There is no doubt that networking is important for organizations that want to engage in more European projects. The wider the network of partners, the more proposals you can enter every year. However, we see a major shift in the world due to the rapid evolution of technology.
With the Internet of things and innovations like AI, the very concept of networking is changing. Businesses will need to adapt and eventually this change will affect EU networks as well. Now is a great opportunity to learn about the future of networks, understand their value, and start building the foundation needed to create sustainable collaborations in the future.
Changes in the Networks
It is safe to say that the very nature of a network will not change. People will still need to meet, one way or another, and talk about their work. Creating a successful network will still require a lot of work, active participation, and of course a lot of expertise. So what will change exactly?
If we think about technology and the way it is evolving, we will notice a paradox. On one hand technology, today can bring millions of people together online, from across the globe. At the same time, that same technology is separating people on a personal level. This of course poses and will pose challenges in the future. As a result, there appears to be a growing need to create new types of networks, while still maintaining the original concept.
Future Types of Networks
The new types of networks will need to help people safely navigate the new landscape being created. This appears to be even more important if we consider that in the future, your personal and professional knowledge will not be enough to judge your work. The collective knowledge of the networks you are a part of will need to be added to the equation.
It is important to understand that the new types of networks will not be very far away from what we are already experiencing in some cases. However, they will hold a certain focus and differentiate in ways that we do not yet know.
The Similar Network
The first network is the relevance network. Imagine a team of connections who share your skill sets, your professional background, and most importantly your experience and expertise. This network will help you solve problems, it can give you advice on projects you are working on and it can act as a fresh set of eyes when you need a different perspective.
The value of this network will be determined by how strong and knowledgeable is will be and the changes and sustainability it can bring to a professional environment.
The Familiar Network
Moving on to the second type of network, we see that the classic regenerative network is still standing strong. The digital age may be separating people but this is a network that we all need. Imagine the network of people that you know on a personal level. People you might meet every day, or at least a few days during the months.
As an EU partner, that network could consist of your closest collaborators. Organizations you have worked with in past projects and you have developed a friendly relationship with. This network will not be very big but it will be enough to give you steady collaborations to go back to and a friendly environment that will regenerate you. Now, seeing as this is not a particularly new type of network (you have had these connections in the past) why are we calling it one?
It is important to understand that a network is not just about building, it is also about preserving. With the digital era pushing us away from each other, we must remember to nurture these networks and sustain them. What used to be a natural process is now turning into a detailed procedure.
The Crowd Network
We spoke of a network of people like you and a network of people you share a bond with on a personal and professional level. Now it is time to talk about the crowd network.
The crowd network is a network of people who are nothing like you. People from different social and professional backgrounds. The characteristic of this network is the opportunities it creates. The members of the network will expose you to new and innovative ideas, the knowledge you may have missed, and a new way of thinking that is completely different than yours.
On an EU project level, this could give your creativity and problem-solving skills a great boost, thus creating more ideas for an EU proposal. Scientific research has proven that being exposed to the unfamiliar has a great effect on that.
By nurturing this type of network you will avoid repetition which can pose a threat to your work. You do not want to use the same ideas over and over again with no creativity or potential upgrade of your EU projects.
More importantly, this network will connect you with people outside of your comfort zone that could be excellent choices for your future consortia.
Conclusion
These three networks can be virtual or real-life networks. In every case you need to foster them, promote them, and sustain them daily.
In the world of EU projects, much like the world of businesses, your value is no longer measured only by your professional skills and knowledge but by knowledge and variety of the networks, you have orbiting you.
