A UK University ranked amongst the top 25 for research in the 2008 RAE sought to license various technologies including a technology to improve corrosion resistance. IXC was engaged to assist in finding licensees for the technology.
Network Closure
Focus
A UK University ranked amongst the top 25 for research in the 2008 RAE sought to license various technologies including a technology to improve corrosion resistance. IXC was engaged to assist in finding licensees for the technology.
Find
Embedded intermediaries gain first had knowledge of industry issues that academia may not be exposed to. An intention of a client within the IXC network matched the University's technology. The academic at the university partner was already working with the industrial partner identified but there was no-one at either organisation that was aware of both the technology and the solution simultaneously. IXC has the unique benefit of being exposed to both developing research and industrial needs.
Filter
The IXC network has 'closure' because all nodes are connected to all others through our knowledgebase, the Vault. IXC Intermediaries use the network to filter the most appropriate technologies from the thousands of global opportunities in the network. New intentions are fed into the IXC network, communicated between the global intermediary team and analysed to ensure fit of both technology and culture. The client is presented with focussed results from a technology intelligence network where performance is maximised . In this case an application existed for the academic client's technology in an organisation already known to the University.
structural hole vs network closure
Facilitate
In this connection IXC facilitated a deepening of the relationship between two partners already known to each other. Economically the University partner received £10 000 to run feasibility trials for their coating technology, potentially opening up a new market while the industrial partner hopes to make significant efficiency savings based on reduced corrosion of their magnets.
Summary
• The IXC network contains data on both academic research and industrial needs that no other technology intelligence network has access to
• Unexpected connections are not always within unknown parties
• The continual input of opportunities and intentions into the IXC network, combined with anonymity and connectedness ensures unique benefits accrue to clients
