JET_V2_N2_RP3 Piero Formica Journal of Educational Technology 2230 - 7125 2 2 49 59 Improvement of soft skills, Human interaction, Technology transfer, Knowledge integration The sustained phase of transition to economies characterised by considerable, and sometimes revolutionary, advances in science, technology and related industries, coupled with subsequent profound changes in economy and society, has increased the importance of the knowledge-intensive phases of production for value-creation. As enterprises, in fact, become more reliant on technology, they will become more dependent on knowledge. Accordingly, policy makers in a growing number of countries have become increasingly concerned with the management of the entire knowledge chain: from creation to the diffusion, conversion and entrepreneurial exploitation of scientific and technological knowledge. The knowledge chain also has profound implications for higher education institutions and business schools, which to be successful, need to help companies create knowledge and become part of knowledge streams. July - September 2005 Copyright & copy; 2005 i-manager publications. All rights reserved. i-manager Publications http://www.imanagerpublications.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=901