The Innovation booklet ‘100 questions about innovation’ lends Flemish entrepreneurs and company directors a 10 0 helping hand by providing practical information on how to turn a good idea into an innovative product or service. questions This second edition is published by the Science and Innovation Administration in co-operation with IWT- about innovation Vlaanderen. Innovation booklet 100 questions about innovation Up-to-date information and guide The Innovation booklet ‘100 questions about innovation’ is conceived as a practical information booklet and guide for all Flemish entrepre- neurs and company directors who are looking for ways to innovate. One hundred questions and answers provide a good overview with practical information to help you on your way. Since the first edition in 1999, a great deal has changed in the Flemish innovation landscape: new institutes and/or co-operation agreements came about, the Flemish Government put new priorities, outdated initiatives disappeared … Hence, this new and revised edition. The Innovation booklet is a publication of the Science and Innovation Administration (AWI) in co-operation with the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT- Vlaanderen). However, the Innovation booklet does not pretend to be complete. When possible, it specifies organisations, institutes, and their websites, which can help you further or contain more in-depth information. This Innovation booklet has been conceived as a stimulus and introduction to the different possibilities, angles, and resources to innovate. 2 Contents • Introduction: "Standing still is going backward" . .8 • Chapter 1: “Unknown, unloved” . .9 Or, what is innovation, what can it do for my company and what is the government’s role in this? 1. How should it not be done? . .10 2. What exactly is innovation? . .12 3. What is economic innovation? . .13 4. How important is technological innovation? . .14 5. Why is innovation necessary? . .16 6. Are research and development (R&D) a guarantee for innovation? . .18 7. What are the current ideas about innovation? . .20 8. Why should the government get involved with innovation? . .22 9. What does the Flemish Government do to promote innovation? . .25 10. Are there other ways to promote innovation? . .27 • Chapter 2: "Small but tough" . .28 Or, the attributes of innovation in Flanders 11. What is the ‘Flemish Innovation System’? . .29 12. Does my company also belong to the ‘Flemish Innovation System’? . .32 13. Do typical innovative companies exist? . .33 14. Which success factors characterise innovative companies? . .35 15. Which innovation strategies do Flemish companies use? . .37 16. What type of innovator can my company become? . .39 17. Who is the ‘mother’ of current innovation legislation in Flanders? . .40 18. Why should I, an entrepreneur, have to get to know IWT-Vlaanderen? . .42 19. Where can I find more information about the Flemish Innovation System? . .44 20. Where can I find more information about the Flemish Innovation System? (continued) . .46 3 • Chapter 3: "Knowledge is power" . .48 Or how Research and Development (R&D) play a key role in innovation 21. What about Research & Development (R&D) in Flanders? . .49 22. How can I make use of the know-how of Flemish universities? . .51 23. Do schools for higher education also co-operate with companies? . .54 24. Can my company benefit from the world-renowned IMEC know-how in the field of microelectronics? . .57 25. Where can I turn to for know-how in the field of biotechnology? . .59 26. What can the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) do for my company? . .61 27. Are there specialised research centres for the sector in which my company is active? . .64 28. Who will help me to use the services of collective research centres? . .69 29. How do I set up an international R&D co-operation project? . .70 30. Can I take advantage of European R&D support? . .72 • Chapter 4: “Together we are strong!” . .74 Or, how can companies better innovate via networking 31. What are the advantages of a network economy? . .75 32. What is the best way to co-operate? . .76 33. Why are clusters now known as Cooperative Innovation Networks? . .77 34. What exactly are Cooperative Innovation Networks? . .78 35. What are the different company clusters? . .80 36. What is the difference between technology valleys and technological centres of excellence? . .83 37. Which are examples of Flemish technological centres of excellence? . .84 38. What are Parenthood and Plato projects? . .86 39. What can IRC-Vlaanderen do for me? . .88 40. What is the EUREKA programme? . .90 4 • Chapter 5: "Who foots the bill?" . .92 Or, how innovation can be funded 41. What are the most frequently occurring terms in innovation funding? . .93 42. Will ‘business angels’ put you on cloud nine? . .96 43. What can GIMV (Investment company for Flanders) do for my company? . .98 44. What is the role of the Vlaams Waarborgfonds (Flemish Venture Capital Guarantee Fund)? . .100 45. How can I apply for risk-bearing capital through the European institutions? . .102 46. What are IWT company subsidies? . .104 47. Which projects come into consideration for IWT company subsidies? . .105 48. Who comes into consideration for the special SME programme (KMO-Programma)? . .107 49. Which project forms does the SME programme (KMO-Programma) support? . .108 50. What is the fastest way to obtain (Flemish) funding? . .110 • Chapter 6: "Sound advice need not be expensive" . .112 Or, another list of institutes that can help me innovate 51. What can Regional Development Agencies (Gewestelijke Ontwikkelingsmaatschappijen - GOMs) do for my company? . .113 52. Where can I find a GOM in my province? . .114 53. What can I use the IWT-Innovatienetwerk for? . .115 54. Who will help me innovate through quality improvement? . .117 55. What information can I find on the virtual SME counter of VIZO (Flemish Institute for Independent Entrepreneurship)? . .119 56. Are there other electronic directories? . .121 57. What is the SME-IT Centre (KMO-IT Centrum)? . .122 58. What can Innotek do for companies in the Kempen? . .123 59. Whom can Brussels-based companies contact? . .125 60. Who advises the Flemish Government on matters of innovation? . .127 5 • Chapter 7: "Forewarned is forearmed ..." . .130 Or ... protecting your product innovation through patents 61. Why is protection of industrial ownership rights important? . .131 62. What is a patent? . .132 63. What about taking out patents in Belgium and the rest of the world? . .134 64. What other ways are there to protect one's industrial rights of ownership? . .136 65. Where in Belgium do I go if I want to take out a patent? . .137 66. What can the Production department of the Belgian Industrial Property Office (DIE) do for my company? . .138 67. What can the Patent information department of the Belgian Industrial Property Office (DIE) do for my company? . .140 68. What services does the Legal department of the Belgian Industrial Property Office (DIE) provide? . .142 69. How much does a patent cost (in time and money)? . .144 70. What are the different international patent organisations? . .146 • Chapter 8: "New wine in new bottles" . .150 Or, what about Internet marketing 71. What must I take into account when launching a new product? . .151 72. What does a good marketing plan look like? . .152 73. Internet as a marketing channel: a shattered illusion? . .153 74. What is the surf behaviour of (European) Internet users? . .154 75. What is the buying behaviour of (Belgian) Internet users and why? . .155 76. How can the trust of Internet consumers be won? . .156 77. How does Chamber-Trust work and what are the advantages? . .157 78. How does ChamberSign encourage European B2B Internet trade? . .158 79. How can I register a domain name? . .160 80. What else is involved with having a website? . .161 6 • Chapter 9: "Work to do" . .162 Or how to harmonise your Human Resources policy with innovation 81. Future-oriented personnel selection, how do I go about that? . .163 82. How can your employees stay up-to-date with the latest developments? . .164 83. How can I claim training cheques? . .166 84. Do other training support initiatives exist? . .167 85. Soft support (advice and training) in hard times you say? . .169 86. How can Trivisi help me with sustainable business? . .171 87. How can Trivisi help me with sustainable business (b)? . .172 88. How can the Foundation for Technology Assessment (STV-Innovation & Work) help me? . ..