Knowledge is considered to be an economic driver in today's economy. It has become a commodity, a resource that can be packed and transferred. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the scope, trends and major actors (firms, organizations, government, consultants, academia, etc.) in the development and use of methods to manage innovation in a knowledge-driven economy. The paper identifies the main innovation management techniques (IMTs) aiming at the improvement of firm competitiveness by means of knowledge management. It will specifically focus on those IMTs for which knowledge is a relevant part of the innovation process. The research study, based on a survey at the European level, concludes that a knowledge-driven economy affects the innovation process and approach. The traditional idea that innovation is based on research (technology-push theory) and interaction between firms and other actors has been replaced by the current social network theory of innovation, where knowledge plays a crucial role in fostering innovation. Simultaneously, organizations in both public and private sectors have launched initiatives to develop methodologies and tools to support business innovation management. Higher education establishments, business schools and consulting companies are developing innovative and adequate methodologies and tools, while public authorities are designing and setting up education and training schemes aimed at disseminating best practices among all kinds of businesses.

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This paper will review the effectiveness of the network approach to technology transfer. It will consider the current state-of-the-art, and examine specifically the results and status of the latest development of the IRC technology transnational transfer network supported by the European Commission. It will also draw from the practical experiences of Japan to stimulate innovation among SMEs; the experience of other informal networks of technology transfer professionals and commercial technology transfer companies. In Europe the IRC network currently consists of 68 offices covering 31 countries. This network was started in 1995 and it is a distinct case of an operating innovation virtual network covering a multicultural area. How such a network was set up with a top down approach will be discussed as well as the outcome and future of the network in view of a recent review study. Of utmost importance is its focus on SMEs as part of the, up to now, successful policy towards the promotion of co-operative innovation in the SME environment. Its offer-focused model will also be analysed and consideration given as to whether this offer-focused model, as opposed to a demand-focused model, can be sustained. The influences that the different socio-economic environments across Europe have been playing in the network performance will also be discussed.

La industria cerámica europea, española e italiana, ha logrado un liderazgo tecnológico importante en la actualidad. Sin embargo, en algunos aspectos del proceso de fabricación de la cerámica, subsisten culturas artesanales que aún perduran y que son derivadas del origen de la industria. Esta situación, combinada con la crisis iniciada en la actualidad, la globalización, la creciente presión de industrias cerámicas tan alejadas como la China y los cambios en las preferencias de los clientes presentan un panorama que va a acabar produciendo, previsiblemente, ciertas demandas tecnológicas sobre el proceso de manufactura cerámica, tras una fase previa de presión sobre el proceso de desarrollo de producto. La presente comunicación tratara de realizar una reflexión sobre estos aspectos desde la perspectiva de los trabajos desarrollados por el proyecto MONOTONE, financiado por la Comisión Europea y en el que participan 17 institutos y empresas europeas del sector 1 . Palabras Clave. Tecnología, Demanda, Cambio, Globalización industria cerámicaThe European tile ceramic industry in the XXI century. Challenges of the present decade.The European, Spanish and Italian tile ceramic industry, has achieved today a relevant technology leadership. Nevertheless, in certain aspects of the tile ceramic manufacturing process, artisan cultures still subsist which are derived from the origin of the industry. This situation, combined with the crisis initiated at the start of the century, the globalisation, the increasing pressure of tile ceramic industries located in the East and the changes in the preferences of the customers presents/ a scenario which will cause determined technology demands on the tile ceramic process. The present communication reflects on these aspects from the perspective of the work developed by the MONOTONE project, financed by the European Commission. Key words. Technology Demand, Change, Globalization INTRODUCCIÓNEl sector industrial cerámico mundial presenta la peculiaridad de que se organiza, principalmente, en torno a unas concentraciones territoriales donde se localizan la mayoría de los agentes o industrias participantes en el sistema de creación de valor del producto final cerámico, tanto los fabricantes cerámicos como la industria proveedora de esmaltes y fritas y maquinaria cerámica, así como diversas instituciones públicas y privadas que apoyan y contribuyen al desarrollo de la industria. El desarrollo de estos "clusters" cerámicos ha propiciado que el sector en el ámbito mundial, aunque catalogado por la OCDE como de tecnología mediabaja, presente un grado de avance e innovación tecnológica punta (1) (2).Un "cluster" regional (3) es un grupo de empresas localizadas en una proximidad geográfica, esto es, una aglomeración geográfica de empresas en sectores iguales o relacionados. A su vez, los distritos industriales, como los italianos (4)(5)(6)(7)(8) son concentraciones de empresas implicadas en un proceso de producción interdependiente, a menudo en la misma industria o segmento, que están arraigadas ...