The chapter TT collaboration addresses the topic of networking at two levels: Firstly, the added value of participating in networks for people active in technology transfer is highlighted at an international level. Additionally, at a local level, technology transfer network with local actors reinforces their local embeddings and grants a privileged, neutral and legitimate channel for two-ways transfer between transfer officers and other stakeholders. www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu

1. Technology Transfer Collaboration
FITT
– Fostering Interregional Exchange in ICT Technology Transfer –
www.FITT-for-Innovation.eu
Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

2. Process in general
Knowledge and technology transfer take place in channels of
interaction:
1. Among Technology Transfer Office (TTOs) →
internationalisation
2. Between TTOs and other actors → local TT collaboration
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3. Benefits of Networking
Among TTOs Between TTOs and local actors
(Internationalisation) (local TT collaboration)
 Networks for people active in technology  The collaboration with local networks or
transfer clusters, through links and interactions of
cooperation, generates trust and value for the
These networks gather the people active in TTOS.
technology transfer:
• Be in touch with pairs at the international level
• Access to training, seminars  Privileged, neutral and legitimate channel for
two-ways transfer between TTO and field actors
• Exchange of good practices, tools, experiences
More concretely, these privileged accesses create:
• Propose solutions for common issues in TT
• Opportunity to push innovative technologies and
knowledge
 Networks for technology transfer • Development of competencies and expertise
These networks are facilitators for a technology • Up-to-date information
transfer at an international level
• Identification of collaboration opportunities
• Promotion of innovation • Assessment of research results potential
• Partners reservoir • Facilitation of their transfer
• Hunting of investors
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4. Pro’s and Con’s of networking among TTOs
(internationalisation)
PRO’s CON’s
• Positioning of your organisation at the • Time consuming
international level (visibility, make your
• Difficulty to finance these activities
voice heard)
(fees, travel & accommodation)
• Get in touch with pairs at the • Not a real TT activity
international level.
• Increase team competences (access
to training, share experiences)
• Professionalize your activity (access to
practical tools, lessons learned)
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5. Local TT collaboration
Identification of the local actors
CLUSTERS KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS
“Geography proximate group of Coordinated system of heterogeneous actors,
interconnected companies and associated
institutions in a particular field, linked by developing cooperation relations to reach
commonalities and complementarities” collectively a shared objective.
Clusters encompass an array of linked Knowledge networks are aimed at sharing,
industries and other entities important to exchanging and producing knowledge. These
competition. They include suppliers of
specialized inputs: which can be classified networks rely on the "quality of the
as: products, services or raw materials. exchanged knowledge" which is not limited
The European Cluster memorandum states: only to the simple "know-who".
“Clusters (…) provide an environment Intensive relations facilitate the access to
conducive to innovation. They enable open
innovation, the creation and refinement of diverse knowledge (tacit and implicit).
new ideas in networks of cooperating
companies and institutions. And they lower These interactions can of course being at the
the barriers for transforming new ideas into origin of innovating ideas.
business and capturing the benefits of
globalization”
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6. Local TT collaboration in Practice
 Local TT collaboration relies on close collaboration partnerships between TTO and
networks or clusters, which generates:
• Interactions and exchange of information among innovation actors
• Trust among these actors
• A privileged channel of communication between TTOs and field actors
 The practices introduced are aimed at supporting the main challenges of networks and
clusters:
• „Network support services‟ provide logistical and communication services supporting the
challenging phase of networks emergence
• The „Cluster Collaboration Platform‟ provides a privileged IT supported communication
platform between clusters
• The INNOVONS.BE mapping of competences supports networks in the identification of their
competences, helping them identify potential fields for improvement or cooperation (combining
competences)
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7. Local TT collaboration
 Network support services
Supporting networks and clusters as soon as they emerge helps them overcome the
challenges of this risky phase. Exchanging complex and strategic information and
concretely cooperation requires trust among participants, as well as the opportunity to
meet and develop or strengthen links.
The support to network creation grants networks access to a range of logistical and
communication services, helping them organize their activities and communicate on these
activities toward a targeted audience…
These services are delivered in the framework of a global cooperation charter and
agreement. These documents set the base for a strong cooperation between TTO and
networks but also among networks.
This bunch of services was designed as a corporate tool for Tudor. Through
close interactions, it enables to align local networks topics and activities with
strategic objectives in terms of technology transfer.
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8. Networking between TTOs and other actors
 Cluster collaboration platform
 Cooperation, coordination, communication are processes that can be IT-supported.
 A cooperation platform for clusters or network:
• Supports pushing free useful and strategic information on clusters or networks
issues through a “cluster handbook”
• Provides them with restricted access dedicated to their members in form of a
Social Network
• Offers users/members a central information tool, where knowledge is documented
and exchange is fostered.
• Provides a dedicated management tool,
This platform is a mean to push information on the field and gives a priviledged
access to information on networks life and management issues
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9. Networking between TTOs and other actors
 Walloon portal INNOVONS.be
 Portal that aims at mapping competencies to help networks create an in-depth
knowledge of the competencies their stakeholders master, i.e. the opportunities of
combining this knowledge in order to achieve their goals through internal but also
external cooperation.
• Further level of integration
• Creation of local synergies
• Collaborative research opportunities or fields of experimentation
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10. Pro’s and Con’s of local TT collaboration
PRO’s CON’s
• Legitimacy and embeddedness in • Return of investment or impact of
local and economic context networking and clustering impact is
mainly intangible and not
• Mutual competencies development
simultaneous with investment. It is
• Privileged access to information difficult to asses.
• Time-consuming & costly activity
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11. Suggested Readings
 Link to bibliography
(1) Metrics for Knowledge Transfer from Public Research Organisations in Europe, Report
from the European Commission‟s Expert Group on Knowledge Transfer Metrics.
http://ec.europa.eu/invest-in-research/pdf/download_en/knowledge_transfer_web.pdf
(2) Michael E. Porter, Cluster and the New Economics of Competition, Harvard Business
Review, 1998, Reprint 98609.
http://www.deu.edu.tr/userweb/sedef.akgungor/dosyalar/porter.pdf
(3) The European Cluster Memorandum. Promoting European Innovation through
clusters : an agenda for Policy action.
http://www.clusterobservatory.eu/upload/European_Cluster_Memorandum.pdf
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12. Suggested Readings
Link to code book
Clusters
Networks
Link to relevant websites
France Clusters
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