Presentation held at University-Industry Interaction Conference, The largest global event centered on university-industry interaction, entrepreneurial universities and collaborative innovation.

1. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Research Collaboration Fostering
Mutual Value of Universities and SMEs
Dr Kari Laine1, MSc Mirka Leino1, Adj Prof. Matti Lähdeniemi2
1 Satakunta University of Applied Sciences
2 Tampere University of Technology, Information Technology
Pori Department

2. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Structure of the paper
1. Introduction
2. Backround and theories in use
3. Cases for research collaboration
4. Fostering mutual value
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions

3. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Intro
• Creating value for SMEs with technology transfer
• 18 cases with 16 enterprises during 2014-2015
– Searching, experimenting, demonstrating and piloting technologies
• Our earlier research shows that it is important for the University to actively set
goals in the beginning of the partnering process
– Satakunta University of Applied Sciences has its own best practices based partnership
model.
– In order to develop the partnerships it is also important to find mutual values of the
technology transfer processes. (Leino and Laine, 2014, Lähdeniemi et al., 2012)
• The main goal is to develop closer collaboration to achieve shared innovation
flow

4. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Theories in use
• Technology transfer
• Design science research
• Action research

5. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Interaction process between
University and enterprises used in
every case
Need
recognition
Knowledge
search
Demos Pilots Dissemination Innovation Evaluation
University: Courage to accept
challenging cases
High Disseminative Capacity
 Absorptive Capacity Considered
Enterprises: Trust to share needs and challenges

6. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Case A: Reading inconsistently
located barcodes and QR codes
• A production logistics related problem: How to read
inconsistently located barcodes and QR codes on large
products in order to follow the products during the
manufacturing?
• Technology supplier couldn’t offer a solution
• Fairly simple but for the enterprise significant result
• Demo: machine vision system imaging a wide field of view
– Sees even the largest products in one picture
– Reads the barcodes and matrix codes
– Measures the dimensions of the product in less than 20
milliseconds
– Shows distinctly how the product identification and
measurement should be done simultaneously
• For the researchers: more knowledge through many
studied possibilities
• For the education: a useful practical example

7. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Case B: Specular reflection lighting for
machine vision based inspection
• Enterprise planned to use machine vision in quality control of a highly
reflective cellophane package
• First note: a challenging imaging process
• Required some innovative experimentation and research together with out-of-
the-box-thinking
• An innovative specular reflection lighting with 100 LEDs emitting light from
slightly different directions
– The reflections from different directions are exploited and put together in the result picture
– If there is no reflection at all, there must be a tear in the cellophane package
• For the enterprise: the required information and knowledge
• For the researchers: new ideas and technology knowledge
• This innovative lighting system will be used in several other application in the
future

8. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Case B video

9. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Case C: Customized shoes with the help of
3D imaging and 3D printing
• Experimenting different 3D imaging technologies in
order to create a uniform 3D model of foot
• The new boot-trees were 3D printed
• The special shoe soles for the shoes by 3D
imaging and 3D modelling
• Finding usable flexible plastic material to be used in
3D printing of the shoe soles
• The shoe soles were 3D printed with flexible material
and the shoes are now in use
• For the enterprise: usability and exploitability
information of 3D imaging and 3D printing in shoe
making  price indication even for single
manufactured product
• For the researchers: specific knowledge on 3D
printing, 3D imaging and using flexible plastic
materials in 3D printing as well as on the usability
and durability of these materials.

10. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Created value for the participants in different
phases of the collaborative research process
CREATED
MUTUAL
VALUE
For Enterprises For University /
Researchers
For Educators /
Students
Need
recognition
Identified and
classified needs
Knowledge
of needs and
problems
Knowledge of
professional
know-how needs
Knowledge
search
Focused facts
and methods
All new
knowledge and
knowledge
sources
Up-to-date
expertise
Demonstratio
ns
Understanding
and new ideas
Experience
based knowledge
of possibilities
and obstacles
Prepared
demonstrations
and learning
environments
Pilots Hands-on
experience,
recognising
possibilities,
challenges and
unfit applications
New knowledge
and knowledge
sources
Real industrial
development
possibilities
Dissemination Knowledge to
support
investment and
development
planning
Dissemination
knowledge and
methods
Interest and
motivation
Innovation Practical,
supplier-
independent
solutions
Knowledge of
targeted open
innovations
Examples and
experiences,
entrepreneurial
thinking
Evaluation Understanding of
possibilities and
obstacles
Best practices for
modelling,
understanding of
enterprises and
needs,
publications
Subjects for
publications,
topics for thesis
works

11. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
CREATED
MUTUAL
VALUE
For Enterprises For University /
Researchers
For Educators /
Students
Need recognition Identified and
classified needs
Knowledge
of needs and
problems
Knowledge of
professional know-
how needs
Knowledge
search
Focused facts and
methods
All new knowledge
and knowledge
sources
Up-to-date expertise
Demonstrations Understanding and
new ideas
Experience based
knowledge of
possibilities and
obstacles
Prepared
demonstrations and
learning
environments
Pilots Hands-on
experience,
recognising
possibilities,
challenges and unfit
applications
New knowledge and
knowledge sources
Real industrial
development
possibilities

12. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Dissemination Knowledge to support
investment and
development planning
Dissemination
knowledge and
methods
Interest and motivation
Innovation Practical, supplier-
independent solutions
Knowledge of targeted
open innovations
Examples and
experiences,
entrepreneurial
thinking
Evaluation Understanding of
possibilities and
obstacles
Best practices for
modelling,
understanding of
enterprises and needs,
publications
Subjects for
publications, topics for
thesis works
CREATED
MUTUAL
VALUE
For Enterprises For University /
Researchers
For Educators /
Students

13. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Discussion
• By evaluating the table of mutual values it can be seen that
mutual value here means that the university and enterprises
work together towards a shared goal and different parties
benefit from the results differently.
– a scientific literature review may give wide-ranging new knowledge for
the university
– even one significant research paper, found in this process, may give
answers for the enterprise’s specific need
– knowing these similarities but also the differences helps the university to
set their own goal already at the beginning of the research.

14. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
• In this kind of multi-phase technology transfer process the university can
understand the business ambitions of the enterprise and at the same
time the enterprise can understand the university’s actions in their fields
of know-how like research and development
• To understand business from both enterprises’ and research and
development’s point of view is a basis for knowledge intensive student
entrepreneurship. When students participate in different actions of
technology transfer  evident orientation to spin-off entrepreneurship
• This research proves that the demonstrations and piloting have a
significant role especially in collaboration with SMEs, because the
concreteness of the examples convince SMEs about the importance of the
research results.

15. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
• Working with dozens of SMEs annually helps the research group to
fine tune their research to directions that can help local SMEs in
short or medium time scales
• Inside the university it can be seen that other research groups are
actively looking for collaboration with research groups that have
active collaboration with SMEs  They want to have their share of
the created application and innovation capacity
• Collaboration has created new networks for both university and
SMEs that have potential for new collaboration and creation of
innovations

16. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Conclusions
• The creation of trust and time it requires should not be underestimated
• Collaboration and need recognition is an important starting point in finding the focused
areas where the university can add value. Pilots were seen as essential for SMEs to
understand the opportunities created by new technologies.
• However, when succeeded the researchers rise to a new level in applied research when
they understood the business of local SMEs. They could have more creative thinking how
specific technologies could be used not only in business they understand but also in new
areas. Collaboration also made university education more dynamic because new contents
could be added to ongoing studies but also development of curricula is based on
needs of SMEs and not on general views of development.
• Modelling this kind of innovation collaboration is demanding because of its multiple
limitations and preconditions. It may have limitations based on country, region,
collaboration culture, industrial structure and state of development, structural change needs
of the region and university structure.
• This triggers several new needs for future research.

17. Satakunnan ammattikorkeakoulu | Teknologia
Satakunta University of Applied Sciences | Technology
Thank You!
kari.laine@samk.fi