Effective Collaboration between Research and Technology Organizations and Technology-Based SMEs in Austria`s Sports Tech Industry
Veronika Hornung-Prähauser (2026): Effective Collaboration between Research and Technology Organizations and Technology-Based SMEs in Austria`s Sports Tech Industry European Digital Innovation Hubs as a Novel Form of Innovation Brokerage. In: R&D Management Conference, Manchester, UK, 22-24th June 2026.
In this contribution, we will explore the collaboration dynamics of RTOs and SMEs supported by the brokerage of technology and innovation services offered by European Digital Innovation Hubs in the Austrian sports tech industry. We aim to contribute to better understand the emerging phenomena of EDIHs as new knowledge broker (Crupi et al., 2020), discuss the network collaboration dynamics and examine, how effective the offered R&D infrastructure and digital innovation services support the digital transformation processes of SMEs?
Firstly, we will highlight the characteristics of the digital innovation hub-network as new form of knowledge and innovation broker and how to delineate them from other (classical) technology transfer and innovation brokerage models (sect.2;3). Secondly, we address the question of how effective RTO-coordinated brokerage through EDIH services contributes to knowledge transfer and enhances innovation outcomes especially as it relates to adoption of digital technologies / AI and innovation outcomes in the context of the Austrian sports tech industry (sect.4). We propose to assess this by the method of digital maturity assessment , developed by the JRC/EC (2023). Finally, we will summarise the findings and discuss further steps needed. As such we would like to contribute to better understand non-linear technology transfer instruments and the challenges of facilitating and coping with the collaboration dynamics between SMEs and RTOs.
Zertifiziert nach EN ISO 9001