EOS Exit Strategy Forum
An Outside Assessment – a Practitioners
View
Examining Options – The Way Ahead
Sophia Antipolis – June 6 2008
Professor Alan Barrell
Slide 1
Agenda and Context
• A Practitioners View - from International
Business Development
• An unbiased view
• A passion for Business Development,
Internationalisation and Economic
Development
• A “listening approach”
• Moderating for everyone – desire to assist
progress forwards
Slide 2
Scoping Paper and Structure of Discussion
• Achievements and some observations
• Planning the Way Forward
• Exploring Options – some Ideas presented
– for discussion and debate
• Practical Ways Forward
• Gathering critical information for the next
stages of examination , and planning for
recommendations.
Slide 3
Characteristics of high technology regionsCatalysts for Growth
•
•
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Universities and centres of academic excellence
Exploitable, converging Technologies
Entrepreneurs with marketable ideas and products
•
Business angels and established seed funds
•
Sources of early stage venture capital
•
Core of successful large companies
•
Quality management teams and talent
•
Supportive infrastructure
•
Affordable space for growing businesses
•
Access to capital markets
•
Attractive living environment and accommodation
source :- Gibbons - Stanford University 1998
Slide 4
What do we see in Internationally successful
smaller Innovative firms ?
• Management and Human Resource development
• Experienced Advisors, Mentors, non-Exec Directors
• Innovative Products or Services – beyond proof of
concept
• Identified and accessible markets – competitive
positioning
• Clear Strategy, Purpose and Business Model
• Established in home base – and good timing of
international expansion
• Structured, phased, resourced international development
plan and understanding of cultural as well as business
issues
• Appropriate financing
Slide 5
Willett’s Business
Coding and Labelling – Case Study
“The World’s Coding Company”
Slide 6
Willett’s Business
Coding and Labelling
Slide 7
Slide 8
Observations - EOS
• Member / partner selection crucial
• Passive information exchange is not difficult to
achieve, but may not affect performance
behaviour change
• Certification, QC and Validation take more time
than anticipated – there is a backlog in the
programme
• Well established networks have brought positive
contributions – through own efforts and those of
members
• Clearly some member partners did not commit
resources or time
Slide 9
Observations - EOS….more….
• Contrasts clear in engagement of Indian partner (active)
and Chinese (not at all)
• Few references in any documentation to the US market
– possibilities for the future ??-Reasons ?
• Sufficient materials have been developed to meet most
entrepreneur needs
• Need for streamlining organisation and activities
suggested – 21 Consortium Partners, 60 members – too
many services ….
• Some areas of expertise well served – others lacking –
review and re-focus in order
• Future progress will require dedicated and
understanding leadership.
Slide 10
Planning the Way Forward
•
•
•
•
WHO will participate?
HOW will organisations participate?
What about issues of OWNERSHIP?
Is there a desire and need for European
co-ordination?
• WHICH services can be considered to go
forward at all. Need to concentrate on
“Mature and Robust”
Slide 11
Some overall OPTIONS
•
•
•
•
•
Do nothing……
Identify useful services and promote and sell
Clarify “ownership” of services
Agree on continued “consortium approach”
Operate in a “free-wheeling” manner, without coordinating organisation / structure
• Adopt a “European or International co-ordinated
approach”. If so – consider options on how, costs etc.
• Agree on continued information and best practice
exchange
• BUT costs, pricing and commercial considerations will
need attention – “Whatever”
Slide 12
Slide 13
Slide 14
Slide 15
Categorising EOS Services
• First Category – Mature and Robust
• Second Category – Having Potential,
Needing More development
• Third Category – Unproven /
Questionable – not recommended
Slide 16
First Category Services - Proposed
A1 - Soft Landing - Office Essential
A2 - Soft Landing - Office Extended
A4 -Soft Landing -Visiting Services
B1 - Networking - International Matching
C1- Business Boosting - Business Advisor
C2 – Business Boosting – International
Training
Slide 17
Five Options – Examined as Examples
1. Transfer responsibility and confer “ownership”
on European Consortium Members
2. Transfer responsibility to National/International
partners – Associations and Networks
3. Transfer to Enterprise Europe Network
4. Call for fresh European Proposal for funded
support
5. Appoint European Management / Coordination organisation – on commercial basis
Slide 18
What follows today….
• Detailed notes and record of discussion
and inputs
• Facilitator to develop detailed report for
European Commission and all participants
- Draft by September 3rd 2008
- Final Report by October 15th 2008
Slide 19
The Competitive Threat
“Today’s Peacock is tomorrow’s feather duster” –
Think about it……..
Slide 20
In Pursuit of Excellence !
“Excellence can be achieved, if we:
Care more than others think is wise,
Risk more than others think is safe,
Dream more than others think is practical,
Expect more than others think is possible.”
Deborah Johnson-Ross
Slide 21
For ongoing communication….
And for more information……
www.alanbarrell.com
[email protected]
Slide 22