Figure 2. The strategic research and innovation paths
By implementing an organisation for research and innovation, the sustainable business solutions will be implemented more quickly, and it will increase knowledge and hence number of publications that will benefit society. 2.2.2
Action plan for strategi research and innovation organisation
For successful implementation, increased cooperation between the countries in the South Baltic region and active involvement from SMEs in innovation projects, we recommend the following action plan: 1. Identify potential external SMEs in the South Baltic region and their future needs. 2. Establish a Visionary board with a well-defined vision to create current and future market needs. 3. Establish a Strategy board within the academia. 4. Establish an investment board for future project funding. 5. Use the back-casting method in the Visionary board to visualise current and future needs. Set strategies and goals for research-based organisation5 (Research to business) within the Strategy board, and screen potential research projects according to the defined goals and strategies. 6. Establish an Innovation board with the purpose to screen innovation and business potential of the achieved research results. The Innovation board should have at least 50% external members and represent market needs (SMEs), venture capital (usually public organizations like the Innovation office SLU Holding) as well as academia. 7. Research results are screened by the Innovation board according to the manual of the concept phase (see Sec. 1.1.). If the research results fulfil the objectives according to the concept phase check list the Innovation board should set up a project team and the research results enters the innovation program. The next steps for the project are according to the verification phase manual (Sec. 1.2). 5
Ibid.
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