Learn Engage Create
Module: BENEFITS
“The true measure of your worth includes all the benefits others have gained from your
success.” ― Cullen Hightower
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme.
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may
be made of the information contained therein.
Collaboration with a University has
BENEFITS for any CCI
•
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•
•
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Access to Industry-Leading Knowledge, Expertise and Creativity
Improved Products and Services
Reduced Time to Market
Improved Credibility
Improved Market Knowledge
And many other auxiliary benefits:
–
–
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Problem Solving
Research
Specialist Equipment and Services
Technical Expertise
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Access to Industry-Leading
Knowledge, Expertise and Creativity
Credible Research
methods
Access to
Worldwide
Research
Dedicated Time &
Resources
Validation of
Results
Benefit
&
Risks
Ownership of IP
Valuing SME
contribution
External Costs
No Guarantee of
Success
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Improved Products and Services
•
Once (and not before!) you have talked to your existing customers/clients decide
on changes based on feedback
•
Find ways to improve what you are offering (implement those changes) by:
– Brainstorming with University partners for possible improvements
– Taking advantage of relevant research already done at University
– Start a new partnership innovation project with a University well-suited to your needs
•
Test out prototypes of improved products or services with a few existing
customers
– Get their feedback
– Avoid making unpopular changes
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Examples of new/improved
Products and Services
• Companies (with new services) founded by designers
– Airbnb; Flickr; Kickstarter
• Use of recycling materials in architecture, art, crafts, fashion,
publishing, etc.
– JetBlue partnering with bag-makers Manhattan Portage to turn
decommissioned uniforms into trendy bags [fashion]
– PET Lamp using discarded plastic bottles to make pendant lamps
with local artisans in Ethiopia [crafts]
– Renzo Piano and G124 transform Italian suburbs with shipping
containers [architecture]
•
University specific
– CulturePrint in Portugal with the Science and Technology Park of the University of
Porto [arts/communication]
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Reduced Time to Market
• Time to market (TTM) is the length of time it takes from a product
being conceived until its being available for sale
– Know it: define it, measure yours, share with your partners
– Brainstorm improvements
– Align with your business strategy
– Universities can help with all of the above – use them!
• Implement principles of design management – if you
need it there is training available at universities (or via
MOOCs)
– use project management, design, strategy, and supply chain
techniques to:
• control a creative process (and accelerate it)
• support a culture of creativity (and inculcate awareness of business realities)
• build a structure and organisation (or “re-build” and improve your structure and
organization to reduce TTM]
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Improved Credibility
“Credibility is the confidence you inspire in others to trust your ability to deliver results”
• Credibility is derived, in great part, from expertise
– Expertise come from experience and knowledge
– Academic knowledge is accepted as being of higher value than other
forms of knowledge - it is produced by experts who follow a process
– Knowledge transfer from University to CCI allows your improvement in
the eyes of others
• However it is a cluster concept that also includes: trustworthiness,
believability, integrity, reputation, confidence and leadership.
– Some of these are affected by your collaboration (known to others) with a
trusted and well-considered University – how do you see them affecting
credibility in your case?
• Credibility is key for SMEs to access funding
“You gain or lose credibility based on the people & organizations you associate with”
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How much credibility do
you think you have?
On a scale of 1(low) to 10 (high) please indicate
how much credibility you think you and your
organization have overall (not just to get
funding).
What can you do to improve your credibility?
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Improved Market Knowledge
• Use Market research - defined as any
organized effort to gather information
about target markets or customers
– It is a very important component
of business strategy
– Will help set the metrics for client
expectations and competitors’ cycles
– Your University partners have entire
departments dedicated to this key
business process – use them!
• Favor data-driven decisions over
“feelings” – Analytics over Intuition
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References to Pearltrees
• Pearltrees is a visual and collaborative curation tool which
will provide you with much more in-depth information on
this module’s topic.
• Specifically please visit:
http://www.pearltrees.com/learnengagecreate/benefits/id12742870
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Any questions whatsoever?
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Thank you for your attention!
<insert presenter's name & contact details>
Further extensive material, case studies, exercises, links and
more can be found on www.lec-project.eu
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme.
This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which
may be made of the information contained therein.
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