Index Introduction .......................................................................................................... IX Chapter 1 Research-based Competence Brokering in Norway: Bridging firms and R&D institutions ...................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The development of Competence Brokering in Norway .................................... 2 1.2.1 Norwegian innovation policy and Competence Brokering ...................... 2 1.2.2 The idea of the instrument ......................................................................... 3 1.3 Implementing Competence Brokering in Norway.............................................. 5 1.4 Results from Competence Brokering ................................................................ 8 1.5 Challenges for Competence Brokering in the future ....................................... 11 References ............................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2 The Technology Broker fostering innovation in SMEs: activities and intervention process ............................................................................................... 15 2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 15 2.2 Research methodology .................................................................................... 17 2.2.1 Literature review .................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Empirical investigation: analysis of six case studies .............................. 19 2.3 Literature background ..................................................................................... 21 2.3.1 Conclusion of the literature review ......................................................... 25 2.4 Empirical investigation of six case studies ....................................................... 28 2.5 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 30 2.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 33 References ............................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 3 The role of intermediaries sustaining innovation processes in SMEs: the competences of the technological broker ...................................................... 41 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 41 3.2 The broker as an intermediary between SMEs and the world of research ........................................................................................................... 42 3.3 The broker’s activities and competences ......................................................... 44 VI Index 3.4 Theoretical background of skills and competence representation .................... 46 3.5 The research .................................................................................................... 48 3.5.1 Definition of competences ...................................................................... 49 3.5.2 Methodological approach ....................................................................... 49 3.5.3 Interview procedure ................................................................................ 50 3.6 Case study results ............................................................................................ 50 3.6.1 Geographical and economic context ...................................................... 50 3.6.2 Case studies ............................................................................................ 54 3.7 Discussion ........................................................................................................ 60 References ............................................................................................................... 64 Chapter 4 From Industry-University Cooperation to Research Brokering in Estonia ...... 67 4.1 Estonia and its industry: current situation and training actions ........................ 67 4.2 The Industry-Enterprise relationship and real activities for Research Brokering in Estonia ....................................................................................... 68 4.3 Nature of Innovation Brokering ...................................................................... 70 4.4 Innovation Capacity ........................................................................................ 71 4.5 The broker’s role ............................................................................................. 72 4.6 Innovation process management .................................................................... 73 4.7 Case Study ....................................................................................................... 74 4.8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 79 References and websites ........................................................................................... 81 Chapter 5 Open Innovation networks and Innovation audit experiences .......................... 83 5.1 Innovation and competitiveness: a Triple Helix challenge .............................. 83 5.1.1 A tool for innovation: the competence broker ........................................ 85 5.1.2 The broker’s competences: remarks and perspectives ........................... 87 5.2 Innovation brokering in Treviso Tecnologia ................................................... 89 5.2.1 The Innovation auditing experience ....................................................... 91 5.2.2 The EU “Research-based Competence Broker profile”: validation and comments ........................................................................................ 92 5.3 Identification of the Open Innovation network in Saxony ............................... 93 5.3.1 Broker selection and training .................................................................. 95 5.3.2 Innovation audits ..................................................................................... 95 5.3.3 Tools and methodologies applied ........................................................... 96 5.3.4 Feedback concerning broker competences and validation of the EU profile .............................................................................................. 98 5.4 Ticino Regional System of Innovation: implications for the training of the Competence Broker .............................................................................. 98 References .............................................................................................................. 104 VII Chapter 6 The Research-based Competence Broker professional profile according to ECVET and EQF ................................................................................................ 105 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 105 6.2 Methodology .................................................................................................. 106 6.3 The profile ...................................................................................................... 107 References and websites ........................................................................................ 111 Appendix A .......................................................................................................... 113 Appendix B ........................................................................................................... 119 The Authors ......................................................................................................... 129 Introduction Everything must begin and everything has already begun. E. Morin Innovation policy has become one of the core actions in Europe, as an effective way to face increased competition and business maturity and exploit new opportunities in tough economic times. Innovation does not come out of the blue, it is an interactive, collaborative process, involving private and public knowledge providers, firms and policy makers. The ability to develop, identify and select organisational models and technologies for successful innovation is one of the core competences that can ensure competitive advantage. Within this perspective, which saw the development of Innovation chains particularly in Small and Medium Enterprises in an Open Innovation approach, the broker has proved to be an effective tool to support innovation in SMEs, where there is a stronger need to identify solutions but less access to Research and Development providers. The role of the broker is to initiate and foster cooperation between firms and R&D providers, through an understanding of the enterprise’s needs and a mediation/translation action among the “languages” spoken by different stakeholders. The aim of the Authors is to provide a detailed overview of Research-based competence broker activities and profile. The work stems from wider strategic needs for maximizing the impact and use of knowledge in the industrial system. The broker intervention process shows his/her role in helping a company to identify suitable innovation