Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for incubating business ideas in rural communities in Portugal. The work provides an example of a bottom-up approach to rural entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach: The paper analyses case study of an entrepreneurial support organisation conceived and used in rural European regions and aiming at local development through entrepreneurial boost. Findings: Although the methodology for incubating business ideas was adapted from a similar situation in France, its originality comes from the description of how the awareness of local specificities requires a calibration of the framework. Research limitations/implications: The case study is the outcome of a pioneering study of incubation of business ideas in rural areas. Further research needs to be taken in order to claim generalisability of these findings to other less favoured target groups. Practical implications: The incubation of business ideas can be used to encourage local development in declining rural regions. It is important to calibrate the framework used to the local/regional reality. Originality/value: Apart from being innovative in providing a supportive entrepreneurial infrastructure with mentoring people-based support in the creation of new firms in rural areas, it is also a nation-wide entrepreneurial service innovation. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Abstract
Purpose - The main purpose of the paper is to provide an example of a bottom-up approach to entrepreneurial policy and its mismatch with the top-down approach SMEs policy. Design/methodology/approach - The paper analyses a case study of an entrepreneurial support organisation that addresses local development in rural areas. Findings - The paper highlights the important role of innovation in rural areas and the need to close the gap between entrepreneurial policy and SMEs policy. Research limitations/implications - The main limitation stems from the fact that it is the outcome of a single case study. One practical implication is that the incubation of business ideas poses a challenge when there is a mismatch between entrepreneurial policy and SMEs policy.

Abstract
The methodology was based on qualitative data gathered from three case studies and collected from semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted in the three municipalities. These, in turn, were selected from the participants in the Simplex program. This chapter highlights the role of national programs in the transfer of knowledge to the local municipalities as well as its importance in the development of their knowledge absorption capabilities.

Abstract
The Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED), a process-based innovation originally published in the mid 1980s, involves the separation and conversion of internal setup operations into external ones. Although very important in increasing productivity SMED experiences are not very widespread in Ibero-America. Accordingly, this article has as its main objective to contribute to the literature addressing this less studied topic: SMED. A case study was put forward emphasizing a process-based view. The main finding is that by implementing SMED techniques the firm managed to eliminate w astefulness and non - added value activities worth around 360000 €, which is about 2% of the firm's sales volume. © Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Facultad de Economía y Negocios.

Abstract

Abstract
The main purpose of this article is twofold to analyze: (a) the long-term relation among the commodities prices and between spot electricity market price and commodity prices, and (b) the short-term dynamics among commodity prices and between electricity prices and commodity prices. Data between 2002 and 2005 from the Spanish electricity market was used. Econometric methods were used in the analysis of the commodity spot price, namely the vector autoregression model, the vector error correction model and the granger causality test. The co-integration approach was used to analyze the long-term relationship between the common stochastic trends of four fossil fuel prices. One of the findings in the long-term relation is that the prices of fuel and the prices of Brent are intertwined, though the prices of Brent ten to "move" to reestablish the price equilibrium. Another finding is that the price of electricity is explained by the evolution of the natural gas series.