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Innovation lies at the heart of progress, driving individuals, companies, and organisations to create value through the development of groundbreaking ideas, products, and services. Yet, the traditional model of innovation, characterised by closed processes confined within organisational boundaries, has its limitations. Enter Open Innovation Test Beds (OITBs), a transformative concept reshaping the innovation landscape.
In the conventional closed model, innovation unfolds within the confines of individual companies or organisations. Research and development activities remain internal, from idea generation to commercialisation, with a focus on safeguarding intellectual property and reaping exclusive profits. However, this approach often encounters hurdles, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), due to resource constraints and the sluggish pace of development.
In contrast, the open innovation model champions collaboration and knowledge-sharing across organisational boundaries. By engaging external partners such as customers, suppliers, and other organisations, companies can tap into diverse expertise and resources to foster innovation. Collaboration paves the way for more agile and flexible solutions, accelerating the pace of development and enhancing the competitiveness of businesses.
At the forefront of the open innovation movement are Open Innovation Test Beds (OITBs), envisioned as collaborative platforms where stakeholders converge to test and validate new products, services, and business models. OITBs facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing, providing SMEs with access to resources and expertise that may otherwise be out of reach. By offering upgraded pilot lines and expert guidance, OITBs enable companies to test their innovations in real-world environments, minimising risks and accelerating time-to-market.
The European Union, recognising the pivotal role of innovation in driving economic growth and competitiveness, has championed initiatives like the BIOMAC or the LightCoce projects. Through funding programs like Horizon 2020, the EU has fostered collaboration, research, and innovation, paving the way for the establishment of OITBs and the creation of vibrant innovation ecosystems.
EXELISIS has been participating in two OITBs; BIOMAC, which is actively working in the establishment of its self-sustained post-project OITB, and LightCoce, which is an already established and active OITB in the form of a spin-off company. During the course of both projects, we have worked in the development of the OITBs’ exploitation planning, crafting their business plans in conjunction with supporting the conceptualisation of the way they will be operating, and the establishment process they had gone through/are going through.
As part of both OITBs, EXELISIS is offering innovation management services to support OITB members and clients to maximise the impact of their work and plan their next actions towards market uptake.
As we look to the future, OITBs stand poised to revolutionise the innovation landscape, democratising access to state-of-the-art facilities and expertise. By embracing collaboration and open innovation principles, organisations can unlock new opportunities, mitigate risks, and drive sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive global market.
Open Innovation Test Beds represent a paradigm shift in how we approach innovation, offering a collaborative framework that empowers organisations to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape of change and opportunity. As pioneers of innovation, we stand at the threshold of a new era, where collaboration fuels creativity, diversity drives progress, and together, we chart a path towards a brighter, more innovative future.
