Title: Technology monitoring and industrial diversification: a diversification project of an endogamic monoclonal industrial fabric by disseminating innovation opportunities

Authors: Jose M. Vicente, Fernando Palop

Addresses: Dr. Vte. Zaragoza, 22-15, 46020 Valencia, Spain. ' Dr. Vte. Zaragoza, 22-15, 46020 Valencia, Spain

Abstract: A pilot project of diversification on a region of small companies with a high concentration on the toy manufacturing industry, is being undertaken by means of gathering, analysing and disseminating knowledge to raise diversifying opportunities. Once the opportunity becomes a stake for a company, the project offers assessment and the participation of catalysts actors to consolidate these opportunities as new business lines for the SMEs. Some conclusions after 15 months of work can be advanced: 1. The need of horizontal approaches, capable of cross search/cross relate opportunities in different sectors or industries, to enlarge ways of thinking in a strongly oriented single industry manufacturing region. 2. The validation of some diversification conditions for the firms to reduce the risk. 3. The significance of the |mouth to ear| communication for the motivation of the SMEs in exploring new opportunities. In this sense, the role of |technology diffusion meetings|, lately described in this paper, were relevant to overcome mentally restrictive attitudes for the firms.

Keywords: technology monitoring; diversification; technology translation; technology transfer; technology dissemination; technology scouting SMEs; competences mapping; toy industry; small and medium-sized enterprises; toy manufacturing; technology diffusion; technology management; industrial fabrics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025527

International Journal of Technology Management, 1996 Vol.12 No.4, pp.449 - 461

Published online: 22 May 2009 *

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