Knowledge support and action research for strategic and innovation promoting board work

Purpose and goal

The project has contributed research support for project owners / intermediaries, as well as followed and documented the process, to develop knowledge about strategic board work in small and medium-sized enterprises. The project´s structure has enabled a systematic analysis of the rich empirical and scientific insights that emerged during the research support. Lessons from the project have been disseminated through learning seminars, as well as documented in the form of two research reports presented at international scientific conferences with peer review procedures.

Expected results and effects

Through its interactive approach, anchored in research methods and process support, the project has contributed to increased learning in line with project objectives. The project has continuously given support and advice to project-owners/intermediaries, in order to contribute to the creation and development of new working methods and methods for strategic/innovation-driven board work. In addition, the project has created research-based knowledge about the implementation of innovation policy measures via innovation intermediaries.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has been largely exploratory, as content and implementation have evolved as the Swedish Growth Agencys focus on strategic governance in small and medium-sized enterprises has developed. Systematic analysis has been made possible through the rich empirical and scientific insights that emerged during the research support, including the data collection that occurred in direct contact with the entrepreneurial companies that participated in the efforts. This has enabled the experiences and lessons learned from the project to be analytically structured and documented.