Open Innovation Strategies

3The Reasons Behind Open Innovation and its Evolution

3.1. Evolution of the use of collaborative innovation: from classical to new models

Collaborative innovation has evolved over the last few decades and is now used on a large scale, in many different sectors. We can cite new models using open innovation and collaborative processes to generate innovation, such as coworking spaces, FabLabs, incubators or collaborative platforms among others.

As seen in Chapter 1, the processes of knowledge exploitation and exploration of capabilities on the part of companies are crucial and are part of open innovation strategies. These two approaches are complementary and help maintain competitiveness in increasingly complex and competitive markets (Andriopoulos and Lewis 2009). The right balance is needed to avoid causing lock-in or competency traps for the operation (Gupta et al. 2006). These two terms used by Gupta underline the influence of the routines established by companies and the limitations that this creates. On the other hand, exploration is important in these different collaborative spaces. The two approaches of exploitation and exploration are related to the types of governance (i.e. top-down and bottom-up) of the collaborative projects that take place in the mentioned spaces.

3.1.1. FabLabs

Capdevila (2015) differentiates collaborative spaces according to the actors’ strategy (exploration or exploitation) and the type of governance (top-down or bottom-up) (Table 3.1). FabLabs ...