Multiplier elements of innovation: towards an innovation model in the Mexican micro and small business

Innovation is a fundamental strategy to generate and maintain a competitive position in the market, however, the companies’ ability to generate innovations is not an easy task, as there are different factors that influence it. Although several innovation models have been developed, no ad hoc models have been proposed to the conditions of micro and small enterprise, nor the structural conditions in developing countries. Therefore, the objective of this research is to identify and analyze the most relevant management factors that drive innovation in Mexican micro and small business. To this end, 594 micro and small businesses from the Laja-Bajío region belonging to the commercial sector, service and manufacture, were surveyed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to identify their needs on innovation generation. The results show that technology management, marketing strategies and human resources management are the key elements to drive innovation in the MSEs (Micro and Small enterprises).

Promotion to Innovation, Understanding and Transfer of Technology Through Hubs Projects Promoted by the National Secretariat of Higher Education

This article allows us to expose the promotion of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology transfer and the importance of a society demanding new things, as a result of which there is an increasingly demanding need for satisfaction for those who consume them and make the generation of new products, goods or services are mostly in demand. This research work aims to externalize the national situation of ecosystems of innovation, generation of knowledge and commercialization of the same for its use in the post of the development and consolidation of the HUB project. In this article, an exploratory research was carried out for the selection of relevant diagnostic information on these issues at the global and regional level, and a deductive study of situations already established to situations that are emerging in our country as novel fields of opportunity in difficult situations. There are disparities in the results of the HUBs at the national level, due to the difficulties that this project has generated in trying to adapt to their local realities, despite this, they have been able to generate operating regulations that support the efforts of this project and also the status regarding the activities in which each one is. Keywords: innovation, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, HUBS. Resumen Este artículo permite exponer el fomento a la innovación, el emprendimiento y la transferencia de tecnología y la importancia de una sociedad demandante de cosas nuevas, producto de ello se genera una necesidad de satisfacción cada vez más exigente de quienes las consumen y hacen que la generación de nuevos productos, bienes o servicios sean mayormente demandados. Este trabajo de investigación pretende exteriorizar la situación nacional de ecosistemas de innovación, generación de conocimiento y comercialización del mismo para su aprovechamiento en post del desarrollo y consolidación del proyecto HUB. En este artículo se realizó una investigación exploratoria para la selección de información relevante del diagnóstico de éstas temáticas a nivel mundial y regional, y un estudio deductivo de situaciones ya establecidas a situaciones que están surgiendo en nuestro país como campos novedosos de oportunidad en situaciones difíciles. Existen disparidad de resultados de los HUB´s a nivel nacional, debido a las dificultades que este proyecto ha generado al tratar de adaptarse a sus realidades locales, a pesar de ello, se han logrado generar una normativa de funcionamiento que de soporte a las gestiones de este proyecto y también el estado respecto de las actividades en las que se encuentran cada uno. Palabras clave: innovación, emprendimiento, transferencia de tecnología, HUBS.

Correlation Analysis Between the Factors of Innovation Generation in the Brazilian Sectors

The fundamental question that motivated this research was the search for an understanding of how the sub-factors of the innovation potential indicator (IPI) correlate by sectors in Brazil. The correlation between subfactors is part of the justification for how these subfactors sustain the potential for innovation within an industry. This analysis is based on IPI, specifically on its ability to identify sectorial segments with potential for innovation in a given territorial area. The IPI has the characteristic of being assertive, with low updating costs, and of mapping in a selected territory, which would be the sectorial nuclei that present a high potential for innovation. Such a tool could support a robust development policy based on innovation, in a comprehensive way, through which sectors should be activated and encouraged in which territories. This would enable an effective and profound alignment of strategies, policies, and actions.

Innovation in Buyer–Supplier Relationships: A Review of Relationship Characteristics and Directions for Future Research

The increased reliance on external suppliers for generating new product and process innovation has resulted in a growing number of studies on supply chain innovation (SCI). This growing body of research, however, utilizes diverse theoretical perspectives to examine constructs relevant to SCI and has generated fragmented findings on the facilitators of SCI. In particular, although a large number of SCIs occur in a buyer–supplier relationship, the relationship characteristics that foster innovation generation remain unclear. The current study synthesizes the existing literature on innovation in buyer–supplier relationships and provides a comprehensive framework that highlights the key characteristics of a buyer–supplier relationship that foster SCIs. The study also aims to identify new opportunities for future research regarding innovation generation involving upstream suppliers.

How do we need to adapt Biomedical Engineering Education for the Health 4.0 challenges?

Novel challenges and developments require adaptations on skill set, content, and associated education. A biomedical engineer will require a broad range of skills - which to a large extent are currently not taught - in the coming years to meet the development needs of future healthcare: intensive interdisciplinary team work, advanced communication skills, team management and coaching capabilities, advanced project management, learn how to learn, visionary and forward looking thinking, understanding of health economics, entrepreneurship and leadership. But above all empathy towards the clinical user and patients is needed as well as a basic understanding of the current and future clinical workflows that can globally vary. An innovation process for a healthcare related product or service will likely only create value through the consideration and implementation of several of these points. Even though techniques for the development of innovation and enhancing creativity in individuals are widely discussed, there are relatively few reports on the practice of mainstreaming creativity in an organizational setting. We report on the setup of our Graduate School “Technology Innovation in Therapy and Imaging (T²I²)” that has implemented a structured post graduate program and focuses on interdisciplinary and application-oriented innovation generation education. The educational process starts with the observation and identification of clinical needs and an in-depth understanding of the problem and subsequently covers all steps necessary to transfer prototypes into viable solutions and further into implementing valuable products.

The Role of Living Labs in the Process of Creating Innovation

The paper is based on the research carried out into Living Labs in Canada. The aim of the paper is presenting the essence of Living Labs as a concept facilitating innovation generation in businesses thanks to the cooperation of various actors, e.g. producers with users, inspiring the process of the development of new goods and services. The research questions raised pertain to the clarification how Living Labs create innovation in businesses. The Living Labs functioning in the Ontario region were the subject matter of the research. The described case study is theorygenic in character because of the early development stage of the knowledge. During the research process the multi-directional nature and the impact dynamics of the idea of Living Labs among peer partners of innovative processes have been noted, emphasizing the prosumer idea as well as the possibility of businesses cooperating in Living Labs.