45,094 research outputs found
National Innovation Network at the Crossroads â in Search of a New Support Formula for Proinnovative Services for Small and Medium Enterprises
Celem artykuĆu jest analiza jakoĆciowa systemu wsparcia innowacyjnej przedsiÄbiorczoĆci
opartego na Krajowej Sieci Innowacji oferujÄ
cej usĆugi proinnowacyjne dla maĆych i Ćrednich
przedsiÄbiorstw w Polsce. FormuĆowane wnioski oparte sÄ
na wynikach ogĂłlnopolskich badaĆ
przeprowadzonych przez autora wĆrĂłd firm sektora MĆP, bÄdÄ
cych zarĂłwno beneficjentami usĆug
KSI (ogĂłĆem zbadano 381 podmiotĂłw), jak i firm niekorzystajÄ
cych wczeĆniej z tych usĆug (prĂłba
badawcza liczyĆa 1100 podmiotĂłw). Podstawowe zastrzeĆŒenia zgĆaszane przez maĆych i Ćrednich
przedsiÄbiorcĂłw dotyczÄ
pasywnoĆci tych oĆrodkĂłw w budowaniu partnerskiej wspĂłĆpracy,
zdolnoĆci do rozpoznania rzeczywistych potrzeb przedsiÄbiorstwa oraz umiejÄtnoĆci dostosowania
oferty usĆug w odpowiedzi na rzeczywiste potrzeby przedsiÄbiorstw. W artykule zawarto rekomendacje
zmian w systemie Ćwiadczenia usĆug proinnowacyjnych w ramach wsparcia publicznego
oferowanego przez oĆrodki Krajowej Sieci Innowacji w odniesieniu do âfilozofiiâ, zakresu i instrumentĂłw
wsparcia
Barriers to Innovation and Public Policy in Catalonia.
The present paper analyses the link between firmsâ decisions to innovate and the barriers that prevent them from being innovative. The aim is twofold. First, it analyses three groups of barriers to innovation: the cost of innovation projects, lack of knowledge and market conditions. Second, it presents the main steps taken by Catalan Government to promote the creation of new firms and to reduce barriers to innovation. The data set used is based on the 2004 official innovation survey of Catalonia which was taken from the Spanish CIS-4 sample. This sample includes individual information on 2,954 Catalan firms in manufacturing industries and knowledge-intensive services (KIS). The empirical analysis reveals pronounced differences regarding a firmâs propensity to innovate and its perception of barriers. Moreover, the results show that cost and knowledge barriers seem to be the most important and that there are substantial sectoral differences in the way that firms react to barriers. The results of this paper have important implications for the design of future public policy to promote entrepreneurship and innovation together.Obstacles to innovation, Industrial policy, Innovation system
A framework on information behaviour of SME managers for decision-making on emerging ICTs
The aim of this study is to explore the perceived information needs and information behaviours of manager of UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As technology advancement and innovation are changing rapidly affecting organisations in different ways, organization executives are introducing new technologies for their operations and business environment becomes more complex and dynamic, government introducing different policies to guide the use of these emerging ICTs. As a result, information becomes significant during adoption decision-making process for SME managers to make an inform decision. To achieve this aim, a framework is developed based on existing literature, using the technology organization environmental (TOE) model as the theoretical underpinning for empirical investigation on information behaviour of SME managers in this study. This study is qualitative in nature, and semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with twenty SME managers in the UK service sector. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Following Myers and Newmanâs (2007) guidelines for qualitative interview and triangulation method were used to validate the conceptual framework and established the research rigour and quality. The research findings explained information behaviours of SME managers in the contexts of technology organisation environment as information behaviour triggered and perceived information needs during the adoption decision in SMEs. These findings provide further insight into ICT adoption in SMEs through information behaviours and highlighted the significant of sources of information and pre-information needed during the decision-making process. The research also contributes to theory in the information systems field by using relevant literature from information science field to explore information behaviours of SME managers. Future research can be done in other sectors of the economy to show more holistic behaviours of SME managers
Nanotechnology and business opportunities: scenarios as awareness instrument
For a few years now, nanotechnology has been recognised as a promising new growth innovator. This leads to a shift from the exploration of nanotechnology knowledge towards a phase of exploitation. The coming years this commercialisation of nanotechnology will be extended. Nanotechnology is a disruptive technology phenomenon, which leads to more difficulties in overseeing business opportunities. Additionally, the fact that high-tech small firms, especially those dealing with nanotechnology, are highly interested in developments in science and technology, begs the question how to stimulate the awareness for (new) business opportunities in nanotechnology within these firms. A promising strategy to stimulate learning and awareness of business opportunities in nanotechnology is the use of scenarios. These projections focused on uncertainty stretch the mental model of entrepreneurs and/or managers and have the ability to activate learning processes. This paper presents the (theoretical) fundaments of scenario usage in relation to the recognition of business opportunities in nanotechnology.
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