Integrating SMEs in the innovative process

Director AtelisProfessor Aix Marseille University

WIPO consultant

douhenri@yahoo.frhttp://s244543015.onlinehome.fr/ciworldwide/

SMEs a key for the development

From Laurent Malvezin Directeur Département Asie SSF 14, rue Magellan 75008 Paris France

On September 22nd, the MIIT officially announced ar the National forum of the PME/PMI of Canton the launching of the first national five years plan dedicated to the rise of Chinese SME. It envisages, moreover, the creation of a public platform of services for the PME/PMI, the integration of the news information technologies in their development, as well as special program of modern management techniques.

在 9 月 22 日， MIIT 正式宣布了 ar 小行政区 PME/PMI 的国家论坛生成第一位国民五年计划投入中国 SME 的上升。 它想象，而且，一个公共平台 PME/PMI 的服务，综合化在他们的发展的新闻信息技术，以及现代管理技巧特殊程序的创建 .

SMEs must grow and innovate

Many reports in the world underline the fact that the SMEs are the key of employment. But they face multiple problems:

• Growing to be able to move to international markets• Innovating to be able to climb the technology ladder • To be strong enough to be able to borrow money to the banks at a decent interest rate

Various attempts more or less successful have been developed. In this presentation we will underline some of them and draw various conclusions and recommendations

Learning – Point 1The world is moving, so are the technologies and most particularly the information technologies. One speaks today of Web 2.0 of 2.0 information, etc.

SMEs must be engaged and most specifically the top management in learning the the Web 2.0 and related information systems to be able to:• Get a better communication with others• Be involved in cooperative platforms• Access better information• Translate information from aboard• Get their own information system (small or large)

Example

Region C entre, France. Action of ATELIS within the framework of the Competitive Intelligence Program of the Region Centre.

With the participation of the Ministry of Industry, the SMEs and ESCEM (Business School, Tours Poitiers), SMEs follow a program to be able to use the WEB 2.0 advanced techniques of information retrieval, the patent mapping, management technique, strategy development.

Learning – Point 2

SMEs must be able to understand and retrieve themselves a technical information on products, competitors, free possible development from others or competitors ideas.

SMEs must be trained in management and handling of patentsnot to protect their intellectual capital, but to be able to use other ideas to develop their own technology or to develop products or improve them.

Information from patents is the key for the technological development of SMEs.Standards are also a good way to improve their products.

ExamplesThe WIPO (World International Patent Organization) to develop innovation from Intellectual Property Information.

Workshops in Cameroon, Mali, Ivory Cost, Burkina Faso have been done. Information can be obtained from:http://s244543015.onlinehome.fr/ciworldwide/

IMCS workshops in France, Marseille, Paris, Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, … Information is available from:http://www.imcsline.com

Learning – Point 3SMEs must learn how to map their knowledge and how to determiner their needs. SWOT analysis must be used to determine to which extend they can innovate or develop themselves.

SMEs must know how to set up projects and answer to call for tender at the national or international level.

SMEs must develop skills in new management techniques

Key managers must be involved in all those steps

ExamplesThe Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the economical observatories in different regions of France, analyze in depth the technologies and competences of regional SMEs. The class them in low, middle and hightech, and the description is a lot more precise than the classical codes such as APE use in statistic. (the codes APE are attributed to the companies by the French National bureau of statistics. They are not enough precise to use them in a pre clustering study).

Financing the learning development

Regional policy makers must finance part of the SMEs learning process.

Session of formation can be developed in the Region and the result must be control after the formation.

The SMEs should be follow in time to see the impact of the formation on their everyday life.

Specialists and consultants must be involved in the formation.

ExamplesEach French regions has developed a SRIE (Shema Regional d’Intelligence Economique). (Regional Competitive Intelligence Plan).In each of these plan a certain amount of money is devoted to workshops and formation on innovation, and development of SMEs skills.Ile de France http://www.idf.pref.gouv.fr/dossiers/intelligence-economique.htm Region Auvergnehttp://www.auvergne.pref.gouv.fr/bibliotheque/SRIE_2010-2012.pdf Basse Normandie http://www.ie-bn.org/

The duty of the regional policy makers – Point 1

SMEs should be groups by competences and products development. This means that a careful mapping of the SMEs technologies and skills should be done at the regional level.

Priorities for the regional development must be set up according the local competences and know how.

The cohesion of these groups should be increase by meetings and discussions about their future and what is done or what can be done with their core competences.

Appropriate technical information should be the seed to start discussions.

ExamplesExtensive use of APA (Automatic Patent Analysis) in Thailand.

Strategic Partnership between ATELIS and ISIG in Burkina Faso

CRITT Chime in Provence Alpes Côte d’Azurhttp://www.rsepaca.com/novachim-critt-prides-4.html Quelques datesLe CRITT Chimie-Plastiques-Matériaux (CRITT Chimie) de la région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur est mis en place en 1985, sous forme d'une association loi 1901, après la création en 1984 des CRITT (Centre Régionaux d'Innovation et de Transfert de Technologie) sous l'impulsion du Ministère de la Recherche.En 2007, le CRITT Chimie est labellisé Cellule de Diffusion Technologique (CDT) par le Ministère de l'Enseignement et de la Recherche.Depuis 2007, le CRITT Chimie pilote le PRIDES (Pôle Régional d'Innovation et de Développement Économique Solidaire) NOVACHIM, labellisé par la région PACA.Depuis 2008 le CRITT Chimie pilote la plateforme Suschem France (Sustainable Chemistry - chimie durable) en région PACA

The duty of the regional policy makers – Point 2

To move to innovation, SMEs need the knowledge of engineers, researchers, vocational and universities people.

A new role for the universities and vocational schools must be clearly defined. Part of their competencies should help the SMEs to develop or improve their products.

This will move the SMEs groups and the research and technical people to the first steps in the Triple Helix development.

Incentives should be design and financed generally through open call of proposal coming from the former group.

Bi-Evolution of University Missions

• Teaching: Individuals and Organizations• Research: Individual and Group• Economic and Social Development: Companies and Region

INCUBATIONIncubators Integrated into Academic UnitsRESEARCHHybrid centers comprising academic, industry and government researchersTEACHINGVirtual classes including on-campus and off-campus participants

Regional Innovation Organizer (RIO)

• Regional Authority: governmental or quasi-governmental• takes the lead in creating a consensus space bringing together

triple helix actors

Those two former slides are extracted from a presentation of : Henry Etzkowitz and Marina Ranga

Business SchoolUniversity of Newcastle upon Tyne

Regional Innovation Organizer (RIO)

Regional Authority: governmental or quasi-governmentaltakes the lead in creating a consensus space bringing together triple helix actors

Those two former slides are extracted from a presentation of : Henry Etzkowitz and Marina RangaBusiness School University of Newcastle upon Tyne

Examples IAB (International Advisory Board recommendations to the Ministry of Science and technology of Viet Nam (cf Henri Dou, IAB member)

The duty of the regional policy makers – Point 3

When a project move to the “real life” money is necessary. It could be (or must be) regional policy money at first step. But further development will need more money.

One of the stronger duty of policy decision makers is to make available this money from banking loans at a regional rate.

Bank credit should be open to SMEs and not only to state enterprises which often offer loans to SMEs at an indecent interest rate.

ExamplesOSEO in France –Its share the financial risk of the loan with the banks. http://www.oseo.fr/notre_mission/qui_sommes_nous/nos_metiers/financement_garantie

GovernanceFor each of the groups (or clusters) a strong road map and governance should be develop. The Governance board must report upon the progress of the clusters to the policy decision makers.

In these clusters, large companies can be included, but it is necessary to be very careful about their role. To reach a full SMEs development, the SMEs must take the larger part in the cluster governance.

ConclusionThe SME’s development is a complex process, and it costs money.

The global competition shows that large companies use widely the subcontractor system. But, this system because of the necessary increase in innovation is coming to an end on its today form.

More innovative interactions between large companies and SMEs must be developed. This can be done through the triple helix process.

This process to be as fast as possible need to be organized. classical industrial Parks or Special Zones are not sufficient.