AITEX Transfiere

Supporting purposeful technological transfer with AITEX

How might we support technology transfer for the purpose of positive impact?

AITEX is a technological institute of reference in Spain and Europe. Focused on the textile sector, from its headquarters in Alcoi (Comunitat Valenciana) it supports companies in incorporating innovation aimed at sustainability and competitiveness.

To strengthen technology transfer, AITEX has a working group focused on it, through the Transfiere 2023 project. This is an annual project supported by the Department of Sustainable Economy, Productive Sectors, Trade and Labour of the Valencian Government, through IVACE.

The “Transfiere 2023” working group offers support to the rest of the R&D projects, as well as to companies in their processes of incorporating technological innovation. The interest of AITEX in the Monnou methodology is oriented to the following:

  • Understanding Monnou’s way of working when designing projects and actions with a positive impact.
  • To acquire methodologies and tools that facilitate the definition of the vision and purpose of the R&D projects that are carried out.
  • To acquire methodologies and tools that facilitate the evaluation of the impact of the projects.
  • To acquire methodologies and tools that facilitate the design of the value proposition and the user experience of each of the projects.
  • To enrich AITEX services through this design methodology.

How might we introduce a Design for Sustainability methodology into the dynamics of a large technological institute? That question, we were trying to solve with this collaboration.

Training in Design for Sustainability and Knowledge Transfer

We developed a training programme for the AITEX team in charge of project management and technology transfer. The training programme was divided into two sessions, with an intermediate accompaniment during which the participants applied the methodology to their own projects.

The first session began with an explanation of the Monnou methodology, its philosophy and approach, the phases it is divided into and how it has been used in real case studies.

A practical exercise was then facilitated in groups, in which each group analyzed one of their projects using the methodology. After this analysis, each group presented its results and conclusions, and some reflections were discussed.

The first session ended with an explanation of some of the tools that can be applied in the methodology. The focus was put on tools oriented to aspects such as:

  • The study of the context and stakeholders of the project.
  • The analysis and empathy exercise with some of the most strategic stakeholders.
  • The design of the project’s value proposition, and the analysis of the economic, social and environmental impacts it may have.
  • The design of the user experience including the different stakeholders that the project engages.
  • The evaluation of the project’s impact.

From this first session, the teams continued working with the Monnou methodology on some of their projects.

During the second session, the work carried out by the groups in this interim period was presented. Some reflections were discussed and work began on customizing the methodology for the case of AITEX. Thus, guidelines and protocols began to emerge through which the AITEX team can use the Monnou Methodology to support their actions.