I would like to add another dimension to this topic, knowledge transfer from academia to local economies.

While the higher administrative layers of Universities are still pushing for commercializing intellectual property, we (SENSORICA) find through our practice that scientists are more and more inclined to open their innovation, and to integrate “value networks” that bridge the academia with the local economy. SENSORICA value network already includes 2 academic laboratories, one at Montreal Heart Institute and the other one at Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal. We helped these labs to get funding for projects developed within SENSORICA. We observe a rich interaction between professors and their students and SENSORICA members. Knowledge, know how, and tangible resources are flowing both ways between SENSORICA and these labs. Both these relations seem to be strengthening for a long-term collaboration.

SENSORICA’s value proposition to professors in the academia is straight forward: We (SENSORICA) want to develop open innovation, which adds no constraints to publication, allowing the lab to increase its scientific reputation and to get more funding in the traditional way. Moreover, we add value to the lab’s research by developing new applications. We also help the lab to build the case for funding. All funding goes to the lab and knowledge and know how flows into SENSORICA. SENSORICA members also gain access to expensive equipment.

In conclusion, value networks are becoming important channels for technology transfer. University professors prefer to integrate a value network like SENSORICA, rather than working with corporations or patenting their technology. The value network is a new form of organization enabled by the Internet and the digital technology built around it.