Building block Context-rich Infrastructure

02-06-2020

#Facilities and labs #Building blocks

This building block makes state-of-the-art infrastructure like equipment, machines and the associated human expertise available to the public-private partnership (PPP). The context-rich infrastructure offers a fertile environment for choosing, learning, working, and innovating. This building block is a precondition for many other building blocks. The infrastructure can take different forms, for example centrally at one location like a  campus, one location with a number of smaller satellite locations, or a fully distributed model where the region is the campus. 

A shared infrastructure offers educational institutions, SME's, and starters the opportunity to have equipment and machines at their disposal which they would otherwise not have access to. But a location with equipment and machines only is not effective. People who can support students, teachers and employees of companies in operating and using the equipment need to be present.

What’s it all about?

Opening up available infrastructure to all members of the PPP, often using a distributed model, and/or jointly investing in equipment that the individual partners cannot afford themselves, often at a central location like a campus. This often provides a context-rich practical environment for learning, working and innovating.

What happens next?

Partners have an inspiring working environment for learning, location for companies or SMEs for innovation and research, either as a demonstration center or as training location for their customers (LLO), as exhibition floor for customers, and for network meetings.

What kinds of partners are required?

Investing partners to own facilities and customers who will use the facilities.

What kinds of agreements do you need to make?

An infrastructure without people, expertise, or a route-map has little added value. So you need lab managers and experts or business developers who help with the use of the equipment and with projects. These could be technology experts employed by the supplier or teaching staff. An account manager will need to manage existing relationships and bring in new customers who can use the facilities.
In case of a distributed model that uses existing infrastructure, the PPP needs a 'campus map' with  capacity, maintenance, operation, and further development. They also need an on-site program with supervision. PPPs with their own identity often have a separate governance structure. Shared facilities will need their own legal structure.

Where can I find a good example?

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