Knowledge management as a service: co‐operation between small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and training, consulting and research institutions

Based on a representative study covering SMEs, providers of training and consulting and research institutions in Austria, the co‐operation process between SMEs and external providers of know‐how is discussed. A lack of market transparency, problems in the search phase, a lack of co‐operation targets and evaluation criteria as well as deficits in the co‐operation during the transfer phase lead to a considerable number of SMEs which are disappointed with the co‐operation. This problem can be met by the development of new forms of co‐operation, i.e. integrated training and consulting programmes, process consultation of in‐house development projects and the support of and process consultation of co‐operations between SMEs. In this context, new learning technologies can be used to foster co‐operative learning and networking.