15 recommendations – outline A stronger understanding of the need for new technical knowledge 1. Small and medium-sized enterprises should develop a stronger readiness to search for and apply new technological knowledge from knowledge institutions (page 3) 2. The mediating role of the research and technology organizations should be reinforced (page 4) Enhanced flows of technological knowledge towards small and medium-sized enterprises 3. The roles and offers of the various technical knowledge institutions should be easily accessible (page 6) 4. Small and medium-sized enterprises should have access to net-based information on available technological knowledge (page 8) 5. Simple technology knowledge networks among small and medium-sized enterprises should be established (page 8) Education, competence and skill development 6. All engineering educations should focus on competence development of students towards recognizing, exchanging, and adopting new technology knowledge (page 9) 7. The engineers at small and medium-sized enterprises should develop additional skills in demanding and applying new technological knowledge (page 10) 8. The staff at universities and research and technology organizations should be trained in assisting the engineers of the small and medium-sized enterprises (page 10) 9. Skills in mutual specification of technological knowledge expectations should be developed (page 11) Suggestions towards competence development: modular, incremental and tailor-made 10. Training should be incremental (page 12) 11. Training should be offered in modules where possible (page 12) 12. The need for competence development in connection with technological knowledge transfer should be defined in a close co-operation between the enterprise and the knowledge institution (page 12) Policy views and tasks for realization of the recommendations 13. Development and funding of a test facility – a real living lab for competence development (page 13) 14. The engineering organizations should prioritize awareness on the need for technological knowledge at the small and medium-sized enterprises (page 13) 15. The national and transnational levels should further strengthen their efforts and co-operation within the sector (page 14) III IV
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