Analyses of EU and national examples, group work and a presentation. (2 hours)
9. Digitalization and digitalization technologies in the bioeconomy and bioeconomy companies. Final work presentations. (2 hours)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The student must pass two multichoice tests, do two pieces of group work and final work.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The student must independently read the recommended literature, as well as partly independently do group work and final work.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final assessment includes the multichoice test (20%), participation in the study trip and the related test (10%), two pieces of group work (20% each) and final work (30%).

Compulsory reading

1. Industry 4.0. Current Status and Future Trends. Red. Edited by J. H. Ortiz. IntechOpen. , London, 2020. 134 p. Pieejams: https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/
20.500.12657/43836/external_content.pdf?sequence=1
2. Park S., Gonzalez-Perez M., Floriani D. The Palgrave Handbook of Corporate Sustainability in the Digital Era. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021. , p. 872 p., ISBN: 978-3-030-42414-5 LLU ESAF Studiju un zinātnes informācijas centrs - Skaits: 1 eks.
3. Koukios E., Sacio-Szymańska A. Bio # Futures: Foreseeing and Exploring the Bioeconomy. Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2021. p. 644 p.ISBN: 978-3-030-64968-5 LLU ESAF Studiju un zinātnes informācijas centrs - Skaits: 1 eks.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Digital Transition, European Comission: Pieejams: https://reform-support.ec.europa.eu/what-we-do/digital-transition_en
2. Dienas Bizness: Pieejams: https://www.db.lv

Notes

Elective course for LBTU bachelor programmes

Atsauksmes