Open R&D and open innovation: exploring the phenomenon

TLDR

Open innovation is widely recognized as a strategic tool for corporate R&D, with ongoing discussions of its strategic, organizational, behavioral, knowledge, legal, and economic dimensions, and research has identified multiple processes—outside‑in, inside‑out, and coupled—highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of how and where it adds value and how business models may need adaptation. This special issue aims to advance the R&D, innovation, and technology management perspective by building on past and present studies and providing future directions. Recent research, including the papers in this special issue, demonstrates an increasing range of situations where the concept is regarded as applicable, implying important implications for new and emerging methods of R&D management.

Abstract

There is currently a broad awareness of open innovation and its relevance to corporate R&D. The implications and trends that underpin open innovation are actively discussed in terms of strategic, organizational, behavioral, knowledge, legal and business perspectives, and its economic implications. This special issue aims to advance the R&D, innovation, and technology management perspective by building on past and present studies in the field and providing future directions. Recent research, including the papers in this special issue, demonstrates an increasing range of situations where the concept is regarded as applicable. Most research to date has followed the outside‐in process of open innovation, while the inside‐out process remains less explored. A third coupled process of open innovation is also attracting significant research attention. These different processes show why it is necessary to have a full understanding of how and where open innovation can add value in knowledge‐intensive processes. There may be a need for a creative interpretation and adaptation of the value propositions, or business models, in each situation. In other words, there are important implications for new and emerging methods of R&D management.