The incidence and death rate of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have increased in recent years, therefore the identification of novel targets for treatment is extremely important. Interactions between cancer and stromal cells are critically involved in tumour formation and development of metastasis. Here we report that PDAC cells secrete BAG3, which binds and activates macrophages, inducing their activation and the secretion of PDAC supporting factors. We also identify IFITM-2 as a BAG3 receptor and show that it signals through PI3K and the p38 MAPK pathways. Finally, we show that the use of an anti-BAG3 antibody results in reduced tumour growth and prevents metastasis formation in three different mouse models. In conclusion, we identify a paracrine loop involved in PDAC growth and metastatic spreading, and show that an anti-BAG3 antibody has therapeutic potential.

In the last years, universities have assumed a prominent role in the science and technology-based economic development. The concept of entrepreneurial university, a key concept in the triple helix model developed by Etzkowitz, identifies the evolution of the university role with the addition to the traditional missions of university (education and research) of a third mission that is to contribute to the economic development through the transfer of research results from the laboratory to the economic system. The objective of the research is to analyze how universities are implementing this new mission and investigate factors affecting their entrepreneurial orientation. More specifically, our paper aims to investigate the existence of a relationship among the entrepreneurial orientation of university and some factors representing the internal and external context in which the university is involved.

COVID‐19 has been the most important pandemic that hit the world in the last century. An overwhelming number of initiatives aimed to save lives and protect humanity came out especially at the beginning of the health crisis, following an outside the box approach to address relevant R&D problems. Digital makers, not surprisingly, have been part of the game. Being masters in using digital technologies for customized products, and being strategically fitted to cope with the imperative to be fast, many of the players on the front line to fight the pandemic have looked at them as the ‘providers next to the door’ able to offer fast solutions to critical problems. Based on these premises and adopting frugal innovation as theoretical base, the aim of the study is to analyze how digital makers have taken part in R&D processes to find solutions to the problems created by an exogenous and unexpected sanitary problem. Through an in‐depth case study, we provide insights on if and how frugal approach to innovation is adapt to cope with the extraordinary pressure coming from event like the COVID‐19. The results of the study highlight the power of connecting frugal innovation principles, agile mindset of makers and open innovation strategies in providing effective solutions on a local scale and eventually exploit their potential global impact. Furthermore, we highlight implications and pathways for future researches.

Humane entrepreneurship (HumEnt) is a new model of entrepreneurship in which the attention that firms have traditionally paid to business is integrated with care for the following: firm members, the planet, and society at large. The goal of this article is to address some preliminary issues to develop a measurement scale to validate firm humane entrepreneurial orientation (HEO). The articles defines HEO beginning with the review of the main literature in terms of its three components: entrepreneurial orientation (EO), sustainable orientation (SO), and humane resource orientation (HRO). The article thereby makes some contributions with regard to how and at which organizational level the components of HEO can be measured.