Human + Knowledge = Business² Social Innovation in SME’s Dr. Rob Gründemann Professor of Organizational Configurations and Work Relations Research Centre for Social Innovation Utrecht, 23 April 2009

Structure of the presentation n Definition of Social Innovation n Aims of the project n Target groups n Activities

Social Innovation n Systematic change of the organisation and the work process and the development of human talents directed at: n the enlargement of the knowledge base for innovation n the improvement of the profitability of companies n the increase of the labour participation in the Utrecht region (Volberda, et al, 2007)

Aims of the project Contribution of growth and continuity of SME’s in the Utrecht Region, bij way of: 1.Knowledge transfer: to deliver to and actively share the knowledge and competences of social innovation with SME’s 2.Knowlegde application: to take care that the knowledge and competences of social innovation are actively used by SME’s 3.Knowlegde development and dissemination: to monitor and evaluate the application in view of further development and delivery of new knowledge and competences to SME’s 4.Improvement of the knowledge infrastructure to achieve an increase of the innovation capacity of SME’s in the Utrecht region

Aim of the project for SME’s innovation growth model Sustainable growthEffectsTurnover Added value Net profit Export Employment InnovationsChancesProduct and services Market and marketing Technology and ICT Organisation and process Innovation capacityConditionsBusiness strategy Organisation and processes Company culture Competences Knowledge and technology Generate new ideas Sell new products Explore new products

Benefits for the Utrecht region n Improvement of the economic position n Increase of entrepreneur trust n Increase in employment n Improvement of the connection between education and business

Targetgroup for the project SME’s in the Utrecht region n Construction and Installation n Professional Services (focus on brokery agencies) n Creative Industry (including ICT) n Assembly Industry (focus on metal) n Logistic and Commerce (focus op retail trade) n Human Health Focus on early adopters + early and late majority Innovators as role models

Activities (1) Phase 0: Preparations n Invitations for tenders n Development of the Innovation Basic scan n Design the monitoring process

Activitities (2) Phase 1: Awareness raining and knowledge transfer n Regional Kick Off meeting n 6 sector meetings n Digital portal (website)

Activities (3) Phase 2: Knowledge transfer and implementation of the basic scan n Implementation of 300 innovation scans in SME’s

Activities (4) Phase 3: Implementation and dissemination n 300 implementation processes based on the results of basic scan with ‘social innovation vouchers’ (max. € 4000) n Collective meetings. Characteristics: small scaled, close contacts, interactive n Support of co-operative networks

Activitities (5) Phase 4:Closing n Regional closing meeting

Activities (6) All phases: transfer of knowledge and improvement of the infrastructure n Monitoring of the knowledge transfer n Improvement of the knowledge infrastructure a.o: n By co-operation with partners operating closely together with SME’s n Knowledge network social innovation in SME’s n Marketing and publicity