an extra-university trend research institute with expansion for innovation and knowledge management. In addition, we are the seat of the Value Management competence center in Austria and are a member of the European EGB (European Governing Board) for the European Value Management training and certification system. The Institute for Innovation and Trend Research (IITF) focuses on the topics of innovation and Knowledge management and trend research. The institute maintains collaborations with universities, universities of applied sciences and competence centers and thus takes on the role of a flexible, application and service-oriented research partner for SMEs. The IITF also sees itself as a moderator of knowledge and technology transfer processes for FEI services in SMEs.