Hands-On Methods for Developing Innovation Communities

Based on the empirical findings of a survey of innovation networks (see Chap. 2), the results of the five case studies presented in Chap. 3 and the practical experience in developing innovation communities outlined in the previous chapter, this chapter presents hands-on methods for initiating and developing innovation communities. Section 5.1 presents methods and instruments that innovation networks use. The findings are based on a sample of 107 innovation networks in Germany. While this first section describes methods and instruments that are used by innovation networks in general, Sect. 5.2 is focussing specifically on the methods and measures employed by innovation communities. The chapter differentiates the methods and measures, which have been used in the five innovation cases (see Sects. 3.5–3.9), according to five basic tasks in the management of cooperative innovation projects: (1) Process Support, (2) Foresight, (3) Idea Generation, (4) Technology and Market Analysis and (5) Stakeholder Interaction. Section 5.3 brings together empirical and practical knowledge as to which methods and measures can be used by innovation and network managers for the initiation and development of innovation communities. The findings are summarized in a “toolbox”. Within the InnoCo project, many tools have been tried and tested in innovation community development. Special attention has been given to two methodological approaches which are as important for the development of innovation communities as they are methodologically complex. These are: systemic innovation coaching of innovation communities, and Delphi-based scenario development in innovation networks. These methods are presented in Sects. 5.4 and 5.5.