Title: A holistic process of R&D-based open innovation model for low-tech sectors: the green and smart furniture research project

Authors: Ioannis Papadopoulos; Glykeria Karagouni; Marios Trigkas

Addresses: Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, V. Griva 11, 43100 Karditsa, Greece ' Department of Wood and Furniture Design and Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, V. Griva 11, 43100 Karditsa, Greece ' Department of Forestry and Natural Environment, Lab. of Forest Economics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Building B, 55134 Finikas Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: Although dynamic and with a reputation worldwide thanks to creativity and responsiveness, micro firms and SMEs of the furniture sector have been severely hit by the recent crises facing a significant drop in turnover. Innovation seems to be one of the most significant ways for them to differentiate and therefore survive. However, incomplete information and capability inadequacy are core weaknesses of most micro and small furniture enterprises all around Europe. Open-innovation models proposed were mainly implemented in high-tech sectors. How do they work in the low-tech furniture industry? The paper describes an effort to provide a holistic approach of implementing R&D-based open-innovation; the green and smart (GSF) project was developed by the Laboratory of Applied Marketing, Management and Economics of the Wood and Furniture Design and Technology Department (WFDT) of TEI of Thessaly Greece and endeavoured to develop a best practice of this model.

Keywords: green furniture; smart furniture; GSF; open innovation; university-industry collaboration; industrial cooperation; new product development; NPD management; low-tech industries; low technology; furniture industry; holistic approach; R&D; research and development; micro enterprises; SMEs; MSMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; incomplete information; capability inadequacy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMABS.2016.081545

International Journal of Markets and Business Systems, 2016 Vol.2 No.3, pp.243 - 262

Received: 08 Feb 2016
Accepted: 25 Sep 2016
Published online: 12 Jan 2017 *

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