The document discusses ways to foster collaboration between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and research institutions in Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany. It outlines some of the challenges with bridging the different worlds of SMEs and researchers. Northrhine-Westphalia has implemented several tools to facilitate partnerships, including ZENIT which initiates cooperation networks, PROvendis which links research to commercial applications, and PFAU which promotes university start-ups. The region also utilizes cluster policies and organizations like BIO NRW in the biotechnology sector. The goal of the regional innovation system is to solve social challenges through progress and sustainability.

1. Reconciliation between two worlds:
Enterprises and research institutions in
Northrhine-Westphalia
Small and medium enterprises and their
cooperation with science and research
Evropské Hodnoty / Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
Dr. Henning Friege
17-06-2013, Prague

2. Some personal details
Present activities:
Advisor for entrepreneurs
Lecturer at Dresden‘s Technical University
Public administration (1978-1998)
Head of the department for the reclamation of contaminated sites, City of
Hamburg
Head of the department for water monitoring, Environmental State
Agency NRW
Commissioner for environmental affairs and public facilities of the City of
Düsseldorf
Corporate management (1998-2013)
Managing director of AWISTA GmbH, development of a network of
shared enterprises (waste management)
Senior vice president of Stadtwerke Düsseldorf AG (energy, environment,
water supply, R+D)
Dr. Henning Friege

3. Outline
SME‘s and Universities= ?
NRW policy for economic strength and innovation
Some tools for the partnership between universities and
SME‘s
ZENIT
PROvendis
PFAU
Cluster policy
Biotechnology cluster
Regional innovation strategy
Conclusions – SME‘s and researchers ☺☺☺☺
Dr. Henning Friege

4. Two worlds collide…
Small and medium sized
enterprises…
Are struggling on (sometimes
rapidly changing markets)
Need solutions for their clients
Have no or small budgets for
research
Have no spare time … time is
money!
Researchers at universities and
dedicated research institutions
(MPG, FhG,…)
Have time to come to results
Need publications in scientific
journals with high „scoring“
Do not focus on the application
of their results in the market
Are paid by the government
Dr. Henning Friege
Potential common interests: Higher budgets for (applied) research, marketing
of patents, workplaces for research fellows, public appreciation leading to
more public funding or higher customer loyalty

5. Northrhine-Westphalia’s policy for
economic strength and innovation

6. Some informations about „my region“
Dr. Henning Friege

7. Example No 1: ZENIT – initiator of networks for
cooperation in research and market development
Dr. Henning Friege

8. Example No 1 - ZENIT: the consulting portfolio
Europe
Mediation of cooperation partners
Information on European Single Market
Support in internationalisation
Funding
Consulting/information on national/EU
funding programmes
Evaluation of project ideas and proposals
Technology & innovation
Initiation of international technology and know-how transfer
Support of innovation management
Technology and innovation assessment
Dr. Henning Friege

9. Example No 2: Regional link between research
and commercial applications - PROvendis
Dr. Henning Friege

10. Example No 3: PFAU –
promoting start-ups from universities
Objectives:
To minimise the personal and financial
risks linked to starting a business
To turn innovative ideas into products
ready for market
To develop product-oriented and
innovative services so that they can be
offered in the marketplace
Graduates who received their last
degree or doctorate less than two years
ago and have a mentor at a university in
NRW
The enterprise must be located in NRW
Funding via personnel costs amounting
to a part-time research placement at a
university (for the maximum duration of
two years)
In addition, a chequebook for consulting
services amounting to 5.000 Euro
Two seminars free-of-charge on topics
relevant to start-ups, e.g. marketing and
sales, project management, etc.
Dr. Henning Friege

11. Cluster policy NRW
Dr. Henning Friege
CM
Healthsector
CM
Medicalresearch
CM
Biotechnology
CM
Automotive
CM
Food
CM
Logistics
CM
Nano/microtech,
materials
CM
Mech.+planteng.
CM
Plastics
CM
Environmentaltech.
CM
Media
CM
Energyresearch
CM
Chemicals
CM
Energyindustry
CM
ICT
CM
Cultural&creative
industry
Activation of
potential, etc.
NRW
clusters
Lead
markets
Coordination Cluster secretariat
State ministries
Transport
and logistics
New materials and production
technologies
Energy Knowledge-intensive
production and
services
Healthcare

12. Example No 4: The Biotechnology cluster
Dr. Henning Friege

13. Example No 4: BIO NRW – striving for excellence
Dr. Henning Friege
From the
presentation
of Dr.
Bernward
Garthoff at
IHK‘s
Commission
for Industry,
26-05-2013

14. Main objectives for NRW‘s
regional innovation system (RIS)
Dr. Henning Friege
Sustainable future by progress in the issues of social
challenges
The idea of progress: human beings at the core of research
Sustainability in all three dimensions
Focussing the big social challenges of today
Oriented on the emerging markets of tomorrow
Adapted from a presentation of the Ministry for Innovation, Science, and Research NRW

15. Basic principles of NRW‘s
regional innovation system (RIS)
Dr. Henning Friege
Seizing the economic and social opportunities of sustainable
management
Shaping the emerging markets for future needs based on the strengths
of the regional economy and the social challenges
Prioritizing solutions with good chances for implementation and
dissemination
Taking social and systemic innovations into consideration
Integrating stakeholders from the society in an early stage
Adapted from a presentation of the Ministry for Innovation, Science, and Research NRW

16. Basic requirements for
regional innovation systems (RIS)
Dr. Henning Friege
A regional innovation system should…
Have clear goals
Motivate all target groups to participate
Have a framework of measurable operational criteria
Be designed for long-term application yet also achieve short-
term success
Facilitate, initiate and support co-operation at all levels (local,
regional, national and international, especially in the EU)
Demonstrate and promote exemplary success cases
Utilise, in adapted form if necessary, the many innovation
support measures and good practices already existing in the EU
Adapted from Peter
Wolfmeyer ZENIT 2013

17. Conclusions:
We have no monpoly on truth, but some
experiences might be helpful, though every
region has to find its own way

18. Research and SME‘s
Dr. Henning Friege
Companies: The management should …
be aware of fundamental innovations with potential impacts on
the market
install an interface function in the company being responsible
for the contact to researchers
offer traineeships to universities and learn from researchers
Research institutions and universities should…
stay in contact with private companies
look for research projects of interest for enterprises
learn the work with different disciplines

19. Bridging the gap between two worlds…
Dr. Henning Friege
The following tools and measures contribute to bridge building …
Installation of an innovation support agency which is known and accepted
in the target group (like ZENIT or the transfer technology bureaus of the universities)
Mobilization of personal advisers with generalist knowledge rather than
technical experts
Continuous support of the cooperation between research and enterprises,
no policy flips backward
Transparency between researchers and managers, common projects
Stimulation of new business start-ups in the surrounding of universities
Innovation competition contests
More personal exchange between SME’s and universities

20. Thank you for your attention
Dr. Henning Friege
Henning Friege
Dr. rer. nat. habil.
Management consultant
Sustainable strategies for entrepreneurs
European cross-linking of enterprises
Sustainability reporting of companies
+49 2855 3037311
Henning.Friege@gmx.net

21. Backup

22. Research partnerships of the big companies
Dr. Henning Friege
Long lasting experience, high
research budgets, R&D „buffer“
between companies and universities