TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 754/2002
P J Oakley, S B Jones and R J Wise
Background
From 1995-2000, the UK Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC) sponsored a major programme of university research into industrial innovation. The 25 projects within the Innovation Programme have produced a significant contribution to innovation literature, proposing a range of new models and insights drawn from a wide range of industry sectors.
In 2000, the Association of Independent Research and Technology Organisations (AIRTO) was instrumental in encouraging ESRC and members of the research and technology organisation (RTO) community to undertake research into the application of Innovation Programme results to the RTO sector. TWI undertook a project, in the form of an ESRC/AIRTO User Fellowship, to study innovation management processes in technology based RTOs.
This report uses the work undertaken in the fellowship to analyse innovation management at TWI and other organisations, and to make recommendations for future actions to enhance innovative activity.
Objectives
- Survey and evaluate the suitability of innovation management tools and techniques resulting from the ESRC Innovation Programme for analysing innovation management at TWI.
- Test these on the development of commercial technology prospects drawn from on-going innovations involving TWI and industrial partners.
- Compare innovation management at TWI with other RTOs.
- Identify the most appropriate tools and techniques for technological applications, detailing their applicability, benefits and limitations.