Engineering schools as a major actor in the management of innovation

Summary form only given. The Schools of the EIFFEL Network (EUDIL, ISIM, GUST, ISTG) are described, where many studies can be carried out by students, from simple bibliographical research on technological surveys to the management of a research and development project. This organization is well adapted to SME (small and medium enterprises) which do not possess their own R&D department. Firms appear to make use of a wide range of channels for technology transfer and engineering schools can participate in this new interorganizational collaboration. We present the 5 main lines to develop innovations in a business perspective in France. Therefore, it is important for our schools to integrate a new vision of our practice and to try and understand the type of relation we can have with industrialists. In order to position our activities, we use a matrix to define the type of relation. We present three real cases of projects conducted for industrialists, we insist on the multidisciplinarity of the teams involved in these projects. We present first a diversification project, second case is an industrial vocational course and finally a project based on technological research.