Collaboration without risk: How the most innovative SMEs protect critical knowledge in joint innovation activities with partners

Collaboration without risk: How the most innovative SMEs protect critical knowledge in joint innovation activities with partners PDF Author: Karl Tschetschonig
Publisher: diplom.de
ISBN: 3954897067
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 100

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Book Description
For small firms, knowledge leakage, loss and theft are counted among the greatest risks in inter-firm collaborations. SMEs are more vulnerable, because they suffer from a number of structural disadvantages when collaborating with larger companies, and yet, they need to collaborate with external partners to overcome their lack of resources.Therefore, this study investigates how SMEs can most effectively protect critical knowledge in collaborations with external partners, for that they can prevent knowledge loss, leakage and theft, while maximizing the performance of the collaboration.This book derives valuable insights for practice and theory through a comprehensive review of existing literature and a collection and analysis of experiences from Germany’s most innovative and successful SMEs.

Collaboration without risk: How the most innovative SMEs protect critical knowledge in joint innovation activities with partners

Collaboration without risk: How the most innovative SMEs protect critical knowledge in joint innovation activities with partners PDF Author: Karl Tschetschonig
Publisher: diplom.de
ISBN: 3954897067
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 100

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Book Description
For small firms, knowledge leakage, loss and theft are counted among the greatest risks in inter-firm collaborations. SMEs are more vulnerable, because they suffer from a number of structural disadvantages when collaborating with larger companies, and yet, they need to collaborate with external partners to overcome their lack of resources.Therefore, this study investigates how SMEs can most effectively protect critical knowledge in collaborations with external partners, for that they can prevent knowledge loss, leakage and theft, while maximizing the performance of the collaboration.This book derives valuable insights for practice and theory through a comprehensive review of existing literature and a collection and analysis of experiences from Germany’s most innovative and successful SMEs.

How Smes Protect Critical Knowledge in Joint Innovation Activities with External Partners

How Smes Protect Critical Knowledge in Joint Innovation Activities with External Partners PDF Author: Karl Tschetschonig
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3656099014
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 109

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Book Description
Master's Thesis from the year 2011 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: Sehr gut, Vienna University of Economics and Business (Entrepreneurship & Innovation), language: English, abstract: For small firms, knowledge leakage, loss and theft are counted among the greatest risks in inter-firm collaborations. SMEs are more vulnerable, because they suffer from a number of structural disadvantages when collaborating with larger companies, and yet, they need to collaborate with external partners to overcome their lack of resources. Therefore, this study investigates how SMEs can most effectively protect critical knowledge in collaborations with external partners, for that they can prevent knowledge loss, leakage and theft, while maximizing the performance of the collaboration. Based on a comprehensive review of existing literature, and a qualitative multiple-case study evaluation, where highly innovative and successful SMEs in Germany contributed their experiences, I have derived valuable insights for practice and theory. Overall, the most commonly used means of protecting critical knowledge were secrecy, patents, the systematic selection of partners, and contracts. Despite the importance given to these mechanisms, not all of them proved to be effective. In fact, trust, secrecy and the systematic selection of partners were considered to be most effective, while initial secrecy and patents were concluded to overprotect knowledge, thus, limiting the possible overall innovative performance. Complementary assets, rotating personnel, oligopolistic market structures, equity relationships, technical means of protection, and employee contracts were found to be entirely ineffective for SMEs. When analyzing the relations of protection mechanisms, a significant correlation between the type of protection and the openness to external innovation emerged: companies, which used initial secrecy and patents to protect knowledge, did

Innovate. Collaborate. Grow!

Innovate. Collaborate. Grow! PDF Author: David Dessers
Publisher: Die Keure Publishing
ISBN: 9048636906
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 251

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Book Description
The past ten years are characterized by a strong growth in entrepreneurship and the accelerated creation of new businesses offering innovative products and services. The focus of this book is on startups and scaleups intending to scale their business through collaboration with corporates, primarily in the capacity of client or venture partner. No startup or scaleup can go-it-alone entirely and is required to collaborate with other partners to ensure growth. It is crucial for startups and scaleups to think beyond (corporate) venture capital financings and actively use a vast spectrum of corporate partnering arrangements to scale their business. This book thus takes an expansive approach and analyses corporate partnering transactions from a much broader perspective, covering several types of partnering models for collaboration between corporates and startups and scaleups, with a very strong focus on the perspective of the startups and scaleups while engaging in these types of transactions. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Dessers, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Cresco, is one of the go-to lawyers of the Belgian venture capital scene. David assists entrepreneurs and companies in the design and execution of their plans during all stages of the private company lifecycle, including seed and venture capital funding, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as equity incentive, contracting and intellectual property needs. He frequently represents venture capital funds and corporates in structuring, negotiating and closing investments and divestments in high-growth companies. David furthermore advises clients regularly with respect to complex commercial transactions designed to protect and maximize the value of technology assets, including technology licenses and acquisitions, research and development collaborations, and corporate partnering transactions. He obtained his law degree at the universities of Antwerp and Leuven in Belgium. He also holds an LLM from the universities of Oxford, Hamburg and Rotterdam. David is recommended as leading lawyer by Chambers Global, Chambers Europe, Legal500 and IFLR1000 for Corporate and M&A, Banking, Finance and Capital Markets, and Information Technology. David has given workshops and seminars at leading corporates on a wide variety of topics, including corporate venturing transactions and alliances. He is an active speaker at incubation and acceleration organizations, such as imec.ventures, B-Hive.eu, Watt Factory, Tech Tour, Level Up and Antwerp Management School. David is a founding partner of Cresco, a premier Belgian law firm for entrepreneurs, companies and investors with market-leading capabilities and thorough experience in private equity and venture capital, emerging and growth companies, mergers and acquisitions, technology and innovation counseling, and complex corporate alliances and commercial agreements.

Open Innovation And Knowledge Management In Small And Medium Enterprises

Open Innovation And Knowledge Management In Small And Medium Enterprises PDF Author: Susanne Durst
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9813233605
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 243

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Book Description
The book studies the interplay between open innovation and knowledge management issues in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the proliferation of the open innovation paradigm and against the backdrop of increasing external knowledge transfer activities, knowledge management is more important than ever for innovation and firm performance of any type of organization. In fact, knowledge management is no longer a pure intra-organizational activity but constitutes a vital interface function between the organization and its external partners/stakeholders.Throughout the book, readers will obtain both a broad overview of the two main concepts namely open innovation and knowledge management and its interplay. In addition, research will be presented which will help the readers to develop and/or expand their understanding of the phenomenon. This broad approach can also support in broadening the mindset regarding the topic under investigation and its application. Thereby, this book will primarily focus on SMEs and their approach with respect to the interplay in question.In order to achieve the above-mentioned aim, the book consists of ten chapters that are assigned to three parts. Part 1 introduces to the main concepts, namely, SMEs, Open Innovation, Knowledge Management, and the interplay between open innovation and knowledge management in SMEs. This is followed by Part 2, which provides empirical research insights into the phenomenon of interest. The book concludes with Part 3 which addresses promising future avenues regarding the study of open innovation and knowledge management in SMEs. All the chapters are written by leading international researchers in the respective fields, which makes the book a unique piece of work.

How Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Can Influence the Successfulness of a Partnership with a Large Company (LCO) in the Technology Innovation Sector

How Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Can Influence the Successfulness of a Partnership with a Large Company (LCO) in the Technology Innovation Sector PDF Author: Jill Lynda Sawers
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are being seen by governments, increasingly, as important engines of economic growth. They are viewed as sources of innovation and employment creation. Technology innovative SME's commercialization strategy often includes forming a partnership with a large company (LCO). This is because what the SME lacks in terms of market links, marketing and distribution channels, the LCO can often provide. LCOs, on the other hand, need to be innovative in order to survive in a dynamic and ever changing business environment. LCOs are therefore open to new ideas, being in the form of knowledge and capabilities. The reality is, however, that many partnerships fail. For an SME whose growth is dependant on a partnership with an LCO, understanding how it can influence the partnership such that it will result in success is critically important. This research sets out to gain a better understanding of this topic. Research Problem Technology innovative businesses operate in the knowledge economy where the one sure source of competitive advantage is knowledge (Takeuchi and Nonaka, 2004). However, knowledge is a high risk commodity and can be easily appropriated by an opportunistic company. A major risk in collaboration is that the partners can gain access to the knowledge and skills of the company (Littler et al, 1995) this is termed knowledge spillover. Where this is unintentional, it can result in the company exposing its knowledge and skills being made very vulnerable. Furthermore, the high rate of partnership failure is attributed to a lack of cooperation and the opportunistic behaviour of partners (Das et al, 1998). It is important, therefore, for SMEs wishing to partner with an LCO, to understand both what attracts the LCO to partner with them in the first instance, as well as what safeguards need to be in place to protect themselves against possible opportunistic behaviour by the LCO. Methodology A sample of 43 technology innovative SMEs was interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire. The frequencies of the variables were analysed and compared with findings in the literature. In order to improve the variation of the dichotomous responses, the independent variables were compounded into the following variables: competencies, ability capabilities, awareness capabilities, formal safeguards and informal safeguards. The relationship between the number/level of competencies and capabilities and partnership success was determined, as well as the influence of formal and/or informal safeguards on this relationship. Backward conditional logistic regression was performed on the compounded variables in order to determine which model best fitted the data, in other words which predictors most affected partnership success. To better understand the negative relationship between ability capabilities and perceived partnership success, as well as the positive relationship between awareness capabilities and perceived partnership success, cross tabulations were performed on all the individual items to determine the Phi Square. An explanation was provided for those items that proved to be statistically significant. Because of the small sample used for this quantitative study and in order to verify the major findings, four case studies were conducted on SMEs that had participated in the original survey. The findings of the survey were then compared with the findings of the case studies. Main findings The main findings from the survey were the following: 1. SMEs' abilities rather than their competencies, appeared to influence the success of the partnership 2. the more ability capabilities an SME had, the lower the perceived success of the partnership. This was influenced by where the SME had developed its own IP: and where the SME had segmented is potential market in accordance with Moore's (1999) market segmentation strategy for hi-tech products 3. a positive relationship between awareness capability and partnership success was influenced by the SME having an understanding of the LCO's SWOT, but this same relationship was negatively affected by the LCO preferring to enter into a JV with another LCO when sourcing technology 4. the relationships listed in items 2 and 3 above were influenced by safeguards, namely: 4.1 the greater the number of safeguards (formal and informal) that were put in place, the more positive will be the relationship between increasing numbers of awareness capabilities and the perceived success of the partnership 4.2 the greater the number of safeguards (formal and informal) that were put in place, the less negative will be the relationship between increasing numbers of ability capabilities, and the perceived success of the partnership 4.3 formal safeguards were more effective at moderating the relationship between capabilities and partnership success than informal safeguards The main findings from the case studies were as follows: 1. having ability capabilities, awareness capabilities and competencies was associated with high levels of partnership success (not in support of the survey findings) 2. above average levels of capabilities/competencies were associated with low levels of partnership success (in support of the survey findings) 3. there is a positive relationship between the level of safeguards and the association between capabilities/competencies and partnership success (in support of survey findings) 4. both formal and informal safeguards are important in ensuring a positive association between capabilities/competencies and partnership success (not in support of survey findings). In conclusion, the findings from the case studies did indeed validate some of the findings of the survey, namely, in the absence of safeguards, above average levels of capabilities/competencies are associated with low levels of partnership success: and there is a positive relationship between the level of safeguards and the association between capabilities/competencies and partnership success.

Integral Innovation

Integral Innovation PDF Author: Odeh Rashed Al-Jayyousi
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317115473
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 175

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Book Description
Technology plays a critical role in transforming societies and economies through enhancing efficiency, connectivity and access to resources and services. The challenge remains how to harness technologies to achieve sustainable development without causing harm to human and natural capitals. Professor Odeh Rashed Al-Jayyousi argues that science, technology and innovation (STI) are underpinned by social choices and, hence, a transition to a sustainable green economy is defined by individuals’ and institutions’ decisions on how to use and apply these STI developments. It is, therefore, important to examine closely the ways in which social institutions and processes in the “integral worlds” (the different perspectives of reality) shape the priorities of technologies and the conditions under which their potential benefits can be reaped. He states that in order for technological innovation to provide a guarantee of sustainable economic development, it is necessary that a transfer of technology to developing countries becomes a basic principle of national development policies, and that they, in turn, are open to adopting an explicit long-term application of technological innovation. Integral Innovation: New Worldviews presents a conceptual framework for the evolution of technology and innovation from a historical and cultural perspective. It provides an analysis of the role of innovation and technology in sustainable development and introduces a number of international case studies, which shed light on the social learning processes for knowledge co-creation and innovation culture. It is essential reading for those interested in innovation and technology management.

Green Technologies in Food Production and Processing

Green Technologies in Food Production and Processing PDF Author: Joyce I. Boye
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461415861
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 684

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Book Description
Examining the full cycle from farm to fork, this book reviews the current status of green processing in the agriculture and agri-food sector, and provides strategies for enhancing the use of environmentally-friendly technologies for production and processing.

Sustaining Innovation

Sustaining Innovation PDF Author: Steven P MacGregor
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461420768
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 191

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Book Description
In many ways, the process of innovation is a constant social dance, where the best dancers thrive by adapting new steps with multiple partners. The systematic and continuous generation of value in any innovation system relies on collaboration between different groups, who must overcome multiple, often competing agendas and needs to work together fruitfully over the long term. Featuring contributions from leading researchers, business leaders, and policymakers representing North America, Europe, India, Africa, and Australasia, this volume investigates different combinations of collaborative arrangements among innovation actors, many of which are changing conventional expectations of institutional relationships. Collectively, the authors demonstrate that no particular combination has emerged as the most dominant, or even resilient, model of innovation. Several authors expand on our understanding of the triple helix model, with both academics and practitioners looking to the quadruple helix (encompassing business, academic, government, and civil society) as the new standard. Other authors address aspects of open innovation, co-creation, and user-centered design—all testaments to the rapidly shifting landscape. At the same time, many businesses, academics, and governments, not to mention non-profit organizations, foundations, and society at large, are active in conversations about how to pursue a more sustainable model of innovation. The pursuit of this holy grail of innovation is both facilitated and complicated by an ever-accelerating technological environment in which social networking and mobile tools are emerging as new dance arenas.

Networks, SMEs, and the University

Networks, SMEs, and the University PDF Author: Andrew Johnston
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 1789903386
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 192

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Book Description
Exploring the process of university collaboration from the perspective of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this book offers an in-depth examination of the collaboration process, dispelling the myth of the disengagement of these firms. Andrew Johnston and Robert Huggins present a thorough account of how SMEs can ‘unlock the ivory tower’ and gain access to university knowledge to support their own innovation.

OECD Reviews of Innovation Policy: Luxembourg 2016

OECD Reviews of Innovation Policy: Luxembourg 2016 PDF Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN: 926423229X
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
This book provides a comprehensive assessment of the innovation policy of Luxembourg, focusing on the role of government and includes concrete recommendations on how to improve policies that affect innovation and R&D performance.