The UMONS Innovation Network was established by the university of Mons in collaboration with several regional research centres to create a seamless research-to-innovation value chain aligned with the TRL scale. This initiative enhances visibility for each partner’s activities while fostering effective responses to industry needs.
Description
Objectives
The primary objective of the UMONS Innovation Network is to strengthen the bridge between research and innovation, ensuring that academic outputs effectively address industry challenges.
Secondary objectives include:
- Improving the visibility of research and innovation activities in Wallonia (Belgium).
- Facilitating faster responses to business demands through a coordinated network.
Target Population
The UMONS Innovation Network primarily targets:
- Companies and entrepreneurs seeking research-driven solutions for innovation.
- Research centres and academic institutions aiming to valorise their outputs.
- Public authorities and policymakers interested in leveraging research for economic and societal impact.
Approach and Methodology
To achieve its objectives, the UMONS Innovation Network adopts a multi-faceted approach:
- Collaborative governance: Bringing together research centres to align on a unified innovation strategy.
- Tailored support for businesses: Providing personalised advice and guidance to address specific company needs.
- Resource pooling: Sharing knowledge, infrastructure, and expertise across the network.
Key knowledge valorisation channels include:
- Academia-industry joint research and mobility: By connecting academic research with industry requirements, the network facilitates collaborative projects and partnerships.
- Intermediaries and knowledge valorisation professionals support: The network offers guidance, coaching, and networking opportunities tailored to businesses.
- Engagement of societal actors: Through its ecosystem of partners, the network involves public and private stakeholders in knowledge transfer and innovation.
Transferability
The UMONS Innovation Network serves as a model for creating interconnected innovation ecosystems. Its success lies in its simplicity, scalability, and adaptability:
- Scalability: The network’s framework can be replicated at national or European levels.
- Inspirational potential: The initiative demonstrates how regional research actors can unite to maximize their collective impact.
Achievements & learning
Since its inception five years ago, the UMONS Innovation Network has achieved notable milestones, including:
- Facilitating over 100 industry-research collaborations.
- Increasing visibility for partner institutions within the regional innovation ecosystem.
- Developing an effective response system for business demands, significantly reducing time to solution.
These achievements highlight its practicality as a real-life initiative that bridges academia and industry for impactful knowledge valorisation.