from technology transfer to innovation consultancy. case study: agit

From Technology Transfer to Innovation Consultancy.

Case study: AGIT

Dipl.-Ing. Bernd ThomasManaging Director

AGIT mbH

The Aachen Region

Europe by Air

Former coal-mining areas in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine

Stand: 1989 Quelle: IHK zu Aachen/ Maas-Rhein-Institut für Angewandte Geographie und Lehrerbildung e.V. Die WirtschaftsregionAachen-Ein Grenzraum im Wandel

Science and research in the Aachen region

Main Faculties Mathematics and Science Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Civil Engineering Metallurgy and Materials Technology Information Technology Architecture Medicine Economics

Aachen University of Technology

Special Fields Physical Engineering Electrical Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Aero-space Engineering Nuclear, Energy and En- vironmental Engineering Biotechnology Design

University of AppliedSciences Aachen

Research Priorities Structure of Matter and Materials of Research Information Technology Life Science Environmental Precaution Research Energy Technology

Jülich Research Centre

RWTH - Rheinisch-Westfälisch-Technische Hochschule Aachen

largest technical university in Europe 400 professors 260 institutes 28,800 students 784 doctorate degrees p.a. 2,056 postgraduate students

RWTH, FH, FZJ

University of Applied Sciences AachenFH-Fachhochschule Aachen 200 professors 10,000 students 850 postgraduate students

11/2002

Jülich Research CentreFZJ - Forschungszentrum Jülich 1,100 scientific staff 4,200 employees

Science and research in the Aachen region

Status of: Source:

Graduates at the Aachen University of Technology (Winter term 00/01 and Summer term 2001)

364

184154

47 30 66 59 33 7020

0

200

400

600

800

1000 Diplomas

Docotor Degrees

MechanicalEngineering

Electrical Engineering

Chemistry Physics Information Technology

2001 Zahlenspiegel der RWTH Status of: Source:

Research and developmentAn excellent network of R&D institutes

Public Research Institutes Institute for Plastic Processing Fraunhofer Institute of

Production Technology Fraunhofer Institute of

Laser Technology German Wool Research Institute Helmholtz Institute for

Biomedical Technology Laboratory for Machine Tools

and Industrial Organization

Private Research Institutes Ericsson Eurolab Germany Ltd. Ford Eurolab Philips Ltd. Research Laboratories United Technologies Research Center FEV GmbH Mitsubishi Semiconductor Europe Ascom

Academic Research Institutes Aachen University of Technology University of Applied Sciences Aachen Jülich Research Center

AGIT is the regional development agency for the Aachen region. Its shareholders are the City of Aachen, the districts of Aachen, Düren, Euskirchen and Heinsberg, the Chambers of Trade and Commerce and of Craft and representatives of industry.

AGIT - Regional development agency

Main activities:

Intensive consulting on start-up and growth for technology-oriented companies

Innovation support and technology transfer

International co-operation

Marketing and communication, inward investment attraction, investor care

Management of the Aachen technology and start-up centres

AGIT in 1983

Shareholders of AGIT in 1983 City of Aachen WFG für den Kreis Aachen mbH Chamber of Industry and Commerce RHEGIT

1984Opening of Germany’s 2nd technology centre3.00 m² office space6 companies

1984-1990Construction of an extensionRental of 2 neighbouring buildings10,000 m² occupied space40 companies

Technology Centres managed by AGIT

Today 100 companies make use of office, laboratory and production space totalling 18,300 qm2.

Technology Centre am Europaplatz

Medical Technology Centre

Opening: 1994Space: 4.250 qm2

Opening: 1993Space: 14.000 qm2

1.

Acquisitionand

counselingof

technology-orientated

entrepreneurs

2.

Provision of space

4.

Synergygenerating

Organization of

enterprise cooperation

3.

Services

6.

TechnologyTransfer

7.

Assistance when

outgrowing the TC

5.

Access to financing

possibilities

Duties of Technology Centres

Results of Technology Centres managed by AGIT

90% still existing

TZA

> 230 companies established

> 3,000 jobs created125 found own premises in the region

Status of: November 2002 Source: tho

Technology Centres in the Aachen region

> 520 companies

Total space: appr. 90,000 m2

> 9,638 employees

13 technology and service centres

In Summer 2001 the first cross-border Business Centre was opened - on the border between the Netherlands and Germany - Eurode Business Centre.

Status of: November 2002 Source: tho, co

Foundation: 1986

Task: Link between research and industrial application

Infra-structure: Research institutes: RWTH AachenFH AachenFZ Jülich

companies: more than 1000 in the region

goal: reinforce the competitive stance of the companies create long-term employment

“Technology Transfer” division

Regionalisation ofTechnology Transfer• TAE - Euskirchen Technology- agency• TEG - Heinsberg-Aachen Technological development agency

Technological Fields• Information and communication technology, Internet• Microsystem technology• Joining and bonding technology• Life Sciences

Support for new Companies• Involvement for new companies in technology transfer projects• validation of technology for new companies

Industrial Policy• Encouragement of innovation and patent applications• Regional innovation and technology transfer strategies

Joint TechnologyTransfer Projects• Production technology and materials processing• Synthetic material technology• Laser technology

Technology-transfer

forIndustry

Technology-transfer

forIndustry

Technology-transfer

forIndustry

Technology-transfer

forIndustry


Technological Fields• Information and communication technology, Internet• Microsystem technology• Joining and bonding technology




Joint TechnologyTransfer Projects Production technology and materials processing Synthetic material technology Laser technology

Cooperative Projects - Technology Transfer

State NNRRWW

UniversityInstitutes

EngineeringOffices

Order

Company-Specific Solutions Inexpensive Solutions Innovative Solutions

Order

Promo-tional Means

Ord

er

Development Product Launching Advising and Instructing

Analysis General and Company- Specific Know-how Advising and Instructing

Middle-sized Companies in NRW

Cooperation Projects „Computer Integrated Manufacturing“

Conception, development and application of components of open process control technique

Analysis, evaluation and introduction of solutions in the field of workshop control

Adaption and further development of a CAD/CAM system for the pressing, drawing and punching industry

27 companies in NRW

GPS

IPT

CAT

commtech

WZL

PARTEC

FIRTechnology transferProject conception

AcquisitionProject management

Marketing

Cooperation Projects „ Plastics Technology“

Plastics processors Plastics processors from NRWfrom NRW

Automatic process optimization for injection moulding

Computer-aided manufacturing simulation, perform and tool design (CADMOULD 3-D)

SMC-Technologie

IKVIKV

GRP

IBOS

M-TEC

SIMCON

SWO

QA aids for duromer processors

QA system for plastics

Further development of a CAQ-system for injection moulding companies

Technology transferProject conception

AcquisitionProject management

Marketing

Cooperation Projects „Laser Technology“

Optimization of laser cutting

Analysis of existing manufacturing processes with respect to substitution possibilities from the field of laser technology

Technology module development for laser surface refinement and laser beam cutting

Optimization of laser welding

Technology TransferProject conception

AcquisationProject management

Marketing

17companies in NRW17companies in NRW

ILT

IPT

LBBZ

Prognos

FH Aachen

aixma

ISF

SMEsConsulting

GEPRO

FVT

The development of a TT project from the idea to the implementation

III Project canvassing- Mailing- Presentation- Telephone canvassing- Visits to companies- Press publications- Adaption of project formulation wherever necessary

IVAcquisition of grants

VIProject implementation (in substance)- Project meetings- Visits to companies- Residual canvassing

Project implementation (controlling)- Invoices (R+D, Coop)- Disposal of funds (President of administrative district (RP), Ministry of Economics, Small Business and Technology (MWMT)- Statement of resources and their application (RP, MWMT)- Audits (RP, if necessary Board of Audit)

VII

TT idea- Interest from small and medium-sized companies in NRW- Project idea from university institute or engineering company

I Conclusion of contracts- R + D contracts- Cooperation contracts

VProject formulation- Contents- Cost framework- Partners

II

RITTS Aachen

First generation project, co-ordination by AGITDuration: 1995-1996

Phase I Statistical analysis regional economy (esp. industry and employment) Analysis of available innovation and technology transfer support Analysis of roles and co-operation of innovation support organisations Analysis of demand for innovation support (50 companies, 10 from each district)

Phase IIAction plan including measures and strategies

Phase IIIImplementation of measures

Status of: November 2002 Source: ap

Conclusions of Phase I:

Increase in productivity focuses more on rationalisation than on new products (not competitive in long-term)

Co-operation between companies is not well developed enough

Many factors inhibiting innovation within the companies

Not all company needs are met by local infrastructure

Region has many transfer offices, but companies are not sufficiently aware of them and support is poorly coordinated

Good support for technological innovation, but not for later phases of innovation process (marketing, financing)

RITTS Aachen


8 operational measures

1) Co-ordination of co-operation between innovation support / technology transfer organisations

Background: little co-operation, lack of clarity about tasks androles, divergence between quality and depth of services.

RITTS enabled open exchange and debate, chaired byneutral experts.

Today, there is better co-operation between the differentorganisations; one example of this is:

GründerRegion Aachen - a network of organisations

which provide start-up support

Take-up of operational measures developed in Phase II


2) Introduction of innovation management techniques in companies

Innovation management project (funding Objective 3 region)

Background: Different quality of advice, poor coordinationbetween consultants

Goal: Develop methodology of innovation management,introduce systematic approach

Training of innovation consultants Development of instruments for consulting on innovation

support Initiation of innovation processes in 40 SMEs



3) Pilot projects to support company-company co-operation

Support for partnerships along the supply chain, which caneventually lead to the formation of clusters

Focus on 5 key technologies and support for development ofclusters:

Life Sciences with medical technology and biotechnology Information and communication technologies Automobile technology Innovative production technologies Modern materials

Cross-border branch initiative „INeurope - Medical and Biotechnology“ (www.ineurope.org)




4) Exploitation of ICT technologies in companies and innovation support organisations

a) Regional initiative to encourage use of multimedia in business and work environment

Teleworking centre, networks between schoolsDistance-learning modules and training programmesParticipation in the European MIDAS network

b) Aachen Competence Center e-commerceOne of 23 competence centres supported by the FederalMinistry of Economics from 1998-2003.

Training for SMEs to increase awareness of risks andchances of e-commerce, e.g. on security issues, mobilecommerce, e-logistics



5) Creation of an action plan for the Technical Development Agency Aachen-Heinsberg (TEG) and the Technology

Agency Euskirchen (TAE)

These two agencies, located in the coal-mining and ruralareas of the Aachen region, were already planned prior to theRITTS project.

The project confirmed the need for them, strengthened theregional consensus and gave added impetus to thecentres’ demand-oriented approach to innovation andtechnology transfer policy



6) Improvement of venture capital financing

Strong growth of venture capital scene in the region, but notdirectly as a result of the RITTS project

7) Company mentoring

- not realisedBusiness angels scene gradually developing in Aachen

8) Restructuring of the Nordrhein-Westfalen government's „Technology Support Programme“

Recommendation drawn up within RITTS project andsubmitted to the Economics Ministry of Nordrhein-WestfalenBut, low participation of ministry in RITTS process


The results of RITTS Aachen in summary

RITTS cannot work miracles!

What it did achieve in the Aachen region:

gave us greater sense of being “in the same boat”, being part of a team

confirmed what we already thought about needs, strengths and weaknesses of the region

helped establish a more systematic approach to regional development through its strong methodological approach

enabled us to confront truths about our weak points through the use of neutral consultants

helped kick-start individual projects helped us be confident enough to lobby government about our

needs


Coordination mechanisms - during and after RITTS

During RITTS

Steering committee, including 4 districts and City ofAachen, Ministry of Economics, Chambers of Trade and ofCraft, Aachen University of Technology5 focus groups5 working groups

After RITTS - integration into existing structures

a) Regional Conference - a permanent regional body which already existed

b) Regional development strategy - RITTS strategy and projects were integrated into the existing regional development strategy which already had a monitoring and evaluation system


1. A regional network of actors, in which the participants contribute actively and responsibly to the shared regional tasks, in order to establish long-term and targeted structures for the regional decision-making process.

2. An updatable regional development strategy, which contains an up-to-date political positioning of the region and an updatable register of regional initiatives and key projects and thus provides a continual tool for und up-to-date information source for regional structural policy.

www.regionalkonferenz-aachen.de

Regional conference & regional development strategy


5 strategic aims, the first two are directly linked to economic issues:

Co-operative development of the economy and labour market Integrated research, development and production location Mobility and transport – high performing and environmentally sound Future-oriented environmental management, area management,

utilities management waste removal Sustainable living and cultural space – reduction of innerregional

disparities

www.regionalkonferenz-aachen.de

Regional development strategy


Technology-transfer

forIndustry

Technology-transfer

forIndustry






Industrial Policy Encouragement of innovation and patent applications Regional innovation and technology transfer strategies

AGIT as network partner of the BMBF in the"STIMULATION OF INNOVATION IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY THROUGH SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL

INFORMATION" project

Objectives of the INSTI project

Greater utilization of patent information asbasis of the innovationprocess

Increase of the patentapplications for usefuleconomic inventionsExplanation on lawquestions

Development of anational network made of patent and innovation institutions

AGIT's regional partnersPatent registration and layouts by RWTH

Patent law agentsTechnology transfer points

Chambers of commerceUniversities

Procedure used by AGITPublic RelationsTrainings and reports

Network of regionalinnovations and patent institutions

Financial support forpatent applications

Foundation of inventor clubs

INSTI

Technology-transfer

forIndustry

Technology-transfer

forIndustry






Technological Fields Information and communication technology, Internet Microsystem technology Joining and bonding technology Life Sciences

The Information Technology Forum at the RWTH Aachen

Platform for the interdisciplinaryacademic exchange in fields of research

Departments of Computer Science Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Natural Sciences Social Sciences Medical Sciences

Members 9 Faculties 35 University Professors

Projects Information and Technology- Information Technology‘s methods and tools for technical systems Software- and Communications Structures in technical systems - Integrate existing CIM-applications with helf of generally applicable, adaptabel and configurable frames Working Group Parallelism Software Engineering Information Modelling

REGINA e.V.Regional Club of Information-Technology

Goals Cooperation between companies Dialog between Industry - Universities - Politics Economic development

Members 66 Industries 17 Universities 5 Consultants 2 Institution

Activities Meetings and Lectures Joint projects Trade shows and Presentations Export promotion

www.regina.rwth-aachen.de

Status of: November 2002 Source: Internet

Information-Technology in the Aachen Region Technical software solutions and systems

Dynamic Information-Technology Industry

producing

Hardware52 companies

9.000 employees

Software260 companies

5.000 employees

Hardware VOBIS ELSA

Components Mitsubishi Isola

Software GMI IKOSS GfS AM-Informatik

Systems DEBIS Gesytec ERICSSON CAE DATUS PHILIPS

Kleben ProjectTechnology Transfer Project: Development,

Dissemination and Qualification in Bonding and Joining

Qualification graduation in bonding application oriented seminars and training

R & D-Projects, TT measures of technology transfer laboratory tests basic research

small and medium-sized companies

Consulting application oriented consulting investigation of relevant literature selection of adhesive

Matricel* ACBiotec* AplaGen* ViLAB Biointerface*

year 2001

BMP PAION Jülich Fine

Chemicals Protex Geniovis

year 2000

Biotechnology start-ups in the Aachen Region

* These companies have been consulted by AGIT

Stand: Februar 2002

Technology-transfer

forIndustry

Technology-transfer

forIndustry






Support for new Companies Involvement for new companies in technology transfer projects validation of technology for new companies

Support for new Companies Involvement for new companies in technology transfer projects validation of technology for new companies

International marketing

TOOLS information events in the USA, Canada, Asia and Europe technology based marketing activities in: laser technology plastics engineering automotive technology

medical technology biotechnology information technologies

Technology - oriented economic development

OBJECTIVES to create employment to strengthen the economic structure of the region to promote the region‘s smooth transition move from an

industrialised mining area to a modern technological centre

Technology-transfer

forIndustry

Technology-transfer

forIndustry





Regionalisation ofTechnology Transfer TAE - Euskirchen Technology- agency TEG - Heinsberg-Aachen Technological development agency

Regionalisation ofTechnology Transfer TAE - Euskirchen Technology- agency TEG - Heinsberg-Aachen Technological development agency

Aachen offers Advantages

Thank you for your attention!

[email protected]

www.agit.dewww.technologieregion-aachen.com

from technology transfer to innovation consultancy. case study: agit

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