Establishing a framework for collaborative innovation processe in a technological district in Italy

A learning community is a collaborative network involved in maintenance and innovation which is based on common aims, shared meanings, common approaches, commitment to effective implementation and mutual accountability. All of these elements are focused on continuous creative tension. A technological district is a form of learning community, that is a collaborative network in a limited geographical area, where a variety of economic entities such as enterprises, research centres and public administrations are occupied in high-intensive research activities and distributed scientifictechnological processes, including knowledge sharing and technological innovation. In this paper, a technological district scenario is proposed where a virtual breeding environment (VBE) defines a set of key working and sharing principles that enable collaboration among its members. A theoretical and practical framework is presented designed to stimulate opportunities and preparedness of technological district members to create virtual organisations (VOs). A VBE organisational framework is introduced for a technological district and an approach is introduced to identify configurations of VOs whose aim is to conduct innovation projects. The paper is based on a pilot implementation of the project LogNET-LOGICA which involved research laboratories of the three universities in Calabria and a few enterprises of the technological district of Gioia Tauro, Italy. The central contribution of this paper consists in providing a mechanism to identify and assemble competencies in a technological district. This paper suggests the source and type of competencies needed to conduct innovation projects as well as the partner enterprises that are best suited to carry out particular innovation projects.