The document discusses collaborative ideation within science and technology parks (STPs) and regional innovation networks. It presents: 1) Background on clustering in nature and STPs as hotspots for innovation in regional systems. 2) A new conceptual model for the collaborative ideation process based on research examining how to design and organize ideation to foster interactions among STP actors. 3) Insights from interviews with STP stakeholders on how they use collaborative ideation, including organizing shared facilities and themes to establish research calendars.

2. Collective Ideation within the context of
Science and Technology Parks (STPs)
and Regional Triple Helix Networks
ERSA Congress 24 August 2016
Lotte Geertsen – TMC Manufacturing Support
Ger Post – Fontys University of Applied Science

3. Content
• Clustering in nature
• STPs as hotspots in national/regional innovation innovation systems
• Collaborative ideation – theoretical backgrounds
• Research – problem statement and design
• Research findings
• Implications for policy makers and business practice

4. Clustering in nature
• Physical concentration
̵ Source of life: water and food
̵ Scarcity drives concentration
• Clustering
̵ Social behaviour in flocks
and herds
̵ Combination of animal skills
̵ Parasites
• Ecosystem
̵ Distribution of seeds via
animal migration
̵ Ecological diversity develops
over time

5. • Characteristics of a Science & Technology Park
̵ More than a collection of companies and
buildings in a shared physical infrastructure
̵ Strong concentration of knowledge and R&D
on a specific topic or theme
̵ Open innovation system and infrastructure
̵ Shared service centers effectively offer R&D
facilities, operational business facilities,
leisure activities and real estate activities
̵ Triple helix collaboration
• And…
̵ A STP is a physical meeting point and
research and business hotspot of a larger
(regional) economic cluster
̵ Co-creation in this value network based on
interactions and relations
̵ International outlook
Clustering in geographical economics:
Science & Technology Parks

6. Science & Technology Parks: economical “watering place”
• Innovation value chain
̵ From collecting ideas to spreading new concepts into the market
̵ Dilemma: share knowledge or minimize spill overs
̵ How to benefit from the proximity of being located at the STP?
̵ How to enhance the outcomes of sharing ideas and knowledge?
• Research question:
'How to design and organize the collaborative ideation process in
particular to foster interactions among the actors of Science Parks?'
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7. STPs as policy instrument for regional economic
development in Brainport Region / South NL

8. Economic development of Brainport region/South NL
€1 mln. R&D labor costs lead to 70-100 jobs in R&D,
production and service.

9. 4 STPs embedded in regional economic clusters

10. Name Location
Develop-
ment
stage
Focus on
R&D
and/or
technolo
gy driven
activities
High-
quality
business
environme
nt (incl.
Research
facilities)
Manifest
knowledge
carrier
Active
open
innovation
Yes/
No
S&T
Park
Total
located
com-
panies
Total
spin-
offs
Employ-
ment
rate
Maintenance
Value Park Terneuzen Idea Yes No
DOW
Chemical Start ? n.a. n.a. n.a.
Green
Chemistry
Campus
Bergen op
Zoom Startup
Yes,
partially Yes, limited Sabic Started Yes 12 0 20
Automotive
Campus Helmond Growth Yes
Yes,
extensive
PDE, TUV,
TNO Yes Yes 33 0 491
High Tech
Campus Eindhoven Mature Yes
Yes,
extensive
Philips,
Holst Yes Yes 130 55 10.000
Category Respondent
Government Campus management
Industry – 1 Campus resident – start up or SME company (up to 50 FTE)
Industry – 2 Campus resident – large company (>250 FTE)
Research Education or Research Institution
STPs in different development stages and perspectives

11. A new conceptual model for the collaborative ideation
process

12. Why do you use collaborative ideation? The direct &
indirect benefits.
• Synergy - Quote:
‘And then you see that it really is a must to work together to achieve
integrated solutions and that is what we all go from. On your own you
cannot get more solutions. So there is a necessity.’

13. When do you use collaborative ideation? The
boundaries & conditions.
• IP protection - Quote:
‘If we are going to share knowledge with other parties, then we of course
use a non disclosure agreement. Open innovation sounds nice, but you
have to realize that there are no or only a few companies willing to put their
ideas and technology on the street, you must also protect yourself.’

14. How do you use collaborative ideation? The choice of
collaborative ideation strategy.
• Themes - Quote:
‘To establish the R&D calendar, meaning the main issues you will focus on
the next eighteen months or the next three years, we try to determine a
common denominator to see what we should do or what we should try to
get organized.’

15. What do you use during collaborative ideation? The
collaborative ideation mechanisms.
• Organize soft facilities - Quote:
‘You have to organize the sharing otherwise it will not occur. You do not
initiate such things yourself.’

16. Collaborative ideation cannot be based on coincidental
encounters but the fuzzy front end of innovation should
be well organized.
Sharing culture
connecting protecting
Organized creativity
responsible party for
organizing soft facilities
Stimulate people’s opportunities
people are a motivating actor
1
2
3

17. While nature has got plenty of time, economies don’t
• Ecological economics (clusters and
industries emerge over time) vs.
design oriented approach
• How can we create or facilitate
‘economic watering places’?
̵ ‘Fertile soil’ (strong R&D basis;
anchor tenant)
̵ Intensive migration (embedded in
strong regional cluster)
̵ Need for orchestration and
governance
• Feeding the innovation funnel
̵ Collaborative ideation …
̵ Tooling …
̵ Soft / social elements …

19. Example NL: Working at heights
• Issue:
Many key components in chemical systems are high or in places difficult for
inspection, maintenance and repair.
• Before:
̵ build scaffolds that allow the technical inspector to climb upwards
̵ a scaffold is case specific and therefore very costly
̵ may not even be the best qualitative solution
• Collaborative ideation: ‘Quest for solutions’
̵ collective brainstorm and sharing of ideas
̵ project started with group different actors (large company, small
company, supplier, research institute) to develop a better solution
• Result:
- novel construction with ´rope-access teams´ and drones with attached
cameras to inspect, maintain and repair the chemical system
- Together the actors made a significant contribution in optimizing
maintenance and achieved structural cost savings.

20. New conceptual model: definitions and literature 1/2

21. New conceptual model: definitions and literature 2/2