Exploring Objectives and Barriers of Open Innovation Implementation in Research and Technology Organisations

This paper presents an exploratory analysis of the objectives and barriers of open innovation implementation in Spanish research and technology organisations (RTOs). RTOs act as research entities; they provide research and technology services to industries and SMEs, and therefore are considered key agents in the innovation system. The study has an exploratory nature, using data gathered through a structured questionnaire fulfilled by managers of RTOs in Spain. The results presented in this exploratory research emphasizes the alignment of the objectives for open innovation in RTOs with the mission and associated challenges these organizations are confronting. Furthermore, this study shows that objectives and barriers toward open innovation are different compared to studies focused on big companies and SMEs, with special mention to the impact of intellectual property rights (IPR) management in open innovation. The value of this ongoing research lies in its contribution to the quantitative research of open innovation in service organizations involved in science, technology, and innovation, as well as in the study of this strategic phenomenon.