Collective Ideation within the context of

Science and Technology Parks (STPs)

and Regional Triple Helix Networks

ERSA Congress 24 August 2016

Lotte Geertsen – TMC Manufacturing Support

Ger Post – Fontys University of Applied Science

Content

• Clustering in nature

• STPs as hotspots in national/regional innovation innovation systems

• Collaborative ideation – theoretical backgrounds

• Research – problem statement and design

• Research findings

• Implications for policy makers and business practice

Clustering in nature

• Physical concentration Source of life: water and food Scarcity drives concentration

• Clustering Social behaviour in flocks

and herds Combination of animal skills Parasites

• Ecosystem Distribution of seeds via

animal migration Ecological diversity develops

over time

• Characteristics of a Science & Technology Park More than a collection of companies and

buildings in a shared physical infrastructure Strong concentration of knowledge and R&D

on a specific topic or theme Open innovation system and infrastructure Shared service centers effectively offer R&D

facilities, operational business facilities, leisure activities and real estate activities

Triple helix collaboration

• And… A STP is a physical meeting point and

research and business hotspot of a larger (regional) economic cluster

Co-creation in this value network based on interactions and relations

International outlook

Clustering in geographical economics:

Science & Technology Parks

Science & Technology Parks: economical “watering place”

• Innovation value chain From collecting ideas to spreading new concepts into the market Dilemma: share knowledge or minimize spill overs How to benefit from the proximity of being located at the STP? How to enhance the outcomes of sharing ideas and knowledge?

• Research question:

'How to design and organize the collaborative ideation process in particular to foster interactions among the actors of Science Parks?'

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STPs as policy instrument for regional economic

development in Brainport Region / South NL

Economic development of Brainport region/South NL

€1 mln. R&D labor costs lead to 70-100 jobs in R&D,

production and service.

4 STPs embedded in regional economic clusters

Name Location

Develop-

ment

stage

Focus on

R&D

and/or

technolo

gy driven

activities

High-

quality

business

environme

nt (incl.

Research

facilities)

Manifest

knowledge

carrier

Active

open

innovation

Yes/

No

S&T

Park

Total

located

com-

panies

Total

spin-

offs

Employ-

ment

rate

Maintenance

Value Park Terneuzen Idea Yes No

DOW

Chemical Start ? n.a. n.a. n.a.

Green

Chemistry

Campus

Bergen op

Zoom Startup

Yes,

partially Yes, limited Sabic Started Yes 12 0 20

Automotive

Campus Helmond Growth Yes

Yes,

extensive

PDE, TUV,

TNO Yes Yes 33 0 491

High Tech

Campus Eindhoven Mature Yes

Yes,

extensive

Philips,

Holst Yes Yes 130 55 10.000

Category Respondent

Government Campus management

Industry – 1 Campus resident – start up or SME company (up to 50 FTE)

Industry – 2 Campus resident – large company (>250 FTE)

Research Education or Research Institution

STPs in different development stages and perspectives

A new conceptual model for the collaborative ideation

process

Why do you use collaborative ideation? The direct &

indirect benefits.

• Synergy - Quote:‘And then you see that it really is a must to work together to achieve integrated solutions and that is what we all go from. On your own you cannot get more solutions. So there is a necessity.’

When do you use collaborative ideation? The

boundaries & conditions.

• IP protection - Quote:‘If we are going to share knowledge with other parties, then we of course use a non disclosure agreement. Open innovation sounds nice, but you have to realize that there are no or only a few companies willing to put their ideas and technology on the street, you must also protect yourself.’

How do you use collaborative ideation? The choice of

collaborative ideation strategy.

• Themes - Quote:‘To establish the R&D calendar, meaning the main issues you will focus on the next eighteen months or the next three years, we try to determine a common denominator to see what we should do or what we should try to get organized.’

What do you use during collaborative ideation? The

collaborative ideation mechanisms.

• Organize soft facilities - Quote:

‘You have to organize the sharing otherwise it will not occur. You do not initiate such things yourself.’

Collaborative ideation cannot be based on coincidental encounters but the fuzzy front end of innovation should be well organized.

Sharing culture

connecting protecting

Organized creativity

responsible party for

organizing soft facilities

Stimulate people’s opportunities

people are a motivating actor

1

2

3

While nature has got plenty of time, economies don’t

• Ecological economics (clusters and industries emerge over time) vs. design oriented approach

• How can we create or facilitate ‘economic watering places’?

‘Fertile soil’ (strong R&D basis; anchor tenant)

Intensive migration (embedded in strong regional cluster)

Need for orchestration and governance

• Feeding the innovation funnel Collaborative ideation … Tooling … Soft / social elements …

Example NL: Working at heights

• Issue: Many key components in chemical systems are high or in places difficult for inspection, maintenance and repair.

• Before: build scaffolds that allow the technical inspector to climb upwards a scaffold is case specific and therefore very costly may not even be the best qualitative solution

• Collaborative ideation: ‘Quest for solutions’ collective brainstorm and sharing of ideas project started with group different actors (large company, small

company, supplier, research institute) to develop a better solution

• Result:- novel construction with ´rope-access teams´ and drones with attached

cameras to inspect, maintain and repair the chemical system- Together the actors made a significant contribution in optimizing

maintenance and achieved structural cost savings.

New conceptual model: definitions and literature 1/2

New conceptual model: definitions and literature 2/2