INNOSUP-6-2015 Specific challenge: Identifying suitable partners for innovation activities is recognised as a major barrier to SME innovation. Innovation support services are addressing this challenge traditionally by two interventions that are often combined: (a) the provision of networking space for personal meetings either as one-off meeting (‘brokerage events’) or as more stable networks (‘clusters’) often with a limited geographic reach; and (b) the definition of ‘cooperation profiles’ (‘technology offers’, ‘partner search profile’ etc.) that are distributed through networks of intermediaries. To a different degree intermediaries become active in establishing the partnership (‘brokerage’). The British ‘connect’ platform is the first publicly financed innovation platform on the web that creates a protected space for companies to display their competences, interest and skills, to reach out to a large number of peers, to make them personal contacts and to engage them in initial cooperation.
The Effectiveness of Collaboration for SMEs The aim of this executive overview will be to investigate what collaboration tools comprise, their typical running costs and the benefits that they can deliver to SMEs. Specifically it will aim to shatter the myth that collaboration tools are expensive for SMEs and the preserves of larger enterprises. It will look at the infrastructure issues that SMEs will face and the way in which SMEs can overcome these and use collaboration tools to improve their business performance. In short, this executive overview will form a guide as to why SMEs should consider collaboration tools not simply as ‘technology’, but instead as the means of achieving the competitiveness that is vital to their future profitability. Download now Email Alerts Register now to receive ComputerWeekly.com IT-related news, guides and more, delivered to your inbox. By submitting you agree to receive email from TechTarget and its partners.
Take a chance on SME: how collaboration can boost UK firms Businesses need to collaborate and learn from each other to help Britain grow, argues Wendy Tan. At a recent FSB conference, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s pledge to cut red tape, which is hindering the growth of the UK’s small businesses. We welcomed this news, particularly as a growing technology business based in the heart of London, but urge the Government to go further and work smarter in order to support SMEs. With an estimated combined annual turnover of £1,600bn, SMEs account for 48.1 per cent of private sector turnover - according to the FSB - and, as such, are the backbone of the UK economy. In order to expand this sector even further there are two key areas in particular that the Government, large and small companies should focus on: business collaboration and digital education. Business collaboration A truly collaborative, sharing economy is the way forward for SMEs, no matter what sector they work in or whether they are a start-up or established company.
ICW Skills Development Courses Collaborative Leadership Programme This Masterclass programme for senior managers, and graduate managers, developed under the endorsement of the Institute of Leadership management will support them in meeting the challenges of leadership in a collaborative environment. It guides delegates to understand the complexities and risks of operating outside a traditional command and control structure where the influence of leaderships is a crucial success factor.