Once a technology company has decided to break the cultural tendency of employees to undervalue things "not invented here" and to look externally for growth or insights, money is not the only technique to find and gain a collaboration with the other business.
A particular favourite of computer companies following the dot.com implosion after the millennium has been to run a competition offering sometimes-limited prize money, mentoring and marketing.
US personal computer maker Dell gave its inaugural global award for small business excellence to UK organic farming business Wiggly Wigglers for its online blog. Cisco and IBM have also started awards. IBM started its Smart Camp competitions in Ireland in October and a Global Entrepreneur programme in March.
Claudia Fan Munce, managing…
