PERSONAL AND VIRTUAL NETWORKS
TO DEVELOP INNOVATION IN
PERIPHERAL AREAS
Jaime del Castillo
INYDE, S.L.
INTRODUCTION
Innovation is nowadays the main factor for productivity and
competitiveness improvement within enterprises
Competitive advantages rest on factors of an intangible nature
-information, knowledge, quality of human resources, ...-
The process of knowledge generation and exchange takes
place on a territorial, sectoral and entrepreneurial level.
INCREASING LEADING ROLE OF ITs
Knowledge and Learning reveal as central axis which
determine innovation and economic growth
ITs allow to develop new and quicker ways of communication
and information access and interchange between agents
(firms and support organisations)
ITs become essential tools in Territorial
Development Strategies
INCREASING LEADING ROLE OF ITs
Above all
In large-sized regions where the huge geographical extent
generates peripheral areas
Consequences:
Difficult access
Depopulation
Insufficient critical mass
Absence of innovation support services
INCREASING LEADING ROLE OF NICTS
Telematic allows to establish virtual networks between
innovation support suppliers and firms
Establishment of virtual networks
 facilitate communication and information access

facilitate information interchange
 “bring nearer” the isolated areas
 create critical mass
 facilitate management
 eliminate the administrative aspects that diminish
efficiency and effectiveness of joint actions

allow to promote innovation in the whole territory
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PERSONAL NETWORK AS
SUPPORT OF THE VIRTUAL NETWORK
In peripheral areas, to ensure the dynamic performance of the
virtual network it is necessary to carry out a previous work of
mobilisation and animation
The reason
In less dynamic and peripheral areas some habits and uses
• “undermine” the reliance between agents, and
• hinder the emergence of cooperation relationship
And
Personal relations secure progress in, speed up processes and
feedback the network.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PERSONAL NETWORK AS
SUPPORT OF THE VIRTUAL NETWORK
To set up the personal network which will support the virtual one is
necessary to launch a pro-active and interactive policy which
animates firms to innovate and intermediary organisations to extend
their services to the whole territory
BOTH
GIVE RISE TO A
VIRTUAL NETWORK
&
PERSONAL NETWORK
SPIDER
KNOWLEDGE
REGION
PRACTICAL CASES
INNORED
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
To design and implement a Network of Innovation Support
Intermediary Organisations.
To carry out a set of actions to promote innovation demand
in Castilla y León.
THE NETWORK OF INTERMEDIARY ORGANISATIONS IN
CASTILLA Y LEON
CREATION OF THE PERSONAL NETWORK: STEPS
 Definition of the Network Model.
 Mobilisation and animation: intermediary organisations
• Consensus (54 intermediary organisations interviewed).
• Justification of the pilot area: Avila, Zamora, Salamanca
 Constitution of the pilot co-ordination committee
 Awareness raising and communication actions: enterprises
• Postal questionnaire to 278 firms.
• Innovation diagnosis to 22 firms
 Working meetings of the Pilot Co-ordination Committee
• to present results and decide about possible pilot actions
 Pilot actions
M
A
R
K
E
T
ADDED VALUE
ACTIVITIES
AND SERVICES
FOR SMEs
ENTERPRISES
POLES
Innovation
awareness and
promotion
Innovation and
continuous
improvement support
NETWORKS
Cooperation
promotion
ASSOCIATIONS
Technology
Transfer
ETC
Pre-competitive
activities related to
research results
transfer
Business
Creation
Human resources
training and
qualification
Innovation
financing support
services
Business creation support Organisations
Innovation awareness and promotion
and cooperation Organisations
Innovation and continuous
improvement support Organisations
I
N
N
O
R
E
D
Coordination
Committee
Technical
Secretariat
Technology Transfer Organisations
Innovations support services and
financial entities
ADE
Knowledge Transfer Organisations
THE NETWORK OF INTERMEDIARY ORGANISATIONS IN CASTILLA Y LEON
ACTIONS TO PROMOTE INNOVATION
 PERSONAL TOOLS
 Audits and actions plans in concrete firms.
• in relation to product and process
• on the possibilities offered by ITs
 Working days.
• to present the innovation and technology offer
• to show the possibilities offered by the Foreign Trade
• on Innovation Taxation
 Working groups
• on concrete demands of enterprises
• for managers which included individual tutoring
 VIRTUAL TOOL. An interactive web for INNORED
LEGITE
Excellence and the Generalisation of Innovation in
Companies in Castilla y León
OBJETIVES AND MAIN ACTIONS
 To generalise the networks of co-operation resulting from RIS+, and to
extend business innovation support services throughout the region.
 To create a critical mass of local innovation players to be linked into a
network, INNORED and INTENEC.
 To promote the active participation and co-operation of the players involved
in the regional innovation system, as a mechanism for achieving a system of
excellence.
 To use the existing potential to articulate an 'excellence' technological pole
facilitating the development of innovative economic activities in leisure,
knowledge and culture.
PILOT SCHEME SUPPORTING INNOVATION
INNOTEM
Main actions and tools
Setting-up of the information expert system on innovation
Creation of the territorial network-advisers within each Chamber of
Commerce involved in the pilot scheme.
Training to coordinators, innovation advisers and consultants
Supporting enterprises
Information
Innovation managing system assisted self-testing
Fulfilment of technological diagnostics and innovation plans
PILOT SCHEME SUPPORTING INNOVATION
INNOTEM
SME´s needs for innovation
ANIMATION
INFORMATION
KNOWLEDGE
Subprogram for technology innovation
advisers
OBJECTIVE
To provide information and encourage innovation
within SME´s
INFORMATION
EXPERT SYSTEM ON
INNOVATION
LEARNNING
PROCESS
ADVISERS
TERRITORIAL
NETWORK
Operative Tools for launching
SME´s innovation processes
OBJECTIVE
To initiate innovation processes within
enterprises on the basis of diagnosis
and planification
ASSISTED SELFTESTING
Technological
diagnosis
+
Innovation plan
INNOVATION WITHIN ENTERPRISES
INFOBUSINESS
OBJECTIVE
To start up new innovative firms in the Information Society
AGENTS
 The Spanish Technology Parks Network
 The Spanish Business Incubators Centres Network
ONE NETWORK
Integration of cultures
ARTICULATION OF THE NETWORK
FIELDS OF ACTITIVITY
 National
Cooperation, promotion and network services to firms and
entrepreneurs
Local and regional:
Binomial work plan
INFOBUSINESS
ARTICULATION OF THE NETWORK
STEPS
1. Identification of firms and detection of opportunities in the
Information Society
2. Forums among firms, entrepreneurs and socio-economic agents of
the INFOBUSINESS network
3. Entrepreneurial development and advise for starting up
INFOBUSINESS
ARTICULATION OF THE NETWORK
NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

PERSONAL TOOLS
 Steering Committee
 Monitoring
 Three-month meetings of the whole network
 Interchange information obtained at local and regional level
 Monthly binomial meetings
 The Technology Park---Business Incubator Centre relationship

VIRTUAL TOOL
 Information telematic system