%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2020 %T The Role of Academics, Users, and Customers in Industrial Product Development %A Leena Kunttu %A Yrjö Neuvo %K commercialization %K customer involvement %K stakeholder involvement %K University-Industry Collaboration %K user involvement %X Industrial research and development (R&D) is often adopted as a leading strategy for innovation in high-technology firms. It has been recognized that collaboration with external actors has become increasingly crucial for R&D practices in a world where product and service innovation are increasingly challenging for companies involved in knowledge-intensive technology areas. Thus, high-technology firms are increasingly engaging in collaborative relationships with external stakeholders to transfer valuable new knowledge for industrial purposes, or to create new knowledge through a joint learning process. These external stakeholders may include research institutes such as universities, customer firms, or end users of the firm's products or services. Academic involvement in industrial innovation projects has traditionally focussed on the early stages of a product's development process, when new ideas and innovations are being developed. On the other hand, the interaction between a firm and its customers takes place during the final stages of the R&D process, when innovations are brought to market. In this paper, we explore how users and customers can be involved in university-industry collaboration projects from the beginning of the product development process. Based on a case study comprising five long-term university-industry collaborations in Finland, this paper presents collaborative practices through which academic actors, users, and industrial customers may actively take part in the industrial innovation processes. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 10 %P 60-69 %8 03/2020 %G eng %U timreview.ca/article/1337 %N 3 %1 University of Vaasa Leena Kunttu holds a PhD degree in Information Technology (signal processing) from the Tampere University of Technology, Finland (2006), a PhD degree in Economics (innovation management) from the University of Vaasa, Finland (2019), and Master of Arts degree in Education from the University of Tampere (2020). Between 2007 and 2012, she served as Senior Manager in an area of innovation at the Nokia Corporation. During her career in Nokia, she led a number of collaborative projects between the company and external research institutes, such as universities. She also led and participated in joint educational activities between Nokia and universities. Since 2015, Dr. Kunttu has served as a postdoc researcher in an area of innovation at the University of Vaasa. Her current research interests include university-industry collaboration, educational involvement and the commercialization of university technologies. %2 Aalto University Yrjö Neuvo received his Ph. D, degree from Cornell University in 1974. He had a 19-year academic career as professor of Signal Processing at Tampere University of Technology, as National Research Professor at the Academy of Finland and as a visiting professor at University of California, Santa Barbara. He was Chief Technology Officer and member of the Group Executive Board at Nokia Corporation from 1993 to 2005. His responsibilities included managing R&D activities for mobile phones. After retiring from Nokia he started his third career as Professor and Research Director at Aalto University, Finland. At Aalto, Yrjö has developed university wide programs for doctoral education fostering cross-disciplinary learning and industry-academia interplay. He has been Chairman of ARTEMIS JTI Governing Board 2007 – 2008 and member of the Executive Committee of European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 2008 - 2012. He was General Chairman of the 1988 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems and of the IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC 2001). He is Life Fellow of IEEE, Member of Academia Europaea, the Swedish Academy of Technical Sciences, two Finnish Academies and holds four honorary doctorates. Asteroid 1938 DN carries his name Neuvo. %& 60 %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1337 %0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2017 %T Improving Internal Communication Management in SMEs: Two Case Studies in Service Design %A Tuomo Eskelinen %A Mervi Rajahonka %A Kaija Villman %A Ulla Santti %K business model %K internal communication management %K participative process %K service design %K stakeholder involvement %K training %X Effective information management is a success factor for business growth, but small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face challenges in transferring knowledge and information from one organizational unit to another. In this study of two case companies, participative business model development processes were designed to identify challenges and solutions in internal communication management. A service design approach based on CIMO logic (context, intervention, mechanism, and output) showed that the participative business model technique and process can identify problems and challenges in internal communication management, as well as in the prioritization of actions. The process is a creative service design process including both divergent and convergent phases. The process increased motivation among personnel to find solutions, encouraged communication, and created joint understanding on how to solve problems. The technique helped to bring tacit information into use. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 7 %P 16-24 %8 06/2017 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/1081 %N 6 %1 Savonia University of Applied Sciences Tuomo Eskelinen, PhD, works as an RDI Advisor at the Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Finland. His background is in Environmental Sciences, and his expertise and research interests include sustainable value networks, development of business partnerships, and sustainable business models. He organizes research, development, and innovation processes with enterprises and other organizations, with scientists, end users, and customers, from idea generation to business models development and commercialization. He has participated in more than 20 EU-funded projects in the fields of forestry, energy, food, water safety, and processing. He is experienced in performing and coordinating interdisciplinary, international, large-scale research projects, workshops and training. %2 South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK Mervi Rajahonka, DSc (Econ), works as an RDI Advisor at the Small Business Center (SBC), currently a part of the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK, Finland. She has been working at the SBC for about 10 years, participating in numerous EU-funded projects. She earned her doctoral degree in Logistics from the Department of Information and Service Economy at Aalto University School of Business in Helsinki, Finland. She also holds a Master’s degree in Technology from the Helsinki University of Technology and a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Helsinki. Her research interests include sustainable logistics and supply chain management, business models, service modularity, and service innovations. Her research has been published in a number of journals in the areas of logistics, services, and operations management. %3 South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK Kaija Villman, MMus in Arts management, works as a Project Manager at the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences XAMK, Small Business Center, Finland. She has been working at the SBC for about 7 years, participating in numerous EU-funded projects in the fields of creative industries, service development, and digitalization. She is experienced in coordinating interdisciplinary projects, workshops, and training and she acted as the Project Manager for the PaKe Savo Project. %4 Savonia University of Applied Sciences Ulla Santti, MSc (Econ), has experience as a teacher of Business Administration and Marketing, and she is an expert on research, development, and innovation projects at the Savonia University of Applied Sciences in Finland. She has also undertaken SME business development through practical field work in healthcare, industrial factories, advertising, and the tourism industries. Currently, she is preparing her doctoral thesis at the Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland. Her research interest includes business models and organizational culture development of SMEs with an interest in what kind of common ground, effects, and connections these concepts have on each other. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1081