The open ecosystems promote the sharing of knowledge and scientific innovation
Human societies today are based on knowledge economies, where knowledge is commonplace and where rapid and innovative solutions to problems are sought. We explore why innovation ecosystems that nourish sets of varied skills, collaborative environments and diverse perspectives earn a reputation centers acceleration of innovative solutions.
Knowledge economies are systems that capitalize on scientific discovery and applied research. Gradually, as civilization progresses, we get closer to the construction and prosperity of such savings. Today, knowledge is exploited in product innovation, in order to solve social problems and create sustainable growth opportunities.
The 21st century change towards open innovation
In the scientific world, knowledge sharing and collective problem solving can lead to the rapid development of optimal solutions. However, in an almost intuitive-cons, academic ideal of “publish or perish” has led to strict protection of intellectual property and a natural resistance to sharing their best ideas with others.
Until very recently, only innovate within his own organization was considered the norm. However, the thrust of economic globalization and technological change, accompanied by the realization that does not rely on internal resources and limited prospects may slow or even stifle innovation, changed attitudes.
“Many more institutions are testing open innovation today than a few decades. Open innovation is based on active collaboration with other organizations to work on solutions to pressing societal challenges “ said Tom Straeter, Senior Manager at Kadans Ecosystem Science Partner, a company specialized in the realization of open innovation hubs.
And this growing openness born of innovation ecosystems. Innovation ecosystems include an interconnected network of organizations and entities that develop skills and use a shared set of services, knowledge and skills to innovate.
Like its carbon counterpart, proximity stimulates interaction within an innovation ecosystem. Hence, successful collaborations may arise between sectors, encouraging the sharing of perspectives, which leads to faster innovation.
In the life sciences industry, science parks built on the concept of innovation ecosystem have been growing in popularity. Straeter explained that this can be attributed to the stimulating environment they offer to professionals, such as scientists and entrepreneurs, while creating employment opportunities.
Critical success factors that drive innovation
“Having a successful innovation ecosystem, it is important to have a good representation and good interaction of three types of organizations into a science park, commonly called the triple helix“, Straeter developed.
“This includes companies that act as shopping centers and business; knowledge institutions and research such as universities, which are the source of new knowledge and technologies; and government network of organizations or agencies overseeing stable connections in collaborations that arise.
The elements crucial in the establishment of an innovation ecosystem also include access to new skills and knowledge, funds (via public or private donors), an international network of business facilities recreation, and providing well-designed and flexible accommodation.
Another critical success factor, said Straeter, is to adapt the management of the ecosystem approach to the ecosystem requirements of innovation itself. “As managers of ecosystems supporting 24 science parks and more than 40 properties throughout Europe over the past two decades, we have learned that it is essential to be aware of the needs of our tenants. In addition to asking us for help to set up their offices, laboratories or facilities in multi-tenant buildings, our tenants want a direct channel to the public and private investors.
“They would also have access to a range of services including incubation programs, legal assistance and marketing, property management and intellectual property and recruitment. With our ecosystem services, we adopted a proactive approach to address these needs. »
The ultimate goal is to build an ecosystem that promotes meetings planned and unplanned, stimulating collaboration and innovation. Therefore, the networking opportunities are essential.
Sharing how critical it is ensured in science parks innovation that helps manage Kadans said Straeter, “We have established ecosystem tools to encourage networking in person, such as meetings on an informal drink, professional events, expert sessions and symposia.”
“We also encourage virtual connections via our online platform, our webinars, our online discussion tables and series of podcasts that we host. These tools ensure that each of our guests can take full advantage of any service provided in our science park innovation. »
Success Stories: How open innovation strengthens cooperation
The success stories of science parks supported by Kadans illustrate the promise of innovation ecosystems.
Sharing a recent example, Straeter said: “The campus Novio Tech in the Dutch city of Nijmegen has become a health center and high technology closely related to the local community. It hosts our tenant Enzyre, an innovative diagnostic and prosperous company.
“So qu’Enzyre building a sensor based on a platform that facilitates the testing of patients and treatment optimization, they were looking for a small-scale production support. Located near Enzyre was CITC, a good non-profit innovation center equipped of tools to operationalize this. “
What began as a meeting over coffee at the science park has turned into a successful partnership between Enzyre and CITC, which resulted in the construction of prototypes that demonstrate proof of concept technology Enzyre.
Another example of successful business based on the same science park is that of Protinhi Therapeutics, a biotechnology company preclinical antiviral that focuses on the development of drugs for infectious diseases.
“We are proud to have been able to support a company like Protinhi, which has strategically leveraged the international collaborations and inter-campus, in its mission to address the unmet clinical need higher for diseases such as dengue, Zika, the West Nile fever and even recently Covid19 “ Straeter said.
Similarly, on the campus of Wageningen – located within the grounds of the University and Research of Wageningen (WUR) in the Netherlands – Kadans contributed to the operation of a center for research and food production.
And two successful companies make their home on this campus: Yili, Asian dairy business growing, and food technology accelerator StartLife, who partnered in 2021. This collaboration is a win-win situation, not only because of the geographical proximity of the two companies, but also the common goals that companies share, said Straeter.
This partnership is a means to Yili to tap into the entrepreneurial resources of StartLife to think and solve the problems the food industry must address in the future. In turn, Yili, with his extensive experience in Asian countries, allowing healthy foods innovative start-ups to access opportunities in these emerging markets.
Future to knowledge-intensive and innovative
Successful innovation emerging science parks Kadans that helps operate is proof that innovation ecosystems can accomplish what they planned to do. However, the community building courses in these companies is a cyclical process, with lots of room to grow.
“We constantly rely on the approach to optimize the innovation ecosystem for our tenants in many science parks in which we operate” Straeter concludes. “As we acquire more and are shaping ecosystems across Europe, we will continue to work with our strategic partners at regional, national and international organizations to connect and form strong knowledge-sharing communities.”
To learn how you can partner with Kadans Science Partner and pull ecosystem party proposed innovation to ensure your success, visit the Company Website.
Tune in here to listen to the podcast series “Building the Future” where partners Kadans network share more about the innovative solutions they develop for the problems they hope to solve.
Images reproduced courtesy of Science Kadans Partner.
