Technology Entrepreneurship 4:00 - 5:30pm Thursday, 14th November, 2019 Locomotion 3 Technology Entrepreneurship

237 Re-examination of Strategic Innovation Networks in context of Technological Entrepreneurship/Innovation in 2019

Martin Beckinsale De Montfort University, Liecester, United Kingdom

Abstract

Topic Re-examination of Strategic Innovation Networks in context of Technological Entrepreneurship/Innovation in 2019

Hansen et al. (2011) suggests ‘Social media tools cultivate the internal discussions that improve quality, lower costs, and enable the creation of customer and partner communities that offer new opportunities for coordination, marketing, advertising, and customer support. The paper contends innovation should be added to this and suggested by Beckinsale (2017).

It is the importance of the networks, their connections, their value, their availability and the awareness of them that can play a significant role in innovation amongst small firms and technological entrepreneurial firms. Hansen et al (2011: 4) contends that it is the information contained in networks that has significant business value by exposing participants in the business network who play critical and unique roles’ In the innovation literature internal and external networks have been viewed as critical to the innovation process (Boddy, 2014). Social media adds a complexity to networks not addressed in the innovation literature. Adding multiplicity to social networks and potentially creating multiple networks depending on decisions made including the use of social media.

Applicability to the conference theme – ‘SPACE – exploring new frontiers and entrepreneurial places’ The paper is relevant to Innovation and with the social networks connection innovative communities as well as using new technologies for Entrepreneurial aspirations.

Aim In the context of 2019 and developments in social media for business/commerce and potential value in supporting networks in an Open Innovation environment the paper aims to re-examine the social networking innovation literature and conceptually considers its value and development in the rise and use of social media for innovation.

Methodology In response to the topic an aim and the focus on social media use and activities the primary strategy for data collection is observation. The research takes an online ethnographic approach. Observations of case studies social media as well as non online social networks and actor network observation. Therefore, observing and recording online and offline case actions and behaviour (Collis and Hussey, 2014: 148). The non-participant observation will be undertaken via social media technologies used by the case studies. Some of the activities and meta-data will be analysed using a variety of online tools (example: simplymeasured.com) as well as social actor network theory and innovation literature themes (table below provides indicators). Durkin et al.’s (2013: 724) theoretical model of social media adoption and use provides the framework of observation and assist in the conceptual framework development.

Conceptual Development Example of Themes Review of social network and actor network theory. Themes related to actors, stakeholders, innovation and network variables. Review of Innovation and Open Innovation literature focusing on themes of networks, networking, Contribution As the pace of change in our world has increased, competitive advantages have become temporary. Companies, entrepreneurs now need to be able to support and nurture innovation - not as one-off projects, but as a repeatable process.

Implications for practice, if applicable The focus on the paper in on practice and understanding through the development of current theory the practice of entrepreneurial firms. The understanding derived from the research and paper should contribute to how entrepreneurs might wish to think about developing innovative communities online to ensure their business remains innovative.

Conference Track

Technology Entrepreneurship

Presentation

PowerPoint Presentation 69 SMEs and Space Industries

Paul Lewis1, Adrian Jannetta2 1Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. 2INTO Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Abstract

This paper examines the roles that SMEs can undertake in space industries, both now and in the future. The space industries sector is one of the few sectors that have been shown to be resilient during the last recession. The global space economy is currently valued at an estimated £155-£190 billion and it has been estimated that it will grow to £400 billion by 2030. The UK space sector has trebled in size in real terms since 2000. With a turnover of £13.7 billion (2014/15), the UK currently captures between 6.3% and 7.7% of the global market. Productivity is more than four times the UK average, which is a reflection of the high levels of capital investment in the sector. The workforce is also highly skilled, with a much higher proportion of workers being qualified to at least graduate level, compared to the UK active population in general. The Queen’s Speech 2017 to Parliament laid the foundations of the Space Industry Bill, with the intention of making the UK the most attractive place in Europe for commercial space activities, including launches from British soil.

Traditionally space activities have been dominated by a few large organizations. Partly this has been dictated by the cost, due to two factors: 1. The difficulty of lifting a mass out of Earth’s gravity field; 2. For manned missions, the difficulty in providing a reliable human-rated life support system. Space activities were originally the province of national space agencies, but more recently the commercial sector has become involved in areas such as satellites and exploration. Whilst, again, these tended to be large organizations, more recently the size of organization has decreased so that SMEs are now able to get involved, beyond being just a component supplier in the supply chain. In addition, consumer activities such as tourism are now being actively developed.

The space satellite industry, where a satellite is a body placed in an orbit, consists of a variety of functions including satellite operators, service providers, designers, manufacturers, launch services providers, ground equipment suppliers and data analysis. Earth-orbit satellites carry out a range of civil and military tasks such as pollution monitoring, weather forecasting and scientific research, as well as communications and surveillance applications. Satellites also orbit other solar system objects such as the Sun and some planets. In a similar manner, probes are also sent on fly-by missions to planetary bodies, whilst satellites can be used to explore the Universe in general.

Whilst satellite technology is improving, the cost is decreasing. Smaller companies often seek alliances with larger organisations and different parts of a satellite can be produced by different manufacturers. An example of a small producer can be a University research team, some of whom build instrumentation for larger consortia. There is plenty of scope for smaller companies to become involved in different parts of the supply chain, either as an upstream component supplier or downstream service supplier, as well as an OEM running their supply chain. Small companies that can innovate and develop new technologies would be ideally placed to be involved. They would also be well positioned to find new uses for satellite technology.

As satellite size has reduced and they have become lighter, satellite launches are moving away from being the province of the larger organisations. Skyrora, a British company with 120 staff, is currently testing its own rocket, produced using 3D printing. They are also scouting for a launch site, possibly northern Scotland, with an eventual payload capability of 100kg.

Space tourism is defined as travelling into space for recreational purposes. The first space tourist, , bought a seat on a rocket launch to the International in 2001, albeit with a multi-million dollar ticket price. Despite the price tag there have been a few more commercial passengers since then. Consequently there are now a number of companies actively developing commercial space travel. Some are just experience flights, although others are considering habitats in space (, ), whilst another plans to offer trips around the moon (). Whilst many of these ventures may be beyond the capabilities of an SME, depending on how successful they are, they may require support services within the capability of SMEs. These might range from managing the customers, training and space-bound hospitality services.

Other consumer-related commercial ventures suitable for SMEs might be along the lines of Earth to Sky Calculus. This group carries out experiments by sending helium balloons into the stratosphere (the so-called edge of space). As a means of fund-raising, they also send aloft artefacts such as jewellery and other items, which are recovered and sold as having been into space.

Looking to the future, an area just starting to be explored is asteroid exploitation. The asteroids represent debris left over from the formation of the solar system. Since it is believed that they formed from the same protoplanetary disc as the planets, it may be that their chemical structure is not too dissimilar. Hence many elements that we consider to be essential for our industries and in increasingly short supply on Earth, may be available from asteroids. As an example, estimates suggest that there are roughly one to two million asteroids in the solar system that are a kilometre in diameter. Each of these asteroids is projected to weigh roughly two billion tons and contain 30 million tons of nickel, 1.5 million tons of metal cobalt, and 7,500 tons of platinum. Mining asteroids also eliminates the pollution issues prevalent on Earth, although there may be ethical issues involved.

Although the same laws of physics apply in space as on Earth, they can produce different results. Hence energy requirements would no longer be an issue, with a plentiful supply of solar energy available. Using solar energy, it has been suggested that fuel could be manufactured as required, using raw materials obtained from asteroids. Similarly, using concepts such as a Hohmann transfer orbit, which requires a rocket burn at either end of the journey but coasting in between, transportation costs would be greatly reduced. There are other issues, such as the extremes of temperature and the endurance of machines under arduous conditions, but these issues have already been overcome in other long-term missions. The ability to land on remote bodies has also been proven to be possible. Bradford Space (formerly DSI) offer a range of space equipment including microgravity workspaces and propulsion systems, with a workforce of about 75 people.

Asteroid exploration has already commenced. For example Planetary Resources Inc. (formerly Arkyd Astronautics), with about 60 employees, is developing various types of technology to explore asteroids remotely to find water. Water is essential for both life support and fuel. They plan to develop a robotic asteroid mining industry, hence the need for long-term strategic planning.

With commercial organisations increasingly participating in space industries, now may be the time for entrepreneurial SMEs to consider getting involved with this new industrial sector. Whilst the commercial risks involved should not be discounted, it might be considered that the potential rewards outweigh the risks.

Conference Track

Technology Entrepreneurship

Presentation

Full Paper 37 Opportunities in Space for New Commercial Medical Enterprises.

Olga Shimbireva1, Helen Matushevskaya2, Martyn Benson3 1B V Petrovsky Russian National Research Centre of Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation. 2General Computers, Moscow, Russian Federation. 3Bradmarsh Templar Ltd, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Abstract

Opportunities in Space for New Commercial Medical Enterprises.

Topic - as above. The potential opening up of space to fare paying passengers - for round trips - or to significant numbers of people to work in space (on 'space stations' or even on planets), will almost certainly lead to the issue of dealing with medical problems experienced by such individuals. Those problems could occur on voyages taking weeks or months or at the far flung locations already mentioned.

Whilst the advent of helicopter evacuations from cruise ships and from remote locations plus medical rescue flights by chartered aircraft have greatly reduced the health risks to travellers on planet Earth, the same cannot be said for travellers from\to the planet or people located in space. However the availability of modern medical technology - e.g. tele-medicine and robotic surgery could go a long way to reducing those risks. Also the very fact that medical activities would not be taking place at sovereign locations (with their rules and regulations) and despite requiring significant investment, could well present commercial opportunities for enterprising businesses. E.g. reduced gravity or zero gravity environments would present new opportunities.

·Applicability: How is this topic applicable to the Conference theme of: SPACE - exploring new frontiers and entrepreneurial places? The simple answer is that entering space is crossing new frontiers and providing new entrepreneurial places. However, those journeys and locations would bring with them potential medical scenarios that would need to be provided for. It should be remembered that, in the era before swift medical evacuations from cruise ships were possible, the vessels used to carry a doctor as a member of the crew and larger vessels had considerable medical facilities. Putting facilities in place to deal with unexpected medical scenarios would necessarily be needed on long-distance transit vehicles, on 'space stations' or on other planets. For that reason it is a topic worthy of exploration.

·Aim: The aim of the paper is to identify some of the potential commercial medical opportunities and then to explain in more detail about each of them and how, using modern technology, they might be put in place. There are many factors that need to be considered in such complex and ground-breaking scenarios plus of course the risk v reward equation and some ethical considerations. They will be covered in the paper.

·Methodology: As a starting point, the authors - who include an eminent medical practitioner familiar with the use of robotics in medicine - have identified several of the potential medical scenarios that might arise. By way of example: a need for simple to operate portable X-ray equipment is an obvious requirement - generating an enterprise opportunity that currently has the entrant to the market of Adaptix. Adaptix have produced a low cost, portable and cost effective 3D X-ray imaging system that has potential for use in space. Similarly; the new Verbius robotic surgery system would seem to provide opportunities for carrying out surgery in space vehicles, in space-stations and ultimately in bases on other planets. Tele-medicine - as already in terrestial use - obviously has potential use on the same basis. The authors have then reviewed those applications and equipment that could apparently be handled or improved with the use of modern technology. Next they consider what technology it would be feasible to install and use at the locations and the financial implications. The financial implications then drive whether or not it is possible to have system models that would provide commercial opportunities.

Contribution: The contribution of the paper is to provide a greater understanding of : a. the potential medical scenarios that might arise b. what medical technology might be usable in such scenarios c. the commercial opportunities available to medical entrepreneurs

·Implications for policy: The authors believe that in reality the implications for Government policy are relatively limited - as space is an international area - albeit it is very important for Governments to consider the implications for their citizens (as opposed to military personnel) of space travel and residency. However, full awareness of the potential commercial opportunities could influence policy decisions taken by business leaders and investors. Also, due to the potentially punitive effects on businesses of successful medical malpractice or medical negligence claims it is likely that governmental legal officers will need to take an interest in extra-terrestrial medical activities.

·Implications for practice: As yet there is no known existing commercial or enterprising practice in this [space based] sector to review and for which there are implications. All the implications are for future practice - which should be based on a combination of both business and medical ethics plus of course the intention of having effective sustainable businesses.

Conference Track

Business Creation, Early Stage Development and Business Closure

Presentation

Working Paper 326 Entrepreneurial thinking, biomimicry and the design imperative

Michele Rusk1, Pauric McGowan2 1Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom. 2Ulster University, Belfast, United Kingdom

Abstract

Today, the capacity to identify and solve multi-faceted problems and to demonstrate truly innovative attributes is equally in demand from global corporations, charitable foundations and governments. Consequently, entrepreneurship in whatever guise, whether manifest in individuals or as entrepreneurial organizations has become the driver of economic and social change and innovation, altering the future of work, the way organizations are designed, and redefining the dynamics of whole industries. Entrepreneurship is, in essence about more than just starting a business, or developing an existing one or launching a social enterprise; these define contexts for entrepreneurship in practice and approaches to learning that are inappropriately formulaic. We must first see entrepreneurship as a particular mindset; a way of thinking that has its out workings in any of the contexts mentioned. It is also insufficient to speak of the entrepreneur in such absolutist terms that suggests some are and some are not. We have to acknowledge that there are degrees of entrepreneurship and that one can learn to be more entrepreneurial through appropriate education programmes (Rae et al 2014).

Given the changing nature of the economy, the political landscape, and the speed of these changes in societies around the world, there is a need today to leverage a different logic of business decision making that seeks to support the common good while reducing injustice and environmental impact. In this context Entrepreneurial Leadership traits may be key to shaping tomorrow with the imperative to address the growing need for a fresh perspective on innovation competency development and co creation through multifaceted entrepreneurial communities of enquiry, learning and practice. To address these complex challenges new styles of thinking at the intersection of different areas of knowledge; where solutions are to be found in the multidisciplinary mix (Rusk2018). But the question then becomes where do we look for inspiration?

The well spring of inspiration is the grand design of our natural occurring ecologies and systems. Some envision biomimicry to be a societal and economic game changer, turning what is unexplored today into an ecosystem of vibrant, sustainable innovation (Pechstein2015). One only has to gaze upwards in Gaudi's Sagrada Familia to understand the link between nature, design and innovation. One avenue may be to turn our attention to biomimicry. Biomimicry applies lessons from nature to human design problems to unlock new insights for how to develop a more resilient future. “Biomimicry borrows nature’s blueprints, recipes, processes, and ecosystem strategies and then comes up with design principles to solve our own problems.” (Benvus 2014). In the future, we will need to shape and make opportunity amidst social and economic unpredictability. To find new approaches that are creative, innovative and effective. Iincreasingly, leaders are turning to natural design principles and practices to develop creative strategies for socio-economic value creation. Crucially they are espousing the concept of emergence, a central systemic concept from nature, that has long been a core principle of design methodology

Design, as Giorgio Vasari defined it, ‘is the animating principle of all creative processes’ and thus core to building new approaches. The question is, in the current zeitgeist when traditional business models no longer fit our time, how can design principles and practices inspire better forms of entrepreneurial leadership to ignite ambitious developmental innovation’. This paper positions design as a crucial tool for organically growing entrepreneurial ecosystems in the 4th industrial revolution. It draws on iterative design-led innovation methodologies to look at entrepreneurial activity differently, combining entrepreneurial practices with strategic intent as a catalyst for the development of platforms that enable transformative change. In doing so the paper examining the central role of design in creating socio economic value systems that are tangible and sustainable.

The invitation to researchers to draw on the lessons to be learnt from disciplines other than their own is clear and the prospects offer scope for new insights. Indeed, the boundaries between many social sciences for example have become porous and mergeable. The potential for the genesis of new subject areas of research interest may lead to paradigmatic shifts in thinking that while viewed as potential threats to subject purists within particular subject domain is seen by others as a liberation in thinking that is innovative and that demands an innovative response. In this paper the authors reach out to the inherent potential of marrying ideas and principles that lie at core other disciplines and consider their potential at the interface between them to add value to current thinking and can expand our understanding of entrepreneurial thinking and contextual practice.

References

Benyus.J.,Brown,T.Ideas.TED.com https://ideas.ted.com/nature-knows-best-a-biologist-and-a-designer-take- creative-direction-from-the-earths-operating-system/

Pechstein, A. Urban (2015) mobility reloaded: Planning our future cities, The Biomimicry Institute Biomimicry In Design, Blog https://biomimicry.org/urban-mobility-reloaded-planning-future-cities/

Rae, D., Matley, H., McGowan, P. and Penaluna, A. (2014). Freedom or prescription: The case for curriculum guidance in enterprise and entrepreneurship education, The Industry and Higher Education Journal, Vol. 28, (6), December 2014, pp. 387-398

Rusk, M. (2018) Innovation by Design Dynamics Book section ICIE-2018 Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Washington DC. Edited by Dr Denise A. D. Bedford and Dr Elias G. Carayannis - ISBN: 978-1-911218-71-5

Conference Track

Technology Entrepreneurship

Presentation

Full Paper