Collaborating with external talent to innovate: Insights from InnoSchool — Conclusions

This blog post is part of a series about collaborating with external talent in Open Innovation programs.

InnoSchool Cohort 1 at graduation

Opening up the corporate innovation process is a challenging move that might bring unexpected returns. To take advantage of the opportunities that open innovation provides, open innovation programs need to create value for all the involved stakeholders. Our intent is to evolve the InnoSchool program based on the learnings and insights from this first iteration. With the framework described in this series, companies learn how to effectively engage with open innovation programs and create value for the external participants and for themselves. The main takeaways are summarized as follows.

Before: Get ready

• Define the purpose of Open Innovation for your strategy
• Frame a compelling innovation challenge
• Embrace diversity in recruitment

During: Engage with talent

• Manage expectations
• Provide availability and support
• Balance guidance with flexibility

After: Follow up

• Provide pathways for continuation