Building partnerships is essential for an innovation-driven industry, and it takes place on several different levels. There is networking, market research, and a variety of other processes that shape the creation of partnerships with public and private institutions. Organizations that hope to maintain a competitive edge can’t afford to be isolated from their context, competitors, and potential partners. There are several aspects to keep in mind about establishing successful business relationships.

Knowledge and Skills, a Winning Combination

It is essential to have strong knowledge about one’s field and be proficient in related fields, enough to be able to evaluate the feasibility of collaborations and business plans. Understanding the inner workings of the process and having a strong technological foundation can be quite important for seeking out partners who are doing relevant, cutting-edge work. It is easier to identify the leaders in the field and promising proposals when one has plenty of knowledge and practical experience.

In regards to this, it’s important to mention not only the professional preparation but also business skills. Becoming involved with strategic partnerships means understanding how the market works and what it means to have a solid business plan as opposed to a poor one. This can involve experience with project acquisition, business development, management, and an insider’s perspective of the way different organizations may operate and what their particular goals might be. Combining field expertise and business experience is essential to create a working balance and manage the demands on the side of innovation and profit. 

Relationship Building

Partnerships are based on effective interpersonal skills that involve working with stakeholders who can bring a variety of different perspectives to the table. Some might be outsiders to the industry, while others might be highly specialized professionals. Taking into account the particular needs, preferences, and prior experience of the individuals involved in the negotiations requires significant interpersonal abilities. Clear and effective communication with the stakeholders is essential to make projects work. 

Know the Field

Market research and an understanding of the data and current trends can help identify current market leaders, rising stars, and potential partners. Not every company is ready for a partnership, so understanding how to create a win-win relationship for partners at different levels is another important consideration in the process.

The individual responsible for developing these partnerships needs to show specific competencies as well that are more general, but definitely equally important. Being customer-oriented and creating mutually beneficial relationships, especially with important public and private institutions, ensures that these partnerships last.

It is important to stay up-to-date in regards to one’s field and business competencies. Learning and improving is a must to maintain a strong theoretical basis and grow as the field develops.

Being Proactive

Partnerships are not created on their own. They need to be sought in an active way and pursued. This requires a high level of motivation and initiative that allows the person to solve problems and seek out the best partners for their organization, whether it involves those with the best reputation in the field or those with a stellar professional reputation. Active networking and relationship building is essential.

Overall, shaping partnerships involves understanding very well the place one comes from and what the organization offers, needs, and desires, while also being mindful of the needs of the potential partners, what they have to contribute, and what needs to be established to move forward.

It’s important to understand how partnerships are established. How do organizations and stakeholders engage and interact to create win-win situations?

Partnerships: a Case Study

For example, a particular case might involve a consortium featuring a wide variety of companies, such as a large corporation, three small companies, a university, a GSM operator, a satellite operator, and a 5G testing organization. These stakeholders come together to create smart, innovative 5G Satcom solutions. This involves a lot of stakeholders with different goals, priorities, and background. The public organization serves as the source of the know-how, the funding, and guidance, in particular, but how does this strategy develop?

Let’s consider the construction sector. Construction requires specific guidelines to be followed for safety and, in recent times, has demanded the continued monitoring of social distancing and mask usage. Beyond these, it is important to implement tracking of helmets, inspection robots, and other things that need to be followed to reduce the risk of accidents, improve outcomes, and create long-lasting smart solutions to save resources, time, and personnel.

5G testbeds provide 5G infrastructure for these and other projects, which requires GSM operators, terrestrial support, and a satellite operator who offers support for remote places with a lack of connectivity. Construction can be carried out in locations that are away from urban centers, especially in the case of innovative projects. Let’s imagine a construction project taking place far away from civilization, under difficult conditions that make safety measures especially important and that limit the amount of available personnel. High speeds are required to ensure that the monitoring is done in real-time and that any measures can be implemented right away.

In our example, the large company serves as the organizer for all other parties and provides support for the product or service they need. They might develop the software, not so much the hardware, relying on vendors to provide specific hardware and customize the project. The University partner provides research support and, in turn, gains access for its staff to leading technologies. As the partnerships develop, the benefits and socio-economic impacts for everyone appear clear. There is value, there are new jobs, there is a new applied technology, and there is an advancement in business applications.

Conclusion

Overall, shaping partnerships involves understanding very well the place one comes from and what the organization offers, needs, and desires, while also being mindful of the needs of the potential partners, what they have to contribute, and what needs to be established to move forward. It is an essential skill that combines a variety of abilities and themes.