Implementing Open Innovation Successfully: Why It’s Not About Mindset – But About Structure and ROI

Open Innovation has long been a stated goal for many companies. The willingness to collaborate with external partners — such as startups, tech teams, or research institutions — is there. But in practice it becomes clear: good intentions alone are not enough when processes, structures, and arguments for internal decision-makers are missing. 

This is exactly where the ekipa Academy comes in — a new continuing education and enablement format for innovation managers that conveys strategic knowledge from over 100 Open Innovation projects in a compact, practice-oriented form. 

Looking Back at the First Session: On Myths, Misunderstandings, and Measurable Added Value 

The first Academy session with over 20 participants focused on the fundamentals for successful Open Innovation — and on dispelling common myths. Such as the notion that Open Innovation is primarily an idea competition or a PR move. 

Instead, we made clear: 

✅ Open Innovation is a structured, flexible process that solves real business challenges with external know-how. 

✅ It is about concrete goals, appropriate formats — and a comprehensible Return on Innovation. 

Because many innovation projects fail not from a lack of innovation appetite, but from internal hurdles: unclear topics or a lack of courage to be open; missing resources or overburdened teams; unstructured processes in which external solutions cannot dock; legal uncertainties, e.g., around IP or confidentiality; and above all: an ROI that is not clearly tangible, slowing down internal approval. 

We showed how companies, with Open Innovation, can not only arrive at solutions faster but also specifically save capital, time, and internal resources — through structured processes, reliable partner networks, and the targeted use of external expertise. 

Save the Date: Next ekipa Academy Session 

This time with a deeper look at the concrete implementation of Open Innovation in companies: 

🔹 What structures are needed so that external collaboration does not remain a one-off event? 

🔹 How to bridge the gap between internal security and external openness? 

🔹 And how can the impact of innovation projects be made measurable internally? 

With direct best practices, implementation opportunities, room for exchange, and an honest look behind the scenes. 

Participate Now and Make Innovation Tangible 

Participation is free, but places are limited. Secure your place now — and take your innovation strategy to the next level. 

About the ekipa Academy 

The ekipa Academy is a new continuing education format for innovation managers in companies who want not only to understand Open Innovation but to implement it successfully. In interactive sessions, we share our knowledge from over 100 projects with mid-sized companies, corporations, public institutions, and startups — structured, concrete, and practice-oriented.