Special Interest Groups SIGs, are important drivers of economic prosperity. Frequently they form important hubs around which an industry may use as a focal point. Some may be governmental guardians of innovation; others may be trade body or professional associations without any charter from central government.

Competitive advantage must be sought and the intellectual capital of industries nurtured if we are to reap the benefits of a successful knowledge economy from the information age; in the globalised economy SIGs occupy positions of the utmost importance.

Intelligus allows trade associations of every size to build a community Portal, their very own "virtual industry centre" of excellence. Trade Portals allow companies of every size that possess expertise and excellence in niche areas to signal their presence and/or share their knowledge. A portal allows individuals and organisations to cross-fertilise ideas, techniques and technologies, creating an engine that maintains the competitive advantage of an industry, furthers the pursuit of excellence and contributes to national economic stability.

Intelligus industry community Portals provide blogs and wikis giving community members the opportunity to air their views; captains of industry can survey the mood and gauge where concerns or interesting possibilities may exist. Such intelligence can help build the road map or orientate the industry compass. Sectors composed of many small businesses need to be able to gain access, shelter under an umbrella, and gain the benefits that are inherent within a trade body.

With so much competition in the marketplace, some of questionable legality, many sectors of the economy need to be able to speak with a unified voice. Reverse engineering in technology; media rights infringement in entertainment and the emergence of a general culture of IPR theft; legislative changes by government; environmental pressures and the quest for the smallest carbon footprint. These are just some of the issues that influence business viability, livelihoods, and the wider economy.

An industry portal built on Intelligus can assist in driving every industry forward; maintaining viability, helping sustain growth, accentuating positive and countering negative influences.

To find out how BIS (The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) and NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) used Intelligus TouchPoint to co-ordinate their Innovations in Services Project click here.