"[9][10] Vassiliou (2007)[11] outlined a broad continuum of possible virtual laboratory relationships, ranging from relatively simple outsourcing by a central organization to tightly knit consortia of collaborating entities.
Several definitions include: All of these definitions indicate some common characteristics summarized as: Several European Union projects in the Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development focused on virtual enterprises: Another example of virtual enterprise is found in the United States Army Research Laboratory's Federated Laboratories, or "Fedlabs."
The cooperative agreements forming the FedLabs were somewhat unusual in that the ARL was not a mere funder of research, but an active consortium participant.
Benefits include more economical connections with suppliers, greater opportunities to create revenue, more efficient operations, and a reduction in administrative costs.
[27] Because a virtual enterprise is considered a collaborative networked organization (CNO), its organizational life cycle is different in terms of time spend on creation (entrepreneurial stage) and dissolution (decline).