OPEN INFORMATION PROCESS- ING WITHIN INNOVATION NET- WORKS NEWSLETTER #2 Information Processing Methods within the partners’ regions Within the 3rd project period, the project partners’ objec- tive was to provide a general overview of the state-of- the-art in the field of information processing methods used within innovation networks in the partner regions as well as to define areas of information processing that have not been developed to a desirable level yet. To this end, all partners engaged in the project have been work- ing together during joint research, learning from each other and seeking for best available methods of knowledge diffusion. The first step was the preparation of regional reports on information processing within each partners’ network. After defining a common methodology, surveys among the members of the four regional networks were con- ducted. Based upon the regional reports and surveys, regional SWOT analyses were generated. Information Processing Methods: SWOT Analyses The overall aim of the analysis was to present a clear overview for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for information processing within all partners’ regions. The SWOT analyses were carried out by all InfoPro part- ners according to a previously elaborated template. The Strengths and Weaknesses concern internal character- istics of innovation networks, such as: members' propensity to share and absorb infor- mation about innovation, smoothness of information flow within the network as well as mechanisms used by the network's coor- dinator to promote open innovation, skills and abilities of network's coordinator in the field of open information processing within the net- work. Opportunities and Threats concern the environment of innovation networks, and refer to: European and regional innovation policy, innovation stakeholders' attitude to networking and clustering, funding schemes supporting open innovation, accessibility of experienced providers of services supporting open information processing, e.g. auto- mated technology watch. This approach allowed to compare and unify each individ- ual SWOT analysis as well as to draw suitable conclu- sions which will support future development of Open Innovation in each of the four regions. http://infopro.euris-programme.eu/ Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths and Weaknesses of partners’ networks Most members of the partners’ networks are interested in the implementation of innovative solutions. Moreover, cooperation with external networks in all regions is maintained but frequency of communication should be increased. Unfortunately, in three of four partners’ re- gions there are no or very limited signs of Open Innova- tion (OI) implementation. This might be related to the fact that the awareness of the OI concept is very low in these regions. Most of the network members never heard about OI and if they are familiar with the expression they cannot clear- ly explain what it means. It is alarming that in two out of four regions, network members are not aware of possi- bilities that are granted by internet and new channels of communication, such as social media. All partners are aware of the importance of their identity on the internet, and despite of the fact that they do not have any designated IT administrator, all partners’ web pages present a rather satisfying level. Nevertheless, minor improvements could be implemented and users be encouraged to co-create content so they can con- tribute to network development. According to the respondents, information provided by network coordinators is easily available, clear, and can mostly be understood by non-professionals. Neverthe- less, the potential to make this information more user- friendly was identified. Opportunities and Threats Opportunities and Threats of partner’s networks In all partners’ regions the topic of innovation is ad- dressed in the regional development strategy. Moreover, the new European financing period 2014 - 2020 also directly addresses the issue of innovation, therefore it can be expected that it will also be connected with fund- ing source. Unfortunately, those programs do not directly address Open Innovation but rather innovation and the knowledge-based economy as such. This might be caused by the fact that in many regions Open Innovation is a brand new concept and it has not been fully em- braced yet. Moreover, in some partners’ regions national and local funding are not enough for sustained development of Open Innovation, since implementation of information processing systems is quite expensive. However, research also revealed that in three out of four regions, the idea of networking and clustering as well as the interest in searching for innovative information is well established. This provides good opportunity and fertile ground for the development of Open Innovation. 3rd InfoPro Project Meeting & Transfer Seminar, 9th of May 2012 The third InfoPro project group meeting and transfer seminar took place in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary and was hosted by the Zala County Foundation for Enterprise Promotion. The first part of the transfer seminar took place in the Arany Bárány Hotel. The event was open for interested enterprises and organizations. It started with the presenta- tion of Mr. Andras Nagy, managing director of Zala County Foundation for Enterprise Promotion, who presented the concept of Open Innovation as a new paradigm of coop- eration as well as the regional innovation system in the West-Transdanubian region. Following his presentation Ms. Alexandra Brzozowski from the Virtual Dimension Center Fellbach introduced the aims and the partnership of the InfoPro project. Mr. Marcin Dudojc, expert in the field of innovation pro- jects from Research and Innovation Centre Pro – Akademia informed the participants on experiences and results of the SWOT analyses in the field of information processing that were carried out in the participating re- gions among the network members. The next presentation was held by Mr. Oscar Tomico and Ms. Yuan Lu from Technical University of Eindhoven from the Department of Industrial Design. They familiarized the audience with some best practices in the field of infor- mation processing at Eindhoven Technical University. 3rd InfoPro Project Meeting & Transfer Seminar, 9th May 2012 Last but not least Mr. Zoltán Kalcsú and Mr. Dániel Magyar, the colleagues of Pannon Novum West Pannon Regional Development Agency described the Methodol- ogy for identification of best practices in the field of information processing and the Hungarian support sys- tem to the implementation of innovative projects. During the second part of the event the participants visited the company Timbertech Kft. in Zalaegerszeg, which produces Swedish laminated floors with innova- tive solutions. Nebeuer Tibor, the owner of the small company showed the visitors around in his plant, intro- duced the production process and the innovative activi- ties of the company. The downloads of the presentations can be found on the project website in the News section: http://infopro.euris-programme.eu Upcoming Events in 2012 Further Transfer Seminars will take place on the following dates and locations: June 2nd Transfer Seminar in Eindhoven 19th&20th September 3rd Transfer Seminar in Stuttgart 19th November 4th Transfer Seminar in Lodz The Transfer Seminars in each of the participating re- gions are dedicated and open to all regional cluster organisations and innovation networks. The aim of the seminars is to introduce and share the best practices in the field of information processing to other parties. These best practices were identified based on a survey among members of regional innovation networks, delivering complex data on effectiveness, quality, relevance, sus- tainability as well as cross-compliance of information processing methods. All dates for upcoming events and more information on the project can be found on the project’s website: http://infopro.euris-programme.eu Consortium Lead Partner VirCE- Competence Center for Virtual Reality and cooper- ative Engineering (Virtual Dimension Center Fellbach) www.vdc-fellbach.de Participant 2 Research and Innova- tion Center (Pro-Akad) www.proakademia.eu Participant 3 Zala County Foundation for Enterprise Promotion (ZMVA) West-Pannon, www.zmva.hu Participant 4 Eindhoven University of Technology (TUE), Department of Industrial Design http://www.tue.nl/universiteit/kolom- 2/faculteiten/industrial-design/ http://infopro.euris-programme.eu/ http://infopro.euris-programme.eu/ http://www.vdc-fellbach.de/ http://www.proakademia.eu/ http://www.zmva.hu/ http://www.tue.nl/universiteit/kolom-2/faculteiten/industrial-design/ http://www.tue.nl/universiteit/kolom-2/faculteiten/industrial-design/ http://www.zmva.hu