The document summarizes a thematic university business forum focused on alliances for innovation. It discusses an Erasmus+ project starting in 2015 to develop university-business training and knowledge alliances. Four types of alliances are identified: 1) value-chain alliances between users, academics and industry, 2) international alliances, 3) regional alliances involving quadruple helix partners, and 4) national alliances. Key success factors for alliances include establishing common ground, building trusted relationships, having realistic initial goals, and recognizing different timelines between partners like SMEs and universities.

1. THEMATIC UNIVERSITY BUSINESS FORUM
UNIVERSITIES. BUSINESSES. ALLIANCES FOR INNOVATION
Vienna, February 25-26, 2016
Option 3.2. Working for society
and regional innovation
Attila Pausits, Head of the Centre for
Educational Management and
Higher Education Development,
Donau-University Krems, Austria

2. Alliances. The new paradigm in economic development
José Pietri, Knowledge Alliances 2015 MindShare Consulting (SHIP), France
Joe English, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Meath, Ireland
An Erasmus+ project to that commenced in early 2015
Key objectives
• develop university-business training and knowledge alliances
• understand how alliances between universities and SME are
built and function
• develop an alliance master plan and tool kit
Four different types of alliances:
1. Value-chain alliance i.e. user, academics and software industry
together in an alliance (ES) > success!
2. International alliance (IRE)
3. Regional alliance (the quadruple helix) (DE)
4. National alliance (RO)

3. Alliances. The new paradigm in economic development
Key questions
• included why this course of action, who delivers it, which resources are
needed, how will resources be secured, what are the targeted
outcomes, and what is the timeframe needed?
Success factors
• Start interaction with establishing common ground e.g. ‘I like chocolate’
• Getting to know each other first (building trusted relationship)
• Get beyond a wish-list
• Start work with bite-sized actions
i.e. not ‘fly to the moon’, but ‘get to the corner’
• Recognise paradigms and negotiate around them
e.g. SMEs want it now, unis longer term
• A vision of UBC that is like “conducting an orchestra”, each
with their role