1 Fostering Innovation in Concurrent Enterprising

In current Global Markets, it is assumed that one of the most critical factors for success in industrial firms is Innovation. People inside and outside the physical boundaries of the industrial organisation are an untapped resource for innovative ideas and knowledge. In order to take this resource as an advantage, an IST/IMS project, "AIM", focuses on fostering industrial innovations throughout the extended enterprise for existing process and products by supporting the collection of Corporate Knowledge and Innovative Ideas, and to develop these Ideas and Knowledge into Innovations. The AIM Project System will support the collection of innovative ideas and relevant knowledge throughout the extended enterprise. These ideas and knowledge will later be developed fostering industrial innovations. Such system will provide a means to collect, store and use/develop innovative ideas over the extended enterprise, and it will “accelerate ” innovation into the market. In addition, Team-Work will be enhanced by co-operation between manufacturers, customers and suppliers by means of Internet facilities provided