Sport innovation structure landscape in Switzerland and abroad

Abstract

Introduction

The comparative study of 16 nations by de Bosscher et al. (2015) shows that research and development have a significant influence on sporting success. In this area, Switzerland is surprisingly weak. Despite the fact that Switzerland is well positioned among innovative nations, the Swiss sport research an innovation is not strongly institutionalized (Kull et al. 2022). In order to reinforce sport actors, push innovation and better transfer knowledge into practice, an analysis has been conducted to understand the structures and models existing which support sport in research and innovation.

Methods

The methodology was divided in two qualitative approaches (see Mayring, 2016). On one hand case studies of innovation structures in Switzerland and abroad were analyzed with the help of desk research. Expert interviews were conducted to analyze similar innovation structures outside these Sports industry.

Results

The institutes at the universities are able to benefit from units that support them to design research and innovation towards the market. Clusters like the Swiss Innovation Park create a space where stakeholders jointly develop scientific findings into marketable products. The topic of sport appears only sporadically in these structures. Institutions like "Smart Move", "Think Sport" or "SpArk-Valais" are facilitating research and innovation in Sport.

The analyses abroad show solutions which are more strongly embedding Sport research and innovation in ecosystem. For example, the Dutch initiative "Sport Innovator" bring together Stakeholders from sport, public administration, business and research. Similar structures we find in Australia or in France.

The analyses of institutions in other sectors shows that they help to follow ideas continuously. It takes years of continuous support to establish research results into minimal viable products. Instruments for promoting introduction and realization in the market (business coaching, start-up capital, premises and infrastructure, etc.) are therefore offered. These instruments are often lacking in Sport.

Discussion/Conclusion

Identifying innovation management solutions in Switzerland and abroad can help developing a tailored solution for sport. The results of the study show that a structure of innovation with a strong regional network and a dynamic ecosystem of actors could be a solution for Switzerland. This structure should support the long pathway from research to the market entrance in Sport and Business. This structure could offer different pathways to innovative solutions. Depending on the readiness of the solution the structure could help to choose the right partners among academia, NGOs, the economy and the public sector. In order to speed up the ‘problem-research-solution’ path this structure has to be agile and based on cooperation.

References

De Bosscher, V., Shibli, S., Westerbeek, H., & van Bottenburg, M. (2015). Successful elite sport policies: An international comparison of the Sports Policy factors Leading to International Sporting Success (SPLISS 2.0) in 15 nations. Aachen: Meyer & Meyer.

Kull, A., Würth, J., Maye, I., Rochat, S., Keller, S., Fischer, M., Arboit, N., Villardita, L., Sollberger, P., & Körsgen, A. (2022). Forschung und Innovation in der Schweiz – Zwischenbericht 2022. Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation (SBFI).

Mayring, P. (2016). Einführung in die qualitative Sozialforschung (6. Ed.). Beltz.