New technologies offer extraordinary platforms for achieving two key objectives: finding the ideal partners for an R&D&i project, and assessing knowledge so as to maximise results from Innovation and Research work. In this respect, virtual exchange communities are an extremely effective tool for the exchange of proposals and solutions. This recommendation is aimed at maximising the potential of 2.0 technologies by creating an online community which provides services for the improvement of knowledge transfer between Universities and Business by using a series of instruments such as discussion forums, publications, and video libraries, technopedias, educational modules or technical articles. This would permit the creation of virtual communities, which are either sector-specific and concentrated in teams, or of a more general and global nature so as to facilitate the effective transmission of expertise between sectors. The main objective is to bridge the gap between companies and researchers with tools which have proven to be effective in promoting communication and debate.

Cordis Marketplace (UE)

This is a free online service which offers research and technological development results and innovative business opportunities in the field of emerging technologies. It includes all exploitable research results, a description of the best results presented as technology offers, and complementary information on Innovation: news, events, useful links, and local support.

Innovation Exchange

The Social Innovation eXchange (SIX) is a global community made up of professionals, start-ups, executives, SMEs, consultants, academics, organisations involved in the process of Innovation and NGOs committed to the development of social Innovation. Its aim is to improve the methods used by Companies to find solutions to challenging issues such as aging, climate change, inequality and health. Sponsoring companies suggest areas of research and specific questions and reward the most creative solutions with up to €100,000. An example of this initiative was a $75,000 award granted to a company which designed an advertising campaign to persuade consumers to use an ultra concentrated dishwashing liquid commercialised in small, environmentally-friendly packages.

Enterprise Europe Network

The Enterprise Europe Network is an organisation promoted by the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission and funded by the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) of the European Union. It was created after the two other long-established networks were merged: the Euro Info Centres and the European Innovation Relay Network. Enterprise Europe is the largest network to be established by the European Commission and operates in 49 countries. In Spain, 55 organisations grouped into nine consortiums offer the Network’s services and provide support to businesses.

Agents required for implementation

This recommendation can be implemented by a group of Companies, which should then seek collaboration with Universities so as to implement these services jointly.

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1. The future of work: How the new order of business will shape your organization, your management style, and your life. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
2. http://www.cordis.europa.eu
3. http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu
4. http://www.ceseand.net
5. http://www.innovationexchange.com/ - Online Open Innovation marketplace.