1. Innovation Café – a tool to foster relationships between SMEs
Innovation Café – a tool to foster relationships between SMEs
Ziggy Kovacs
innovation specialist
Regions for Economic Change Conference
March 7, 2007 Brussels

2. Hungarian tale versus North American tale

3. What is the problem?
The level of co-operation between SMEs is extremely low
SMEs deal with day-to-day issues only
The result: SMEs are losing ground in the battle against large (multinational) corporations

4. Where can SMEs turn?
To increase the level of co-operation – Networking
To aquire help in their operations – Business and Trade Associations
Too broad spectrum (geographically, industry wise, number of issues)
Have their own agendas
Organized top-down

5. How to make it better?
Innovation Café = Business networking based on the World Café principle
Introducing members
Topic presentation
Group discussions
Full group conversation

6. Results Already visible 60 representatives of 45 IT SMEs attended
Knowledge sharing
Something has started
Acting in unison towards other organizations
Formation of actual partnerships
The creation of an association

7. Surrounding elements Company database Online forums
Knowledge center on our website

8. Conclusions Advantages
A great tool to engage people in authentic conversation
Can be tailor made easily for any situation
Builds from the bottom-up
Limitations
Geographical

9. Thank you for your attention