Innovation does not necessarily have to come from a large development department. In the Inno-Netzwerk St.Gallen, SMEs can join guided workshops to learn about different ways of innovating, which they can then apply directly to a topic that is relevant to them. The project is coordinated and supported by the Institute for Innovation, Design and Engineering (IDEE) at OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences – which aims to make it easier for SMEs to get started on their innovation plans. Small businesses work together across sectors to tackle specific, shared business challenges from their day-to-day work, since many of the issues affect more than just a single company. Dialogue with other SMEs leads to better questions, bolder ideas and more viable solutions emerging.
Among the participants in the pilot project was the SME HB-Therm AG, which raised the question within the Inno-Netzwerk St.Gallen of how data can be translated into tangible benefits for customers, new services and sustainable added value. Reto Zürcher, CEO of HB-Therm, talks about the insights he has gained through the Inno-Netzwerk and how he has benefited from it.
Reto Zürcher, what was the motivation for a pioneering business like yours to join the Inno-Netzwerk?
Reto Zürcher: The idea of a diverse group of companies coming together to focus on a particular topic and collaborating on tackling a specific challenge fascinated me from the start! The Inno-Netzwerk provided the perfect framework as a practical, cross-sector group benefiting from external methodological support. Being a pioneering company, we didn’t want to sit back and wait; instead, we wanted to play an active role in shaping the future and to learn.
“All the participants assessed the topics from their own perspective. This dialogue has helped me to rethink my own views and see things from a new perspective.”
How did you find working with the other companies and the project partners?
Our collaboration was very open and constructive. The key factor was that all the participants assessed the topics from their own perspective, which meant that many different aspects were taken into account. This dialogue has helped me to rethink my own views and see things from a new perspective, and the support provided by OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences – was invaluable in this regard, as it provided structure without losing sight of the practical aspects.
What surprised you during the project?
I was surprised by how similar certain challenges are across different sectors. Digitalisation, data, new services and managing limited resources are issues that concern many companies. At the same time, it became clear that successful innovation often fails not because of a lack of ideas, but because of a failure to ask the right questions and prioritise them consistently enough.
In what area did the project bring you the greatest added value?
The greatest added value lay in the refining of our value proposition. The project has helped us to move from a technology-driven perspective to a customer-centred approach. In particular, the critical discussion on willingness to pay, target groups and specific use cases was extremely valuable to us.
“We are now committed to discussing innovation issues at an earlier stage and more broadly – with customers, with staff from various departments, and also with external partners.”
Which insights can be directly applied to your day-to-day work?
We are now committed to discussing innovation issues at an earlier stage and more broadly – with customers, with staff from various departments, and also with external partners. It has also been confirmed that small, clearly defined experiments are often more effective than grand schemes on paper. The important thing is to assess quickly whether an idea will really work in the market or within the business.
“If you’re serious about learning and want to drive innovation forward in a pragmatic way, you stand to benefit greatly.”
Who do you think can benefit from involvement in the Inno-Netzwerk?
I would particularly recommend the Inno-Netzwerk to SMEs that have a specific issue, but do not yet know exactly how to tackle it methodically. What matters most is a willingness to discuss matters openly, to question one’s own assumptions and to invest time in the process. Anyone expecting only ready-made answers is probably in the wrong place, but if you’re serious about learning and want to drive innovation forward in a pragmatic way, you stand to benefit greatly.
