A NEW WAY OF COLLABORATING BETWEEN ENTERPRISE AND UNIVERSITY: RESEARCH NETWORKS

The Italian industrial system is characterised by outstanding and widespread creativity, small and very small dimensions, territorial capitalism, often at family level and often insufficient to grow. The market on the other hand is characterised by globalisation of outlets and players, multifunctional products, with technological and merchandising crossovers, and their dematerialisation. Enterprise networks represent the Italian answer to globalisation and the end of the “small is beautiful” model, necessary to improve competitiveness, also in light of the international market crisis. This organisational solution presents a dual structural and market value. Enterprise networks are created as a remedy to the small dimension of the Italian industrial system. In order to be successful, there must be a serious commitment by the business people who put them in place and stability over time must be ensured. Yet, there are less restrictions than in joint ventures and M&A combinations. This makes them different from ATI’s (Associazione temporanea d'imprese – Temporary Enterprise Association) and partially from industrial districts, which are sufficiently informal and have no particular restrictions. They present a dual structural and market value: they represent a solution to guarantee short-term competitiveness and the development of assets for internationalisation. There is no standard model for the structure of networks, as they have to be tailor-made. One key element is common, though: the studied and managed partial interdependence. Entrepreneurs who want to consider this structure have to be willing and committed to pool part of their creativity and autonomy and manage it jointly with others. Highly significant in this sense are networks aimed at technological innovations, put in place by companies, on one hand, and universities and research centres on the other. Indeed, innovation and creativity have become not only important but fundamental in order to survive and compete.