The document discusses the strategic intelligence needs of firms in the Murcia region, highlighting the findings of the STRATINC project which aimed to analyze the information needs of clustered versus isolated companies. It emphasizes the importance of relevant information for enhancing company strategy and competitiveness, particularly through innovation in product development. Key conclusions suggest that providing useful information and fostering internal capabilities are essential for meeting companies' strategic intelligence needs.

1. What are firm’s strategic intelligence ‘needs’?: The Murcia example Esteban Pelayo INFO – Regional Development Agency of Murcia Stratinc Finale Conference 7th of September 2006

2. Outline 1. Needs detected by StratinC partners 2. The case of Murcia 3. Conclusions

3. Needs detected by StratinC Project In 2004 the partners of the project made an analysis to detect companies’ cluster needs in any of the participant regions Determination if these needs were different in clustered companies than in isolated ones The complete information is available in: Global report: http://www.e-innovation.org/stratinc/files/Clusters_needs_in_Strategic_Information.pdf All partners surveys: http://www.e-innovation.org/stratinc/reports.html

4. Relevance of information Information is an important input for the strategy and competitiveness of the companies Example of how was scored by Oslo Biotechnology companies the market knowledge: Source: Oslo Teknopol (2004) “A survey of Norwegian Biotechnology companies”; based on a report composed for The Norwegian Research Council by MMI UNIVERI

5. Innovation and watch Fields of Survey In the other regions the most important fields of survey are: Markets Technologies Followed by: Customers Products Source: Mancomunidad del Norte de Tenerife X Training X Products X Process X Recruitment X Financing aids and subsidies X Suppliers X Competitors X Customers X Technologies X Markets Great relevance Average relevance Some relevance Not relevance

6. Sources of information For the others regions the results are: Customers, Internet Suppliers Followed by: Trade fairs Employees Competitors NORDRHEIN WESTFALEN : STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE AND CLUSTERING in the NEW MATERIALS SECTOR

7. Other needs of watch In all of the partners the main results are: Identification of potential sources of information Provision of information Followed by: Help with the formulation of requirements of information Not relevant: Identification of potential subcontractors / outsourcing ICT Sector in Region of Central Macedonia

8. Networks - Motivations Share competences Get new markets what you can’t get alone Diversify the customers Rationalize the purchases Develop the outsourcing Grow quantitative production Create a lobbying LORRAINE : STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE AND CLUSTERING in the WOOD SECTOR

9. Company needs in Murcia Juice industry Main characteristics: The growth in companies come from product innovation Information comes from different sources, but none of them satisfactory They do not consider themselves as a cluster. However they express that their information needs are the same for all of them Main difficulties Skepticism: Four industrial associations providing information There is not any common platform for all of them able to became a starting point

10. Innovation & watch in Murcia Main interests Fields of survey Sources of information Practical of watch The Market Providers Products Technologies Market Regulations Fairs Internet R&D Institutions and Professional organizations Formalized on customers, suppliers and markets

11. General scheme of the PSIP for juices Software PSIP E-mail alerts Internet http://zumos.ctc.es Collection of data Analysis Dissemination Expert

12. PSIP in Murcia (1)

15. 1st Conclusion: Close approaches are important Strategic intelligence Technology watch Foresight Economic intelligence Human capital Knowledge Management Co-opetition Cluster Information about Clients Competitors Providers Regulations Own employees Science & Tech. Analysis Increase profits Increase sales Competitiveness Salaries Investments pay-back Concepts Deliverables Companies 1. Feedback from the companies

16. 2nd Conclusion: Supply only useful information The information has to be useful and lead directly to the adoption of actions to be done by the company who receives that information. Information ‘as such’ is not enough to increase companies’ competitiveness Information supplied Company Examples of possible actions: New providers New markets New investments New personnel Innovation on a certain technology for a process or a product 1. Feedback from the companies

17. 3rd conclusion: foster internal capabilities A common approach is to provide information But… Is extremely difficult to supply relevant and customized information to the companies The companies’ needs wouldn’t be satisfied It is better to foster internal capabilities in companies It is more powerful to promote the use of strategic intelligence in companies by other measures

18. Thank you for your attention! Contact: Esteban Pelayo www.ifrm-murcia.es Esteban.Pelayo@info.carm.es Tel.: +34 968 362812 Region of Murcia