The monitoring and competitive intelligence are key processes in knowledge management and technology in an organization. Using different methodologies and techniques allow for a strategic vision of the environment to detect potential threats and opportunities around technology innovations by providing new tools and approaches and reducing risk in decision making.

One of its main advantages is to allow a company, organization, region or nation, draw action plans competitive with anticipation to the changing environment.

There are differences between monitoring and competitive intelligence:

• Security: it is to know what is happening and can affect me in my competitive environment. It is based on a reactive and responsive to strategies adaptive nature.
• Intelligence: is to know what can happen and how can I exploit it competitively. It is based on a proactive, leadership, and respond to forward-looking strategies.

Monitoring is important to talk about intelligence is actively seeking opportunities in the environment. Both are key to an organization's strategic planning for their courage in making correct decisions.

The Virtual Observatory for Technology Transfer for information on:

• Technology Watch.
• Competitive Intelligence.
• Market research.