INNOVATION
The 'Industrial Dynamics' network facilitating knowledge transfer |
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Rationale and objectivesThe region of Western Sweden is characterised by manufacturing and engineering industry, particularly in the automotive sector. Despite the presence of large corporations, the regional economy is driven by SMEs.A study conducted in 2001 revealed that companies' access to R&D organisations was difficult and time-consuming, not least due to the large number of organisations claiming to offer SME support. In addition, there were large discrepancies between university towns and sparsely populated rural areas, where contacts with R&D facilities were very rare. Subsequent studies showed that regional companies were less innovative than their counterparts in comparable regions. Moreover, downsizing, restructuring and off-shoring has led to a shrinking number of industrial jobs over the past decade. In order to address these challenges, the region put in place the Industrial Dynamics (ID) network. Its main aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized industrial firms, particularly in less favoured areas, by providing the companies with easy access to top-class knowledge from researchers and consultants and by fostering collaboration and coordination of activities between the SME support actors of the regional innovation system. Key activitiesThe main activities of the ID network are to identify and proactively visit companies in order to audit their innovation needs, opportunities, technologies, etc. After identifying needs, the network helps companies to initiate product and process development projects. The initial contacts are free of charge, while the subsequent projects are fully funded by the companies themselves unless they have access to other funding sources.The ID network brings together four university colleges, five applied research institutes and three regional development organisations. All innovation advisors working in the Network have solid industrial backgrounds, often with relevant areas of expertise for SME clients, and are intimately familiar with the competencies and capabilities of the other members in the network. Therefore, they are able to assign the right resource to any task that might be defined during a company audit. The advisors are able to address problems immediately with concrete, hands-on measures. In addition, innovation advisors will be assigned to the same company for an extended time, meaning that familiarity and trust can be built. Many of the firms audited in the project have little experience of contract research or consultancies. The project provides the means for an expert to spend some time on a preliminary study or solving a small problem, which helps to overcome the threshold for companies to access external competence. Client firms need to know that their advisor will be available for a foreseeable time, and not disappear due to some project related whim. The ID network is therefore running on a long-term basis. The bureaucracy for participating companies is kept to a minimum. Funding informationThe project is financed by the Västra Götaland Regional Council. The annual budget is around € 600,000.
OutcomesThe database of the ID network currently includes 750 companies. Approximately 500 companies are contacted annually. Approximately 300 visits/audits are carried out per year, and over 60 development project initiated. 12 organisations are members of the network, occupying about 12 innovation advisors who regularly visit client companies.The ID network has been evaluated by an independent auditor who yielded a 'Top European Class' verdict. The system is suitable for regions where high-class support is needed even outside of university cities and excellent for fostering collaboration between research and support actors in a region. The ID network is an island of co-operation in what is still a sea of many uncoordinated schemes and organisations for SME support. One of the network’s aims is to extend the area of collaboration to other organisations and projects to further increase the efficiency of the regional innovation system.
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The 'Industrial Dynamics' network brings together experienced innovation advisers from university colleges, applied resaerch institutes and regional development organisations. Using a proactive, flexible approach guided by actual company needs, the network supports the identification and launching of product and process development projects in SMEs. 
