Summary objectives The background 7

5.2NORMING

This stage regards the operative work aimed at analysing and transferring selected good practices. Each partner will share the results of the previous phase within the network and co-operate with the others, the essential aspect related to this activity being the joint actions carried out at the transnational level.

Once a specific good practice is selected, each partner will be in charge of analysing it and favouring its transfer to the other partners according to the methodology described in section 6.

5.3PERFORMING

This phase aims at producing concrete outputs in terms of application in one region of the experiences gained in other regions. In particular the transnational activity will consist in defining the way to implement one good practice, or part of it, in the interested KREO regions.

This activity will require the definition of a transnational working team supporting the local potential beneficiaries interested in the practice implementation.

The production and delivery of tangible outputs within the regions and to the PAXIS initiative is one the main aspect of this work phase. Lessons learnt as well as those tools developed within the project will be diffused, with particular attention to the policy makers, who could uptake elements of the lessons learnt at a policy level.

6Exploration, transfer and implementation of good practices

6.1Basic

As mentioned in section 3.1, the basis for the methodology to select, analyse and transfer good practices is the methodology developed within KREO TN1, which has been completed with two additional steps to the same conceptual framework. In particular, the transfer phase will be completed with an exploratory phase as well as with an implementation phase, with the aim of increasing the network capacity to share information, experiences and methods as well as to improve the transferability of best practices from one region to another.

Through the addition of these two further phases (exploration and implementation), KREO TN2 will actually broaden the scope of KREO TN1, allowing the identification of new and original practices that need a better definition before their application and a major integration of the KREO thematic network activities in local systems through the starting, tuning or development of new practices.

Figure 4 – Inputs and Outputs in exploration, transfer and implementation phases

6.2Exploratory phase

New and original approaches for the setting-up of and supporting to enterprises will be analysed and exchanged within the network and at European level.

These approaches and initiatives that are at their very early stage, require a certain definition process for both their design and application methods. Information exchanged will regard the needs the initiatives respond to, the partnership that promoted their creation and manages their operation, their working mechanisms, etc.

The aim of the exploratory phase will be:

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  To identify possible new initiatives to transfer when implemented in their regions of origin
  
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  To anticipate and accelerate the knowledge transfer process
  
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  To discuss new innovation policies for the support of innovative companies
  

This phase is particularly relevant for the activity of the Advisory Board, as its members, having an in depth knowledge of the issues related to the creation and support of innovative firms, will be able to appropriately evaluate the identified new initiatives, especially for what concerns their prospective developments and applications. Furthermore, being the AB members closely linked to the local policy makers, they will be able to favour the uptake of the most promising elements of these initiatives as input for new policies

6.3Transfer phase

The transfer phase is made of a series of activities aimed at the identification, analysis and exchange of the innovation practices developed in a specific local context. The transfer phase is based on the methodology already developed within KREO TN1 and includes the following steps.

6.3.1Selection of good practices

The identification of good practices is made in the four thematic areas, already described in section 4.2, according to partner regions’ priorities and needs.

The following steps will be made for the selection of good practices:

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  Identification of regional priorities through the first involvement of local actors
  
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  Establishment of key issues to be addressed
  
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  Possible definition of sectors of application
  

6.3.2Analysis of good practices

Analysis of practices will be made through the developed questionnaire (see Annex 3) which, further to general contact information on the selected practice, includes the following investigation areas:

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  KREO TN2 priorities
  
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  Description of the practice including indications on the problem/weakness tackled by the practice, its level of maturity, main objectives, achieved results, partnership involved and users
  
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  Sectoral focus of the practice
  
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  Tools developed within the practice including their specific working mechanisms
  
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  Financial and human resources
  
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  Development of the practice over time
  
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  Monitoring and evaluation activity, including tools and indicators applied
  
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  Success factors and problems encountered during the implementation
  

In addition to those aspects, four different yardsticks against which assessing good practices have been set as the most relevant elements in the transfer process:

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  Yardstick 1: Interface
  

This yardstick aims at identifying how the practice favours the setting-up of relations between research bodies, higher education institutions and enterprises, interfacing research and industry being considered one of the principal means to favour the starting-up of technology and science based innovative companies.

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  Yardstick 2: Involvement of beneficiary companies
  

The effective involvement of companies, and suitable modalities to do so, has also been defined as determinant in the definition of what a “good practice” should be.

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  Yardstick 3: Financial sustainability
  

The way the practice is financed and its ability to be self-sustainable is another aspect that will be deeply analysed.

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  Yardstick 4: Repeatability
  

The possibility to “reproduce” the good practice in another context is a major aspect of interest for the partnership and one of the main final goals of the network.

6.3.3Exchange of good practices

On the basis of the analysis carried out in the previous phase, the information gained will be shared among the partners, who will particularly focus on the understanding of interfaces and critical modalities depending on local characteristics. This element is in fact essential in order to facilitate the comprehension of practices’ potential and evaluate their transfer opportunity.

The assessment of selected good practices will be connected to the possible definition of a common set of indicators through which measuring the impact and performances of initiatives to support innovative companies creation and development.