While interest in the open innovation model is still growing, limitations in its scope and application are starting to become evident. The findings of the study present a nuanced and tempered view of open innovation at the project level. The study indicates that, at the project level, the benefits of an open innovation strategy can be maximised and its limitations can be overcome by focusing on the three dimensions of ‘openness’ (breadth, exploration and depth), and by implementing the strategy following the principles of contingency theory. The study’s main theoretical contribution rests on the development of a contingency theory of inbound open innovation at the project level. A first set of empirical results, based on a survey of 205 new product development (NPD) projects in the manufacturing sector in the UK, suggests that the type of innovation (incremental and radical innovation) and the strength of the appropriability regime are key contingencies, which influence an open innovation strategy at the project level. A second set of empirical results, obtained from a case study at Jaguar (UK), illustrates that further contingencies occur in the course of radical innovation projects. The decision to adopt an open or closed innovation strategy is influenced by the interaction between three key contingencies: the stages of the new product development process, the strength of the appropriability regime and the informal appropriation instrument (secrecy).

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Open innovation that Henry Chesbrough introduced in 2003 promotes the usage of the input of outsiders to strengthen internal innovation processes and the search for outside commercialization opportunities for what is developed internally. Open innovation has enabled both academics and practitioners to design innovation strategies based on the reality of our connected world. Although the literature has identified and explored a variety of benefits and costs, to the best of our knowledge, no study has reviewed the benefits and costs of open innovation in terms of their importance for strategic performance. To conduct such a study, we need to take into account two main issues. First, the number of benefits and costs of open innovation are multifold; so, to have a comprehensive comparison, a large number of benefits and costs must be compared. Second, to have a fair comparison, benefits and costs must be compared in terms of different performance criteria, including financial and non-financial. Concerning the issues above, we will face a complex process of exploring benefits and costs. In this regard, we use multiple criterion decision-making (MCDM) methods that have shown promising solutions to complex exploratory problems. In particular, we present how using a stochastic multi-criteria clustering algorithm that is one of the recently introduced MCDM methods can bring promising results when it comes to exploring the strategic importance of benefits and costs of open innovation. Since there is no comprehensive understanding of the nature of the benefits and costs of open innovation, the proposed model aims to cluster them into hierarchical groups to help researchers identify the most crucial benefits and costs concerning different dimensions of performance. In addition, the model is able to deal with uncertainties related to technical parameters such as criteria weights and preference thresholds. We apply the model in the context of open innovation for universities concerning their research collaboration with industries. An online survey was conducted to collect experts' opinions on the open-innovation benefits and costs of university-industry research collaboration, given different performance dimensions. The results obtained through the cluster analysis specify that university researchers collaborate with industry mainly because of knowledge-related and research-related reasons rather than economic reasons. This research also indicates that the most important benefits of university-industry research collaboration for universities are implementing the learnings, increased know-how, accessing specialized infrastructures, accessing a greater idea and knowledge base, sensing and seizing new technological trends, and keeping the employees engaged. In addition, the results show that the most important costs are the lack of necessary resources to monitor activities between university and industry, an increased resistance to change among employees, conflict of interest (different missions), an increased employees' tendency to avoid using the knowledge that they do not create themselves, paying time costs associated with bureaucracy rules, and loss of focus. The research's findings enable researchers to analyze open innovation's related issues for universities more effectively and define their research projects on these issues in line with the priorities of universities.

Alors que les avantages de l'innovation ouverte ont été largement soulignés dans la littérature, le recours à des intermédiaires pour innover nécessite encore de la clarté dans les articles académiques et dans la pratique. Nous avons donc passé en revue les différentes formes d'intermédiaires. Les ‘broker’, agents intermédiaire, permettent la connexion entre deux partiesdistinctes, l’entreprise initiatrice du challenge et les innovateurs. Impliquer le ‘broker’ dans les processus d'innovation ouverte peut être une stratégie efficace à mettre en place afin d'améliorer la capacité d'absorption de l’entreprise en déjouant les collaborations inadéquates et chronophages (Brown, 1991). Au centre de cette collaboration, le ‘broker’ est l'intermédiaire etl'acteur central permettant la connexion entre ces deux acteurs. Cette thèse met en avant la façon dont l’entreprise orchestre son ouverture à des innovateurs externes. Nous expliquons comment est géré le processus du point de vue de l’entreprise initiatrice à travers une étude de cas de l’entreprise Electrolux, son département d'innovation ouvert très avancé. Nous avons également souligné l’importance du ‘broker’ au travers de notre deuxième étude sur la conception et le contenu des plateformes d'innovation. Notre objectif final était d'expliquer clairement comment ensemble ces deux premiers acteurs peuvent assurer une innovation réussie en se concentrant sur les facteurs qui garantissent la qualité des contributions des innovateurs. Nous avons adopté une approche qualitative, nous avons analysé les données partagées par Electrolux (seeker) et ces ‘broker’. Nous avons également analysé les expériences d'innovation ouverte des acteurs en réalisant des entretiens semi-structurés. La thèse a mis en lumière plusieurs questions non étudiées ou que partiellement et nous apportons des réponses sur la façon dont les entreprises peuvent gérer leur ouverture, comment les ‘broker’ devraient concevoir leurs plateformes pourrépondre aux attentes des utilisateurs (initiateur et innovateur). Ainsi que la façon dont les initiateurs de challenge et les ‘broker’ peuvent mener ensemble des challenges d'innovation ouvertes réussis impliquant des innovateurs du monde entier. Nos résultats ont mis en évidence plusieurs lignes directrices pour les acteurs de l'écosystème de l'innovation ouverte impliquant un ‘broker’. Cependant, des études quantitatives seraient nécessaires pour mesurer quantitativement le succès de cette approche étudiée. / While open innovation advantages has been widely emphasized in the literature. Intermediation under its different forms still requires clarity in academic articles and in practice. We therefore reviewed the different forms of intermediation and we attempt to advance the uncovered field of the brokering form. Brokers act as bridge between two sided parties involved, seeker and solver. Involving broker in open innovation processes can be an effective strategy to put in place in order to enhance absorptive capacity by lowering inadequate and time consuming collaborations (Brown 1991). In the literature, actors initiator of the open challenges are called – seeker, and participants to the open innovation contest are called - solvers. In the middle, brokers are the intermediary and central actor connecting them together. They manage and provide appropriate network from same or different domain of application than the seeker firm. We aim to shed light on how seeker orchestrate or may orchestrate his openness. We explain the management of the process in the seekers’ side through a case study on Electrolux, well-advanced open innovation department. We also highlighted the brokers integration by fully concentrating our study on their innovation platforms design and content. Our final objective was to clearly explain how both seeker and broker may together ensure successful innovation focusing on factors that may ensure quality of the solver’s contributions. Our approach was totally qualitative, we analyze data available from Electrolux (seeker) and brokers. We also interpret participant’s experiences of open innovation with brokers by conducting semi-structured interviews. Our thesis shed light on several uncovered or partially covered questions. We bring answers on how seekers may manage their openness, how brokers should design their platforms to meet users (seeker and solver) attempts. As well as how seeker and broker together may conduct successful open innovation contests involving solvers worldwide. Our findings highlighted several guidelines for the actors of the brokering innovation ecosystem, however, quantitative studies are required to measure quantitatively the success of this approach.

<p>Living Lab är en öppen innovationsmiljö där innovationer samproduceras, testas och verifieras av användarna, tillsammans med företag och akademin i en kontext som representerar innovationens tänkta användningsområde. Genom samverkan kan olika värden skapas för företagen. Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka hur Living Lab skapar värde för företag och vilka värden företag kan identifiera ur de användarcentrerade aktiviteterna. Uppsatsen karaktäriseras av en kvalitativ ansats och grundar sig i en explorativ undersökning med djupintervjuer där fyra företag ligger till grund för uppsatsens resultat. Uppsatsen har visat att Living Lab skapat värden för företag genom att de fått mer tilltalande produkter, identifierat nya användarkategorier och samordnat resurser med företag. Living Lab är därmed värdeskapande för företag genom stöd för utvärdering, ny- och vidareutveckling av innovationer. Samverkan mellan användare, företag och akademin öppnar upp för ett kunskapsutbyte vilket skapar värde för företag då kompetensutveckling äger rum och en djupare kunskap om användarna kan erhållas</p>

Living Lab är en öppen innovationsmiljö där innovationer samproduceras, testas och verifieras av användarna, tillsammans med företag och akademin i en kontext som representerar innovationens tänkta användningsområde. Genom samverkan kan olika värden skapas för företagen. Syftet med uppsatsen var att undersöka hur Living Lab skapar värde för företag och vilka värden företag kan identifiera ur de användarcentrerade aktiviteterna. Uppsatsen karaktäriseras av en kvalitativ ansats och grundar sig i en explorativ undersökning med djupintervjuer där fyra företag ligger till grund för uppsatsens resultat. Uppsatsen har visat att Living Lab skapat värden för företag genom att de fått mer tilltalande produkter, identifierat nya användarkategorier och samordnat resurser med företag. Living Lab är därmed värdeskapande för företag genom stöd för utvärdering, ny- och vidareutveckling av innovationer. Samverkan mellan användare, företag och akademin öppnar upp för ett kunskapsutbyte vilket skapar värde för företag då kompetensutveckling äger rum och en djupare kunskap om användarna kan erhållas

Since the concept of open innovation was put forward by Chesbrough (2003), many researchers focus on open innovation in large enterprises. There is a research gap in how open innovation is implemented in SMEs, specially in Chinese companies. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the motives and challenges of manufacturing SMEs in China to implement onpen innovation. The study is based on analysis of scientific literature and four case studies of manufacturing SMEs. The empirical data were collected by semi-structure interviews and a survey. Overall, collsboration with external partners was found to be good for improving innovation performances in the studies companies. And also, four motives were found, which were forming innovation networks, cooperating with external innovation sources, importing advanced technologies, and driving and motivating innvation processes. Meanwhile, four main challenges were found lack of trust in collaboration, disability for transforming external knowledge to internal knowledge, low support from government, and barriers to overcom intellectual property disputes. At last, the authors suggest that manufacturing SMEs in China could collaborate with each other more, and improve the knowledge of intellectual property as well.

This study is conducted within the domains of technology convergence and Open Innovation environment. Two frameworks have been adopted in the study, namely; Nexus of Forces and Capability-Based Framework for Open Innovation. The first purpose of the investigation was to identify to what extent and in what ways does Nexus of Forces affects the knowledge capabilities within the Open Innovation environment. The second purpose of the investigation was to identify what practical implications does Nexus of Forces brings to the Open Innovation practices. The investigation was conducted on a single company – Swisscom – by following a case study strategy. The methodological approach for collecting the data was a mixed method approach with concurrent embedded strategy. The study has focused mainly on qualitative data and the quantitative data was nested with the focus to strengthen the findings. For the primary data collection, 6 respondents were selected, Expert A and Expert B for interviews and 4 managers for survey.   In regard to the first purpose, our findings have shown that practices of Nexus of Forces have strategical implications on the process of managing knowledge capabilities. The extents of the NoF implications are through a direct and indirect level for the departments, which work with Open Innovation projects and at meta-level for the higher organizational structures within the company. In regard to the second purpose, our findings have shown that practices of Nexus of Forces have tactical implications on the Open Innovation practices. The final outcome of the study is a theoretical model that displays the strategical and tactical implications of Nexus of Forces on the knowledge capabilities and Open Innovation practices within the Open Innovation environment.

Introduktion: Studien behandlar små och medelstora företag (SMFs) inom fordonsindustrin. Kontexten berörs med hänsyn till att forskningsfronten saknar empiriska exempel avseende relationen mellan olika inbound open innovation aktiviteter och företagens innovationsprestation. Fenomenet inbound open innovation innebär att företag genom olika samverkansaktiviteter utnyttjar externa flöden av kunskap och teknologi, för att främja framkomsten av nya produkter och processer. Följaktligen utreder studien relationen mellan företagens innovationsprestation och aktiviteterna; (1) teknologisk rekognosering, (2) vertikal teknologisk kollaboration, (3) horisontell teknologisk kollaboration, (4) teknologisk anskaffning.   Syfte: Syftet med studien är att undersöka relationen mellan fyra former av inbound open innovation aktiviteter och innovationsprestation i små och medelstora företag, inom fordonsindustrin. Insikterna från studien ämnar stärka de små och medelstora företagens konkurrenskraft på en globaliserad marknad. Studien ämnar även främja helhetsbilden av vilken effekt olika inbound open innovation aktiviteter har i praktiken.     Teori: Studien baseras på tidigare forskning och teorier avseende inbound open innovation i små och medelstora företag (SMFs).      Metod: Studien bedrivs via en kvantitativ metodansats. Ett själv-administrerat frågeformulär har distribuerats ut via mail till 370 stycken VD:s. Insamlad data har bearbetats i SPSS genom flertalet statistiska tester, vilket utmynnade i att studiens fyra hypoteser testades och utreddes.   Slutsats: Studiens resultat påvisar att SMFs inom fordonsindustrin kan förbättra sin innovationsprestation genom att bedriva aktiviteterna teknologisk rekognosering, vertikal teknologisk kollaboration samt horisontell teknologisk kollaboration. Aktiviteten teknologisk anskaffning befanns inte ha någon signifikant inverkan på innovationsprestationen. Studiens insikter kan stärka de små och medelstora företagens konkurrenskraft på en globaliserad marknad. Insikterna främjar även helhetsbilden avseende vilken effekt olika inbound open innovation aktiviteter har i praktiken. / Introduction: The study concerns small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive industry. The context is touched because the research front lacks empirical examples of the relationship between different inbound open innovation activities and innovation performance. The phenomenon of inbound open innovation means that companies, through different collaborative activities, exploit external flows of knowledge and technology to promote the emergence of new products and processes. Consequently the study investigates the relationship between innovation performance and the activities; (1) technological scouting, (2) vertical technological collaboration, (3) horizontal technological collaboration, (4) technological acquisition.   Purpose: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between four forms of inbound open innovation activities and innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises, in the automotive industry. The insights from the study aims to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs in a globalized market. The study also aims to promote the overall picture of the impact of different inbound open innovation activities in practice.   Theory: The study is based on previous research and theories regarding inbound open innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).   Method: The study is conducted through a quantitative methodology. A self-administered questionnaire has been distributed by mail to 370 CEOs. The collected data has been processed in SPSS through different statistical tests, which resulted in the study's four hypotheses being tested and investigated.   Conclusion: The studies result shows that SMEs in the automotive industry can improve their innovation performance by conducting the activities of technological scouting, vertical technological collaboration and horizontal technological collaboration. Technological acquisition was found to have no significant impact on innovation performance. The findings can promote the competitiveness of SMEs in a globalized market. The insights also promote the overall picture of the impact of different inbound open innovation activities in practice.

Sulfones are useful bioisosteres in drug discovery, and have an unusual ability to engage in binding with both polar and nonpolar regions of target proteins. Despite this, they have seen limited use in drug-screening campaigns, compared with other functional groups. With the goal of generating a library of bicyclo[3.2.1]sulfone-containing molecules to probe biological function, a tandem 1,2-addition/anionic oxy-Cope/1,2-addition reaction proceeding from 3-sulfolene and discovered by previous members of our group was used to prepare highly substituted scaffolds for diversification. Functional group manipulations on this scaffold were partially successful, but ultimately provided limited scope for exploring three-dimensional space. Moving to a less-substituted bicyclo[3.2.1]sulfone scaffold that could be accessed using methodology developed by the Chou group, it was found that a greater range of chemical diversification could be achieved. Using both substrate-directed methods and intrinsic functional group reactivity, about 70% of the skeletal framework was functionalized with high levels of regioselectivity and (in some cases) good levels of diastereoselectivity. Chemoinformatic analysis was performed on our collection of synthesized bicyclo[3.2.1]sulfone-containing molecules, and diverse molecular descriptors were obtained. Collaborations were established with industrial partners and non-profit institutions for the purpose of determining biological properties in medicinally relevant areas. Significantly, each of these partners joined the project with therapeutic expertise in a different field (oncology, neurodegenerative diseases, antimicrobial agents, and skin inflammation), thereby maximizing the chances of finding useful lead compounds for future development. Preliminary biological screening data were obtained, which suggest future potential for sulfone-containing conformationally restricted small molecules to be impactful in therapeutic development. / Graduate