Practice based research to enhance innnovation capacity through learning and ICT supported collaboration

Zhao, 2005 highlighted that innovation and entrepreneurship are complementary. Both are required for an organisation to succeed with innovation forming one of the key elements of entrepreneurship (Miller, 1983). Innovation involves the creation and exploitation of new and existing knowledge (OECD, 2005). Research involves the creation of knowledge in a systematic manner. (OECD, 2012). Research is required for innovation and innovation is needed to generate ideas for entrepreneurship. For the purposes of this project research skills will be used as a medium to allow employees in companies to create the knowledge required for innovation to take place in their organisation. Research skills will be further used to explore business models to add value to such innovations enhancing the entrepreneurial capacity of SMEs.

The aim of the ReInnovate project is to focus on using systematic research to facilitate the development of entrepreneurial skills in employees in Small to Medium Enterprises(SME). This project aims to develop research skills in SMEs
1. Assist SMEs to find/create the knowledge required to become more competitive
2. Develop a culture of entrepreneurship in SMEs
3. Help SMEs to become more innovative