According to RDI project results and surveys, companies, especially SMEs and startups require support and would like to co-operate with LAB University of Applied Sciences. However, quite often it is difficult to find potential collaboration partners. This blog describes the results of the pilots aimed at connecting SMEs with research and development activities conducted in LAB as a part of activities of a completed LAB Growth project (LAB 2023).
Olga Bogdanova and Pasi Rantanen presented these results at the international conferences EDULEARN23 in Mallorca, Spain, 3-5 July 2023, and ICERI23 in Sevilla, Spain, 13-15 November 2023 (IATED Conferences 2023). The presentations sparked productive discussions among conference participants. In the following sections, the summary of the results is provided, and the full papers can be downloaded from LAB ResearchGate.
![[Alt text: a large conference hall with a lot of people.]](https://blogit.lab.fi/labfocus/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/954_2023_Building-bridges-between-LAB-and-SMEs_1-1024x568.jpg)
Entrepreneurship training at StartHUB
A training program for startup entrepreneurs and SMEs was implemented at StartHUB in 2022. It had a dual approach: a traditional top-down (teacher-centered) method and a more effective bottom-up (student-centered) approach tailored to the participants’ current needs. Workshops in the program significantly enhanced business operations and skills acquisition. Yet, the acceleration program alone cannot address the identified skill-related challenges; it is imperative to engage in networked collaboration and community learning to enhance skills and adaptability. In response to participant feedback, a third cycle featuring a MOOC course, “Entrepreneur Toolbox 2.0,” is planned, incorporating modules on local entrepreneurial ecosystems. (Rantanen & Bogdanova 2023a)
Board sprints simulation
The Board Sprint simulation took place from September to December 2022, aiming to foster the growth of three startup companies by aiding them in recruiting appropriate board members. The participants included five board members from a professional association, LAB employees with board experience, and staff from a regional business development company. The outcomes were diverse: some companies continued with their newly established boards, one ceased operations entirely, and another opted to prioritize team building before revisiting board development in the future. (Rantanen & Bogdanova 2023b.)
![[Alt text: a laboratory room, two persons processing some kind of test with liquids and equipment.]](https://blogit.lab.fi/labfocus/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2023/12/954_2023_Building-bridges-between-LAB-and-SMEs_2-1024x578.jpg)
Duunissa24
The Duunissa24 initiative entailed LAB and LUT management personnel spending a day working in various companies. This hands-on participation and direct observation of company operations enabled management to gain firsthand experience and a deeper understanding of specific company needs. Their managerial expertise enabled the identification of needs that might not be readily apparent in interviews. Establishing trust with companies facilitated the identification of collaboration opportunities, innovative cases, and the seamless integration of these insights into curricula and RDI activities. (Bogdanova & Rantanen 2023.)
Olga Bogdanova works as an RDI Specialist at LAB University of Applied Sciences and was LAB Growth Project Manager until 31 Aug 2023.
References
Bogdanova, O. & Rantanen P. 2023 From boardrooms to shop floors: enhancing university-industry collaboration through hands-on engagement of higher education institution management in SMEs. In ICERI23 Proceedings (pp. 3855-3860). IATED. Cited 13 Dec 2023. Available at https://doi.org/10.21125/iceri.2023.0973
IATED Conferences. 2023. EDULEAN23 and ICERI23 conferences website. Cited 13 Dec 2023. Available at https://iated.org/conferences
ICERI23. 2023. ICERI pictures. Cited 13 Dec 2023. Available at https://iated.org/iceri/pictures
LAB. 2023. LAB Growth. Project website. Cited 13 Dec 2023. Available at https://lab.fi/en/project/lab-growth
Rantanen, P. & Bogdanova, O. 2023a. Fast track for university-SME cooperation. In EDULEARN23 Proceedings (pp. 6870-6874). IATED. Cited 13 Dec 2023. Available at https://doi.org/10.21125/edulearn.2023.1806
Rantanen, P. & Bogdanova, O. 2023b. Empowering growth: enhancing competitiveness in SMEs and startups through professional board engagement. In ICERI23 Proceedings. 3867‒3872. IATED. Cited 13 Dec 2023. Available at https://doi.org/10.21125/iceri.2023.0971
