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Achieving an Effective Global R&D Network: a Question of Trade-Offs
Saint Paul de Vence, 28-29 January 2010
The 2010 Representatives’ Round Table will explore how best to benefit from the global innovation network and will in particular:
- Explore why and how to connect company’s R&D centres for networking
- Discuss about the role of the home based R&D centre
- Learn why and how to network with external partners in development or academic research
- Define what is crucial in the strategic decision making process to extend or to rationalize the R&D network
- Discuss about the necessary trade-offs
- See how to benefit from the global knowledge management.
Impact of new ICT Tools on R&D Management and Excellence
12 February 2010, Cambridge
Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become an integral part of all organisations and R&D is no exception. In some ways, ICT is used in R&D for the same purposes as other business functions, to drive efficiency, manage cost, and to communicate within the organization and beyond.
This Round Table will make us aware of the new technologies and processes in R&D and demonstrate how scientific systems are applied in three different areas; data management and structuring, data analysis, and information sharing and networking.
Learning Group: Managing Transitions
First session: 25-26 February 2010, Paris
The 2010 Learning Group will focus on the key elements necessary to make an organisational change successful. It will show with participants the experiences, but also traps and tips, and include useful case studies. It is about making companies perform better - and do so sustainably.
The second session is scheduled on 10 September in Paris.
R&D as a lifeline: Opportunities and Risks of Challenging Times
12 March 2010, Amsterdam
This Round Table will look at how to avoid jeopardising long-term profits through short-term cost cutting in R&D, and it will:
- Explore different incentives inside the company to encourage risk taking with new opportunities
- Discuss co-operation with existing stakeholders and finding out what new stakeholders will be necessary for the business, including specific needs for communication
- Look at tools such as Roadmapping to identify future challenges
From Financial to Performance Control, including Value Assessment
19 March 2010, Hamburg
This Round Table will provide tools for better financial and performance evaluation of R&D projects and discuss the role of financial control in R&D.
More...<< Catching Up…
Building Strength from Management of Multicultural Teams in R&D – 4 December 2009, Paris
Multicultural teams are both a challenge and an opportunity. People from different cultures have different approaches and obtain different outcomes. How can we best benefit from this cultural diversity through appropriate project and people management? What are the skills needed for R&D project managers with remote teams?
Attracting and Maintaining R&D Talent pipeline for the Future – 27 November 2009, Brussels
In Europe traditionally the level of scientists has been considered excellent and there have been enough young people in the “pipeline” to become scientists or engineers. This is no longer the case as there is a decline in the study of science and technology. Why is this?
While science is generally valued by society, why don’t young people want to become scientists? Has industry put people off or is there a perception that the scientific and research professions are old-fashioned?
Does the lack of role models in science and technology, especially for young women, contribute to their lack of engagement with the subject? Does our higher education system have to change and provide better support for the students?
How can we connect the world of S&T to the things that young people today care about, such as environmental issues?
This Round Table answered some of these challenging questions.
KPIs for IP Performance Management – 19-20 November, Madrid
Key performance indicators (KPI) have been an accepted management tool for years, providing a way continuously control and assess the performance of various operations within a company. Nowadays, this methodology is used in R&D operations to measure how quickly and successfully R&D results are translated into profitable commercial products and services. IP departments also have to define relevant and reliable KPIs to measure the extent to which a company’s IP successfully supports its core business, or provides a contribution to the company.
This SIG-II (Special Interest Group on Intellectual Property) meeting was aimed mainly at senior intellectual property managers, attorneys and lawyers, as well as senior and mid-level R&D managers who wanted to know about ways to cut patent filing and management costs while making the process more effective and robust.
The value of KM: using KPIs to attain added value
22 October 2009, Amsterdam
In this SIG-III (Special Interest Group on Knowledge Management) meeting, participants mapped out the value of knowledge management in (large) organisations and discussed a way to find the key performance indicators that can help demonstrate the value of knowledge management. Participants learned how to identify and communicate the business benefits of KM and looked at their assessment and monitoring practices.
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Open Innovation: How does it Work in Practice? 16 September, Manchester
Many companies do open innovation or would like to move towards open innovation, but see it as a big challenge. The way companies make use of the “open innovation” environment: in alliances, in co-opetition with competitors, in collaborations with suppliers and customers, and how it is successfully managed has provide a framework for benchmarking at this Round Table.
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Roadmapping Learning Group (second session) – 10-11 September, Paris
This group is learning how to map out technology and resource needs for developing new products, processes or services in practice, in order to realise a business strategy. The second session of the 2009 Learning Group focused on progress and problems in road-mapping experienced since the first meeting.
= About EIRMA
“The best management development happens when experienced managers come together to learn from each other - to discuss common concerns and visit each other’s companies.” – Financial Times
The European Industrial Research Management Association (EIRMA) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, which aims to enhance innovation through more effective market-oriented research and development. Unique features of the Association include the networking and personal contact that the Financial Times recommends. It’s been offering this forum for over 40 years.
EIRMA provides a platform for discussing ideas and exchanging practical experience. Its activities support companies in benchmarking and improving their innovation processes through well-managed and well-organised research and development. These establish EIRMA’s members as a natural first point of contact for policy makers and others seeking the business community’s insight.
EIRMA’s website provides further information on the items featured in IQ, other key aspects of research and innovation management and records of recent meetings and all publications.Credits
Publisher
Andrew Dearing
adearing@EIRMA.asso.fr
Coordination
Camille Roy
croy@EIRMA.asso.fr
Editor
Luke Collins
luke@lukecollins.org
Production
Freeway Media
www.freewaymedia.com
Innovation Quarterly is published by the European Industrial Research Management Association
www.eirma.org