Title: Using SME intelligence in mentoring science and technology students

Authors: Jonathan Styles, Cecilia Hegarty

Addresses: MSEC, University of Manchester, Business Creation Unit, Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. ' NICENT, University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, Newtownabbey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT370QB, UK

Abstract: This paper seeks to extend the strong tradition for mentoring within the business community to academia and further still to the field of entrepreneurship. This paper assesses the value of SME intelligence, through mentoring, to students of Manchester Science Enterprise Centre (MSEC), Manchester and Northern Ireland Centre for Entrepreneurship (NICENT). These pilot investigations evidence the requirements for successful mentoring programmes, and the benefits accrued to the key stakeholders. For university researches and researchers to impact on SME competitiveness in commercial terms, the challenges of working collaboratively must be faced including those experienced during mentoring relationships.

Keywords: enterprise skills; technology intelligence; mentoring; business planning; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; science and technology students; SME intelligence; university research; collaboration; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2008.017400

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2008 Vol.4 No.1, pp.20 - 38

Published online: 04 Mar 2008 *

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