From projects to business

A main mission of CDT is to run business innovation projects, i.e. projects which bring knowledge based innovation into sustainable new business.

A CDT project starts when an idea (based on new knowledge from research) has been evaluated to have a significant business opportunity. The idea may be based on any combination or blend of new technology, identified needs, new business principle or emerging market opportunity.

Are good business innovations driven by needs or emerging technology – arguments are eternal. At CDT we are fine whatever comes first. For certain, it is important that they both are present and can match!

Towards new solutions

During a CDT business innovation project, key assets are created such as architectures, new technology, methods as well as analysis of needs, market and usability aspects.

If successful, the project final delivery is a product/service prototype and a business concept (perceived market, business model and suitable value chain). Normally, final delivery also includes IPR settlement with a ”commercial host” and other necessary preparations for a business exploitation process to ”take over”.

Partnership for New Business

Advanced distance-spanning technology instruments continuous transformation of virtually all types of businesses. Based on regular forecasts, we select business segments, engage partners and jointly form what we call strategic partnership programs or “Partnerships for New Business”. In context of the partnership programs, we analyze and define driving scenarios. Based on driving scenarios, we initiate and conduct prototype-driven projects for research, development and test of new products, new services and new business models.

Research Integration

Are good business innovations driven by needs or emerging technology? Well, arguments are eternal. At CDT we are fine whatever comes first. For certain, it is important that they both are present and can match! The driving scenarios are complex, so our projects rely on our ability to define and integrate a suitable blend of different organisations and competences. We call this “Research Integration” and it includes integration of different research areas. It also includes integration between academic and commercial objectives and perspectives.

Innovation Management

Ability to generate innovations is one thing. Bringing innovation to new business is another, and CDT do both. Each groundbreaking innovation is unique by definition, and it is inherently difficult, also for the innovators, to fully grasp its nature and potential. Hence, efficient exploitation of each innovation represents a unique management challenge. Our Innovation Management processes rely heavily on our network of senior entrepreneurs.

Finances

CDT is mainly financed by institutional sources, nationally and internationally, such as EU framework programmes and structural funds along with national and regional government. Though strategically important, the contribution from CDT’s core partners represents a minor part of the funding sources.

Agreements and IPR

The core partner joint venture is based on a General Agreement defining the overall terms and policies of collaboration such as confidentiality and intellectual property rights. Collaboration between project partners in a specific project is based on a Project Agreement, defining terms such as project objectives, background information, activities/milestones, budget and financial commitments. Agreement terms are deliberately shaped to promote joint result exploitation and swift commercialisation process.

Culture

A key ingredient is the way people from different organisations and working cultures are working together in R&D projects. Since project resources (people) come from different organisations and working cultures, located at different geographical sites, people joining CDT must work closely together. Extensive development and usage of advanced systems for electronic meetings and distributed teamwork, enables the CDT people to collaborate closely together in spite of the geographical and organisational distances. Our main objective is to learn and continuously improve CDT as a preferred R&D meeting place. To understand, develop and blend appropriate ingredients such as university vitality, bias for pragmatic collaboration and targeted curiosity.

Press and PR

This Press and Publicity information provides rules and support for persons producing media material about CDT. A general rule is to include the following brief statement in all public material:

CDT is a centre for applied IT research at Luleå University of Technology.

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