Key factors for STPs facilitating the establishment of an innovation-advising organization network to support SMEs in developing Industry 4.0 products/services

ABSTRACT

This study explores the role of science and technology parks (STPs) as facilitators in the creation of an innovation-advising organization network (IAON) within the health, social welfare, and medical technology sector (health-tech). The background to this study is that more and more products using Industry 4.0 technology, i.e., robotics, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things products, are being developed for the health-tech sector, leading to safer and more secure and cost-effective healthcare and social welfare. The challenge, however, as identified by an STP, is that the innovation-advising organizations are not collaborating efficiently, which results in scattered advise to the small and medium-sized enterprise/startups (SME) and an insufficient understanding of each other’s work when advising the same SME. In this study, the STP, successfully, initiated and facilitated the work to develop an IAON. Similar initiatives are suggested. Because challenges and success factors were identified, further studies are also recommended.

KEYWORDS

Innovation, SME, Industry 4.0, Science Park

CITATION

Johnsson, M., Börell, P. (2019), Key factors for STPs facilitating the establishment of an innovation-advising organization network to support SMEs in developing Industry 4.0 products/services. In: The 4th Industrial Revolution: areas of innovation and science parks as key boosters for a successful transition, September 24-27, Nantes, France

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http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:bth-18503

Categories: Publications, Research