Title: Open innovation in practice: diffusion of knowledge and use in Swedish bio-pharmaceutical firms

Authors: Björn Remneland-Wikhamn; Wajda Wikhamn

Addresses: School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 610, S-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden ' School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 610, S-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden

Abstract: The concept of open innovation has successfully diffused among academicians and policy makers, framing innovation work in the post-bureaucratic era. Much of its initial theorising is built on single case studies of early adopters, but there is still a lack of quantitative studies in specific industries and geographical contingencies. In this paper, we report the results of a survey on open innovation (N = 114 firms), targeting the Swedish bio-pharmaceutical industry. The purpose is to shed light on how widespread the knowledge and practical utilisation of open innovation activities actually are in a particular industry. We find that very few respondents were aware of the open innovation concept, and also that open innovation related activities are, to a large extent, integrated within the ordinary innovation practices. At the same time, the application of open innovation activities relates to whether the firm has an innovation strategy, an own R&D department and has successfully launched innovations.

Keywords: biopharmaceutical industry; open innovation; quantitative study; Sweden; biopharmaceuticals; knowledge diffusion; innovation strategy; R&D departments; research and development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2014.059531

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2014 Vol.8 No.2, pp.137 - 153

Published online: 30 May 2014 *

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