Understanding Types of Innovation Network

Working together across a sector or region to improve competitiveness through product, process, and service innovation.

There are several types of innovations networks.  Below are some examples:

• Entrepreneur-based - Bringing different complementary resources together to help take an opportunity forward.  This strategy is largely dependent on the entrepreneur's energy and enthusiasm in getting people interested in joining -and staying in--the network.
• Communities of Practice - Networks that involve players inside and across different organization.  They are bound together by a shared concern with a particular aspect or area of knowledge.
• Spatial Cluster - these form where key players in a given industry are situated in the same geographical area--Silicon Valley is a good example.  Knowledge flow among and across the members of the network is helped by the geographical closeness and the ability of key players to meet and talk.
• Sectoral Network - These bring different players together because they share a common market sector or business model, and often have the purpose of shared innovation to preserve competitiveness.
• New product or process development network - networks that share knowledge and perspectives to create and market a new product or process concept across more than one organization.
• Learning network - Working together across a sector or region to improve competitiveness through product, process, and service innovation.
• New technology development network - Sharing and learning around newly emerging technologies to fully explore their potential--for example, the pioneering semiconductor research programs in the US and Japan that resources and information from universities across the globe.
• Emerging Standards - Exploring and establishing standards around innovative technologies--for example, the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) that works on audio and video compression standards for digital sound and video.
• Supply chain learning - Developing and sharing innovative good practice and possibly shared product development across a value chain, such as between manufacturer and distribution.

ACTION POINT:  Look within and outside of your industry for the innovation networks that can spark ideas for your organization.