85
implements OI and its ability to create value. Furthermore, a capabilities’ perspective helps to design OI systems able to become a competitive advantage in a world
where technical knowledge doubles every 2 years and where more and more knowledge is either easily distributed or is made available as a public good in the public
domain. At the most fundamental level, OI is embedded in the notion that the
sources of knowledge for innovation are widely distributed in the economy.
Embracing OI modifies the mindset that companies take to the development of
new products. Christensen (2006) points out that to maximize the benefits of OI,
companies need to not only possess deep expertise and technological ability but also
combine the ability to integrate sourced innovations or intellectual property, manage relationships with different partners, and sometimes adopt a dual, possibly
simultaneous role, as both provider and seeker of technology.
3.5.1 Open Innovation and Intellectual Property
Open innovation is not open source. Patents are important as they encourage firms
to invest in R&D and to disseminate technical knowledge within the economy. They
are granted to a holder by the appropriate national or regional authority and provide
limited rights to the patent holder to exclude others from commercially exploiting a
given invention over a set period of time, unless the patent holder authorizes them
to do so.
Patents are present throughout all the steps of the open innovation process as a
structuring element. Initially, they facilitate knowledge inflows through signaling
and in-licensing contracts. Then they help to coordinate the production of knowledge by collaborators and competitors, starting with their use as bargaining chips
and ending with their potential as contract enforcers. Finally, they help manage the
outflows of knowledge and the distribution of profits by enabling either out- licensing
strategies or by ensuring the maintenance of exclusivity and its associated profits.
As such, in open innovation, firms are not only producers but also active users of
patents and other means of intellectual property rights (IPRs) (Pénin and Neicu 2018).
A recent study analyzed the 100 largest R&D spenders among Swedish national
and binational firms, as well as the 100 largest R&D spenders among Swedish small
and medium enterprises, to shed light on the relationship existing between patenting
and OI. Patenting with protection (technology protection and safeguarding, blocking competitors from certain technology areas, obtaining freedom to operate (FTO),
and creating retaliatory power) and bargaining motives (enabling licensing, crosslicensing, and R&D collaborations) were positively related with the importance of
open innovation strategies. However, the positive relationship between protection
motives and open innovation was stronger than that between bargaining motives and
open innovation. According to the study, patenting acts as an enabler of open innovation for the individual innovating firm (Holgersson and Granstrand 2017).
Though the abovementioned study used patents, there are additional mechanisms
of intellectual property protection. A large study conducted in Spain with over 2,800
3 Open Innovation and Value Creation in Crop Genetics
implements OI and its ability to create value. Furthermore, a capabilities’ perspective helps to design OI systems able to become a competitive advantage in a world
where technical knowledge doubles every 2 years and where more and more knowledge is either easily distributed or is made available as a public good in the public
domain. At the most fundamental level, OI is embedded in the notion that the
sources of knowledge for innovation are widely distributed in the economy.
Embracing OI modifies the mindset that companies take to the development of
new products. Christensen (2006) points out that to maximize the benefits of OI,
companies need to not only possess deep expertise and technological ability but also
combine the ability to integrate sourced innovations or intellectual property, manage relationships with different partners, and sometimes adopt a dual, possibly
simultaneous role, as both provider and seeker of technology.
3.5.1 Open Innovation and Intellectual Property
Open innovation is not open source. Patents are important as they encourage firms
to invest in R&D and to disseminate technical knowledge within the economy. They
are granted to a holder by the appropriate national or regional authority and provide
limited rights to the patent holder to exclude others from commercially exploiting a
given invention over a set period of time, unless the patent holder authorizes them
to do so.
Patents are present throughout all the steps of the open innovation process as a
structuring element. Initially, they facilitate knowledge inflows through signaling
and in-licensing contracts. Then they help to coordinate the production of knowledge by collaborators and competitors, starting with their use as bargaining chips
and ending with their potential as contract enforcers. Finally, they help manage the
outflows of knowledge and the distribution of profits by enabling either out- licensing
strategies or by ensuring the maintenance of exclusivity and its associated profits.
As such, in open innovation, firms are not only producers but also active users of
patents and other means of intellectual property rights (IPRs) (Pénin and Neicu 2018).
A recent study analyzed the 100 largest R&D spenders among Swedish national
and binational firms, as well as the 100 largest R&D spenders among Swedish small
and medium enterprises, to shed light on the relationship existing between patenting
and OI. Patenting with protection (technology protection and safeguarding, blocking competitors from certain technology areas, obtaining freedom to operate (FTO),
and creating retaliatory power) and bargaining motives (enabling licensing, crosslicensing, and R&D collaborations) were positively related with the importance of
open innovation strategies. However, the positive relationship between protection
motives and open innovation was stronger than that between bargaining motives and
open innovation. According to the study, patenting acts as an enabler of open innovation for the individual innovating firm (Holgersson and Granstrand 2017).
Though the abovementioned study used patents, there are additional mechanisms
of intellectual property protection. A large study conducted in Spain with over 2,800
3 Open Innovation and Value Creation in Crop Genetics