Innovation centres and transfer of technology to small firms: the case of electronic commerce in the E.U

Despite the great potential ascribed to Internet Electronic Commerce (Ecom), the diffusion among SMEs is still low. The execution of electronic transactions requires appropriate solutions for the automation of business procedures and for the management of electronic markets, and this requires highly specialised knowledge that SMEs may find it difficult to acquire or apply. In order to facilitate the use of Ecom by, SMEs, several projects have been promoted by various institutions. The paper analyses the initiatives of local innovation centres that in many European countries have often played a central role in the transfer of technology to SMEs. However, their success in Ecom is controversial, due to the specific nature of Ecom. After characterising Ecom as innovation and the conditions for its effective transfer, the paper analyses the potential of innovation centres. The preliminary results of empirical case-study research in Italy and the UK are then illustrated.