Collaborative Research with User Communities
Networked technology links disparate user communities in new ways - in clusters, networks and supply chains. Many of the problems are about aligning people, processes and technologies to advantage at key interfaces. Many of the top down policies and processes lack feedback about emerging issues on the ground. Have a look for example at the barriers SMEs experienced in collaboration with Universities in this link.
Clusters and supply chains also go through stages, addressing risks and problems that are familiar to more mature clusters. C2C facilitates collaboration to minimise cost and risk at each stage. We interview SME managers and other stakeholders, code the themes, and develop questionnaires that can validate the issues with the wider business community. We then provide opportunities to exchange with other clusters.
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Collaborative Learning with other Clusters
How are people, processes and technologies most often misaligned at different stages? What are the barriers to FITs in different regions? What are the barriers for the SMEs whose involvement is to generate regional employment? How have successful clusters dealt with this? How are the interests of different players represented in policy? Our case studies, and the research and business networks in these regions provide a unique forum for avoiding predictable risks for the SMEs that are the most important, but the least represented players in many clusters.
