Open eco-innovation. Aligning cooperation and external knowledge with the levels of eco-innovation radicalness

Abstract

The most pressing environmental challenges of our society require radical solutions that would redesign the ways we produce, deliver, and consume goods and services. However, little is known about what actually drives the development of radical eco-innovations. This paper explores the concept of Open Eco-innovation (OEI), an innovation model that leverages external knowledge, resources, and partnerships to enhance internal eco-innovation. Based on the sample of 2 934 Spanish firms from a mixed variety of industries, we demonstrate that an open innovation approach is crucial when firms pursue eco-innovations, particularly when aiming for more radical solutions. Unlike other studies, we show that this importance varies depending on the forms of opening (cooperation vs. sourcing external knowledge), the choice of knowledge partners, and the intended level of eco-innovation radicalness. This paper addresses a gap in understanding the selection of appropriate forms of knowledge sourcing and the choice of knowledge partners for each level of eco-innovation radicalness. Our results also point to a potential mismatch between the importance of open innovation to develop impactful and innovative environmental solutions and a small percentage of organizations adopting this innovation approach.

Keywords

• Open eco-innovation
• Eco-innovation
• Collaboration
• Cooperation
• Radical eco-innovation
• Incremental eco-innovation