By participating in the Open Innovation Ecosystem several advantages can be obtained, such as the reduction of time-to-market, the improvement of market success or the increasement of internal know-how.

Henry Chesbrough defines Open Innovation as “the use of purposive inflows and outflows of knowledge to accelerate innovation. With knowledge now widely distributed, companies cannot rely entirely on their own research, but should acquire inventions or intellectual property from other companies when it advances the business model”.

Scouting and acquiring expertise by identifying complementary technologies and inventions owned by startups, spin offs or innovative companies.

Transforming these entries into future technological partners or collaborators by joining R+D projects or knowledge exchange and licensing agreements.

In order to stay ahead of competitors and to strengthen a entities patent portfolio, the scouting of emerging IP rights can fill the technological gap of innovative entities and can help them to improve their strategic position in a target technological area.

By means of the combinations of possible procedures and methods from the Technology, Innovation and R&D Management, different external IP commercialization possibilities can be judged during different technology and IP situations.

By the linkage of selected procedures and methods, it becomes possible to derive action recommendations concerning the commercialization of technologies and patents.

After the review and evaluation of possible efforts and exploitation chances, potential licensors, acquirers, and investors can be identified and contacted.

IP and Know-How Licensing

Which kind of IP assets are suitable for an (non-)exclusive license? When would be a good moment to license a specific patent of an IP portfolio?

Orientation of possible licensing propositions based on the current IP status, the internal R&D situation and actual market demands.

IP disposition

Who could be a possible acquirer? What is the potential of my current IP portfolio? Is it reasonable to sell certain IP assets?

Assistance and support in the decision-making process based on the review of possible efforts and business opportunities.