REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM IN OLOMOUC REGION

Transcription

1 REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM IN OLOMOUC REGION REGIONÁLNÍ INOVAČNÍ SYSTÉM OLOMOUCKÉHO KRAJE Daniela Kořená, Eva Grublová, Josef Tesařík Moravská vysoká škola Olomouc, o.p.s. Abstract: Innovations represent a systematic using the opportunities to make changes. With regard to characteristics of innovation processes, it is usually expressing as innovation cycles. At this moment the Moravian College Olomouc (MCO) is situated at the stage of innovations strategic preparation. The key aspect on the way to the innovations is especially an active cooperation between business and academic environment. Management of the innovation process consists, by our opinion, in a support from strategic regional partners, in the realization of innovations itself and especially in the active participation of all relevant subjects in the innovation processes. All these activities must be based on a clear and system approach stated in advance, which would cover all mentioned subjects. MCO comes with such a solution proposal to the region Regional Innovation Systems. In the center of this system there inheres the science-knowledge base. The center is surrounded by social-political environment and not least also by enterprises. Then, there are three subjects entering the innovation motor: knowledge base, which brings qualifications, innovations and patents, public sphere and economic subjects (companies, businessman). All these subjects are connected with the effort to be successful on the market of products, services and capacities (human resources). Key words: innovation, innovation cycle, innovation processes, innovation system, region, regional cooperation Abstrakt: Inovace představují systematické využívání příležitostí ke změnám. Vzhledem k povaze inovačních procesů se zpravidla hovoří o inovačních cyklech. Moravská vysoká škola Olomouc (MVŠO) se nyní nachází ve stadiu strategické přípravy inovací. Klíčovým aspektem na cestě k inovacím je pro MVŠO zejména aktivní spolupráce podnikatelského a akademického prostředí. Řízení regionálního inovačního procesu podle našeho názoru spočívá především v podpoře ze strany strategických regionálních partnerů, v samotné realizaci inovací a především v aktivní účasti všech relevantních subjektů na inovačních procesech. Všechny tyto aktivity musejí být založeny na jasném a předem stanoveném systémovém přístupu, který by zahrnoval všechny zmíněné subjekty. MVŠO přichází do regionu s návrhem řešení takového přístupu - Regionálním inovačním systémem, v jehož jádře stojí vědecko-vzdělanostní základna. Jádro obklopuje společensko-politické prostředí, a v neposlední řadě také podniky. Do inovačního motoru tedy vstupují tři základní subjekty: znalostní základna, která přináší kvalifikace, inovace a patenty, veřejná sféra a hospodářské subjekty (firmy, podnikatelé). Všechny tyto subjekty spojuje snaha uspět na trhu výrobků, služeb či kapacit (lidských zdrojů). Klíčová slova: inovace, inovační cyklus, inovační procesy, inovační systém, region, regionální spolupráce JEL Classification: D 02 16

2 Role of Innovations in Company Innovations represent a systematic using the opportunities to make changes not only in engineering but also in all areas of human activities. The company based on innovations takes a man not as a bearer of the function, but as a source of innovation potential, who is able to put his abilities and creativity into fulfillment of the company goals. A bet on innovations is a guarantee of entire people survival in a long-term period and in principal, it is the only one possibility how to solve problems of this survival within a population growth, current resource depletion, planet pollution, drinking water problems etc. The representative of such an opinion is e.g. American economist Julian Simon, who states: Today s world is the best one only for the present. Tomorrow, it will be better because there will be more people with better ideas. Innovation Cycles With regard to characteristics of innovation processes, it is usually expressing as innovation cycles. Then, innovation cycles are structured into individual stages and the latter into phases. This structure can look as follows: 1. Stage of innovations strategic preparation: - innovations prediction, - innovations conception, - innovations planning, 2. Stage of innovations solution: - systematic solution, 3. Stage of innovations realization: - implementing innovations into production, - continuous run (using) of innovations, - prediction. In different areas and different types of productions, a content structure of stages and phases of innovation cycles can be different. Individual parts of innovation cycles (stages, phases, event. periods or steps) can have characteristics of the inner cycle, so that the whole process can be expressed as a penetration of different direct (serial and parallel) feedbacks, whereas using the model we are able to express only basic cycles and linking. Independently on specific conditions and needs of the specific company it is possible to state a certain sequence type of stages, phases and periods of the innovation cycle. On this place, it is necessary to remind that sequence of stages, phases and periods of the innovation cycle can be related or with the whole innovation process, including a set of innovation activities operating at different stages, phases or periods of a given life style, or with the one individual innovation action. Then, the innovation cycle can be spread out as follows: 1. Stage of the innovations strategic preparation: Innovations prediction: - this stage is focused on analysis of the status and trend of innovations in defined area, on prediction of possible developing trends and definition of the certain direction of company innovations. 17

3 Conceptual proceedings of innovations: - this stage is focused on definition of the main goals and setting the basic strategy in a given innovations direction in a long time horizon. Preparation and processing a plan: - this stage is focused on securing preparation periods of the innovations plan in a medium term horizon, including transformation of conceptual intentions into the plan of creating the innovations intentions, selection and ranging the innovation activities into a medium term plan and an implementary plan (including plan-making and evaluation of planned effects) and innovations plan specification. 2. Stage of innovations solution Innovation activities design: - this stage is focused on the activities in connection with investigative developing solution of innovation activities including specification of their economic effects and operating procedure of these works and modernization of the manufacturing base, production preparation, import, supply, human resources management and after production services for innovation activities realization. 3. Stage of innovations realization: Realization of innovation activities: - the stage is focused on activities connected with a verification of the solved and prepared innovation activity in operating conditions and with proceeding precautions leading to the optimum implementation of realization outputs, and with achievement of designed parameters of the innovation activity. Continuous run (using) of innovations: - this stage is focused on using realization outputs of innovation activities in the given range and the period of technical-economic lifespan, keeping and gradual rationalization of the realization outputs. Also, it is made a complex evaluation of the innovation activities and confrontation of the original intentions with their realization with a view to finish the original intents actively regarding the knowledge of realization and initial operating of innovated production and products. Diffused phases (use of the innovated product on the market): - this stage is focused on activities connected with the transformation of the product into goods. Only on the market the product is assessed and sold it becomes the goods. Regional Innovation System Respecting the mentioned diversification of the innovation cycle into individual stages and phases, we have to state, that at this moment the Moravian College Olomouc is situated at the stage of innovations strategic preparation. As a young school, which toke leave of the first graduated in academic year 2007/08, we are aware of the need to take a part in an innovation process minimally on the regional level very well. The Moravian College Olomouc (hereinafter as MCO) is a private institution of a higher education. We bring economic-management education to the region and we develop it using theoretic principles gained 18

4 from the law, social, mathematic and information technology field. In this way we can achieve not only a quick contribution to the region (education of senior managers) but also to achieve new stimulations for research and progress activities of the Moravian College staff and cooperating universities as well. In all activities, the emphasis is laid on a practical use of knowledge in the Olomouc region in the form of students practical training experience and also in the form of lectures or other educational activities focused on entrepreneurs and other institutions. The founder and the closest partner of MCO is a software company TESCO SW a.s., which performs a complex supply of specific software solutions, e.g. for facility management, monitoring the projects financed by the structural funds of EU or specific economic system. General director of TESCO SW company dr. Josef Tesarik is also a chairman of the Board of Directors of MCO. This narrow connection between business and academic sphere is reflected in other activities initiated by MCO focusing, among others, on using the innovation potential of the Olomouc region. The key aspect on the way to the innovations is especially an active cooperation between business and academic environment. The professionalization of the roles in the innovation process is no less important. Any innovation process cannot be successful for a long time without qualified experts, managers and efficient workers. Also, MCO and its preparation of specialists educated in economics and management plays here an important part. As the biggest challenge, we can consider the professionalization of the innovation processes management just in securing a synergy of the academic and business world. Our approach to management of the innovation process consists in a support from strategic regional partners, in the realization of innovations itself and especially in the active participation of all relevant subjects in the innovation processes. All these activities must be based on a clear and system approach stated in advance, which would cover all mentioned subjects. MCO comes with such a solution proposal to the region Regional Innovation Systems (see Picture 1). The center of the innovation motor is MCO, which provides such activities as organization, experts services, consultancy and administration background. The center of the innovation motor is surrounded by social-political environment, which is represented by representatives of the public-administration sphere (it is The Regional Authority of the Olomouc Region on the regional level, government and individual ministry of CZ on the national level), chamber of commerce, cooperating universities, research and progress centers and not least also enterprises. All innovation activities are carried out in the context of the European Union politics and they are affected by global processes. Then, there are three subjects entering the innovation motor: knowledge base, which brings qualifications, innovations and patents, public sphere and economic subjects (companies, businessman). All these subjects are connected with the effort to be successful on the market of products, services and capacities (human resources). Participation in the regional innovation system is a contribution to all integrated subjects. The contribution for the knowledge base is a competitive advantage consisting in a knowledge of specific priorities of the practice, enlarged interest of students in a study conditioned by their chance to find a job, new topics for research activities and additional recourses of financing its activities from private sources. Participation of economic subjects in the innovation system brings them a competitive advantage on the market thanks the continual process of new products innovation, the stable intake of qualified, purposely prepared specialists and new topics for commercial activities. 19

5 For representatives of the public sphere it means voted representatives on the towns, regions and country level, the contribution consisting in the higher competitive strength of the region on the international job market, in better educational system and more satisfied Citizens with a higher quality of their lives. We have spoken here about new innovation processes on the regional level. We do not avoid cooperation with foreign partners especially in the area of facility management on the level of science and research as well as on the level of development and production or a commercial cooperation. The cooperation can be carried out from the bilateral one to the level of cluster as an economic subject and a receiver of grants from public sources. Motto at the end: Cooperation brings development and success it is necessary to search it. Picture 1: Regional Innovation System Literatura [1] DRUCKER, Peter. Inovace a podnikavost. 1. vyd. Praha: Management Press, ISBN [2] GRUBLOVÁ, Eva, a kol. Podniková ekonomika. 1. vyd. Ostrava: Repronis Ostrava, ISBN [3] JÁČ, Ivan, RYDVALOVÁ, Petra, a ŽIŽKA Miroslav. Inovace v malém a středním podnikání. 1. vyd. Brno: Computer Press, a.s., ISBN [4] PITRA, Zbyněk. Inovační strategie. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada Publishing, ISBN