Innovation in Maine Tourism. Is there a need? Is there a role for CenTRO in satisfying that need?

Transcription

1 Innovation in Maine Tourism Is there a need? Is there a role for CenTRO in satisfying that need?

2 Drivers for the Additions to CenTRO Work Plan This Year Deliver Important Benefits Deliver Unique Benefits Capitalize on the Unique Strengths of the University of Maine System

3 Current CenTRO Portfolio of Projects Monitor Current State of Tourism In Maine Tourism Industry Labor Force Profile Maine Tourism Guest Survey Hospitality Industry Contribution to Property Taxes Camper Satisfaction Tracking Program Anticipate Future State of Tourism in Maine Maine Tourism Forecasting Model & Outlook Conference What more could we add that would complement the existing product line, providing important, unique benefits that capitalize on UMS strengths?

4 Current CenTRO Portfolio of Projects Monitor Current State of Tourism In Maine Tourism Industry Labor Force Profile Maine Tourism Guest Survey Hospitality Industry Contribution to Property Taxes Camper Satisfaction Tracking Program Anticipate Future State of Tourism in Maine Maine Tourism Forecasting Model & Outlook Conference Shape the Future Tourism R&D Product Development and Technology Transfer to the Industry and Community Leaders in the state?

5 Why Innovate? Make Maine Tourism More Competitive Leverage Small Tourism Promotion Budgets PR Value of Newsworthy Innovations Refresh the Tourism Product Line in the State Give Triers Another Reason to Return to Maine Give Non-Triers a Reason to Try Maine May Help Build Respect for the Industry Actively Solving Problems

6 Why CenTRO? Universities have Catalyzed Innovation in the Hard Sciences, why not Softer Sciences, e.g., Tourism? Extract More Value from Current CenTRO Research Add to CenTRO Research and Enhance Our Understanding of Tourism

7 What do we Mean by Innovation? Types of Innovations Continuous product line extension A New Ride at the Bangor State Fair Dynamically Continuous new form w/ same function Adapt Successful Innovations from Elsewhere Discontinuous entirely new product, requiring new usage patterns New Solutions Unique to Maine Why does this matter? -- Risk

8 What is Needed to Encourage More Discontinuous Innovation? Risk Management Manage Uncertainty & Control the Magnitude of Potential Losses Down-Stream Market Uncertainty Up-Stream Supply Uncertainty Financial Uncertainty Managerial Uncertainty Operational Uncertainty Ownership Uncertainty Risk Management requires Knowledge What does a manager/an entrepreneur need to know? What does a funding agency need to know? Explicit System for Managing Intellectual Property

9 Innovation Management Process The Innovation Pipeline Marketing Strategy Business Analysis Concept Development and Testing Product Development Idea Screening Test Marketing Idea Generation Commercialization Kotler, Philip and Gary Armstrong (2006) Principles of Marketing, 11 th Ed., Pearson-Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ., pg. 276

10 Technology Transfer in the Hard Sciences: NSF Engineering Research Centers (ERC s) & Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC s) University Technology is Developed in Collaboration with Large Businesses who then Commercialize it s Products Has this been successful with Smaller Businesses? State Industry University Cooperative Research Centers (S/IUCRC s) an NSF Experiment in the 1990 s NSF/SBA Grant Programs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Has this been successful in the Softer Sciences? Has this been successful for other targets, e.g., transfer to Community Planners, Community Leaders? How might a CenTRO program complement Maine s existing assets for supporting innovative small businesses?

11 Our Questions Are you satisfied with CenTRO s current product line? Is there a need for Innovation in Tourism? Is there a role for CenTRO to play in satisfying that need? Would you want CenTRO to leverage its research to help shape the future of Tourism in Maine? I ll stop here.