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DIGIBIZ 2009 Workshop Program

W3 Comercialise or die! : turning collaborative research into business propositions

Organizers

• Santi Ristol Jorba (ATOS ORIGIN), Spain
• Andrea Rossi (ATOS ORIGIN), Spain
• Daniel Field (ATOS ORIGIN), Spain
• Katarina Stanoevska (University St Gallen), Switzerland
  

Objectives and Topics

This workshop focuses on new tools and methods for increasing the likelihood of successful commercial endeavors resulting from collaborative research. Collaborative research, as exemplified by the European Commission’s framework programme, is an excellent way for companies to explore new technological frontiers as it allows open dialogue with other companies and academia. Different perspectives and ideas can be shared and no company has to carry the entire financial burden, as would happen if working in isolation.

However, there are also downsides to this research, particularly when it comes to launching commercial initiatives based on that research. Firstly, the research is often initiated to explore a technology region, rather than solve a specific problem. Secondly, because of the research’s broad scope and multiple objectives, the results are often difficult to apply as-is to problems faced in the companies. Often further development and customizing is needed. Thirdly, problems with confidentiality, ownership and access rights can further hamper efforts. Finally, as happens in all research ambits, the researcher’s focus is on the research, not the organization’s business requirements. It requires an entrepreneurial mindset to take the results from the lab to the market.

This workshop will examine new methodologies and tools used to overcome these drawbacks. Building on the experience of successful research initiatives, the use of the tools, strategies and methods developed in those projects to develop new business models, evaluate business strategy, elucidate value chains in new industries (such as the digital world), model technical architectures from an economic and business requirements standpoint, and include latest and emerging market trends into system design, will be discussed.
These tools and methods are particularly pertinent to the Future Internet, where assets are digital and cost per unit tends to zero. Virtual worlds, radical business models, convergence, digital identity, the ‘long tail’ and social networking are evolving organizations' behaviors and business architectures. Much of the research undertaken is collaborative and the scope is vast. The more foresighted companies are investing in this research. However, only the most innovative will succeed in translating its results directly into business value.

Format of submissions

There are two ways to actively participate in the workshop:

• To submit a paper describing the work for its publication in the DIGIBIZ 2009 proceedings and make a short presentation of the work at the workshop. Both short (4 page) and long (8 page) papers will be accepted. The papers should be in Springer LNICST format.
• To make a short presentation at the workshop without associated paper.

In both cases, in order to ease the organisation of the sessions, a short abstract with a title, authors and half-page description of the work that you plan to present should be submitted before May 5th.

Proceedings of the workshop will be published by Springer Verlag in the Lecture Notes of ICST - LNICST.

Important Dates