IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i3p1431-d489627.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How Open Innovation Practices Deliver Societal Benefits

Author

Listed:
  • Elisabeth Eppinger

    (Faculty 5—Design and Culture, Campus Wilhelminenhof, University of Applied Sciences for Technology and Economics Berlin, 12459 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Open innovation practices have the potential to benefit society greatly. Bridging the research on open innovation, diffusion of innovation and responsible innovation, this study investigates how open innovation practices can foster societal benefits. Elaborating on potential benefit gaps and detrimental effects of innovation, the study proposes six distinct innovation attributes to deliver societal benefits: (I) adequate information and communication channels, (II) affordability, (III) appropriateness and availability, (IV) anticipation in terms of appropriate and reflexive risk assessment, (V) accountability in terms of adequate cost allocation of detrimental side effects, and (VI) sustainable path creation for transitions towards societal and environmental sustainability. Ten different open innovation practices are assessed drawing on our own and other published empirical insights. This assessment provides insights into which features of the practices support social benefits. Based on this assessment, we propose a typology of three different practices in relation to societal benefits and discuss how they address the six innovation attributes. Providing rich insights into which practices deliver societal benefits through which features, this study makes a significant contribution to existing research on open innovation, responsible innovation, inclusive and social innovation. Some practical implications and directions for further research are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Eppinger, 2021. "How Open Innovation Practices Deliver Societal Benefits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1431-:d:489627
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1431/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1431/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. V. Muñoz & F. Visentin & D. Foray & P. Gaulé, 2015. "Can medical products be developed on a non-profit basis? Exploring product development partnerships for neglected diseases," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(3), pages 315-338.
    2. Iversen, Torben & Soskice, David, 2006. "Electoral Institutions and the Politics of Coalitions: Why Some Democracies Redistribute More Than Others," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 100(2), pages 165-181, May.
    3. Timothy M. Swanson (ed.), 2002. "Biotechnology, Agriculture and the Developing World," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2399.
    4. Gerard George & Anita M. McGahan & Jaideep Prabhu, 2012. "Innovation for Inclusive Growth: Towards a Theoretical Framework and a Research Agenda," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(4), pages 661-683, June.
    5. Tesfamicheal Wossen & Thomas Berger & Salvatore Di Falco, 2015. "Social capital, risk preference and adoption of improved farm land management practices in Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 46(1), pages 81-97, January.
    6. Patrick Milabyo Kyamusugulwa, 2013. "Participatory Development and Reconstruction: a literature review," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(7), pages 1265-1278.
    7. Muwanguzi, Samuel & Musambira, George, 2019. "The adoption of open source software in Uganda: Analyzing stakeholders and their underlying interests," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    8. Osterloh, Margit & Rota, Sandra, 2007. "Open source software development--Just another case of collective invention?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 157-171, March.
    9. Franzoni, Chiara & Sauermann, Henry, 2014. "Crowd science: The organization of scientific research in open collaborative projects," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 1-20.
    10. Mirvis, Philip & Herrera, Maria Elena Baltazar & Googins, Bradley & Albareda, Laura, 2016. "Corporate social innovation: How firms learn to innovate for the greater good," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5014-5021.
    11. Smith, Adrian & Stirling, Andy & Berkhout, Frans, 2005. "The governance of sustainable socio-technical transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 1491-1510, December.
    12. Edwards-Schachter, Mónica & Wallace, Matthew L., 2017. "‘Shaken, but not stirred’: Sixty years of defining social innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 64-79.
    13. Buckley, Jenifer A. & Thompson, Paul B. & Whyte, Kyle Powys, 2017. "Collingridge's dilemma and the early ethical assessment of emerging technology: The case of nanotechnology enabled biosensors," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 54-63.
    14. Eric von Hippel, 1998. "Economics of Product Development by Users: The Impact of "Sticky" Local Information," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 44(5), pages 629-644, May.
    15. Eberhard, Rachel & Johnston, Nathan & Everingham, Jo-Anne, 2013. "A collaborative approach to address the cumulative impacts of mine-water discharge: Negotiating a cross-sectoral waterway partnership in the Bowen Basin, Australia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 678-687.
    16. Kaplinsky, Raphael, 2011. "Schumacher meets Schumpeter: Appropriate technology below the radar," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 193-203, March.
    17. Stilgoe, Jack & Owen, Richard & Macnaghten, Phil, 2013. "Developing a framework for responsible innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(9), pages 1568-1580.
    18. Hall, Bronwyn H. & Helmers, Christian, 2013. "Innovation and diffusion of clean/green technology: Can patent commons help?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 33-51.
    19. Bhatt, Punita & Ahmad, Ali J. & Roomi, Muhammad Azam, 2016. "Social innovation with open source software: User engagement and development challenges in India," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 52, pages 28-39.
    20. Edwards-Schachter,Mónica & Wallace,Matthew, 2015. "âShaken, but not stirredâ: six decades defining social innovation," INGENIO (CSIC-UPV) Working Paper Series 201504, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV).
    21. Wieland, Raoul & Ravensbergen, Sarah & Gregr, Edward J. & Satterfield, Terre & Chan, Kai M.A., 2016. "Debunking trickle-down ecosystem services: The fallacy of omnipotent, homogeneous beneficiaries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 175-180.
    22. Puente-Rodríguez, Daniel & van Slobbe, Erik & Al, Iris A.C. & Lindenbergh, D.E. (Danny), 2016. "Knowledge co-production in practice: Enabling environmental management systems for ports through participatory research in the Dutch Wadden Sea," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(P3), pages 456-466.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Eleni N. Arvaniti & Agapi Dima & Chrysostomos D. Stylios & Vagelis G. Papadakis, 2022. "Introducing Research Loop to Achieve Open Innovation for Research Centers in Quintuple Helix," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Kristina Bučar & Zvjezdana Hendija & Ines Katić, 2022. "Ecolabels as a Tool of Sustainable Development in Tourist Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Menger Tu & Sandy Dall'erba & Mingque Ye, 2022. "Spatial and Temporal Evolution of the Chinese Artificial Intelligence Innovation Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Eleni N. Arvaniti & Agapi Dima & Chrysostomos D. Stylios & Vagelis G. Papadakis, 2022. "A New Step-by-Step Model for Implementing Open Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Lucia Vigoroso & Roberto Sorrenti & Eugenio Cavallo & Federica Caffaro, 2023. "Non-Profit Organizations as Facilitators of the Sustainable Social Innovation of Firms: An Italian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sauermann, Henry & Vohland, Katrin & Antoniou, Vyron & Balázs, Bálint & Göbel, Claudia & Karatzas, Kostas & Mooney, Peter & Perelló, Josep & Ponti, Marisa & Samson, Roeland & Winter, Silvia, 2020. "Citizen science and sustainability transitions," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(5).
    2. John Hagedoorn & Helen Haugh & Paul Robson & Kate Sugar, 2023. "Social innovation, goal orientation, and openness: insights from social enterprise hybrids," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(1), pages 173-198, January.
    3. Mario Pansera & Fabien Martinez, 2017. "Innovation for development and poverty reduction: an integrative literature review," Post-Print hal-02887777, HAL.
    4. Junmin Lee & Keungoui Kim & Hyunha Shin & Junseok Hwang, 2018. "Acceptance Factors of Appropriate Technology: Case of Water Purification Systems in Binh Dinh, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-20, June.
    5. Julia Maria Wittmayer & Tessa de Geus & Bonno Pel & F. Avelino & Sabine Hielscher & Thomas Hoppe & Marie Susan Mühlemeier & Agata Stasik & Sem Oxenaar & Karoline K.S. Rogge & Vivian Visser & Esther Ma, 2020. "Beyond instrumentalism: Broadening the understanding of social innovation in socio-technical energy systems," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/312323, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    6. Paola Perez-Aleman & Tommaso Ferretti, 2023. "Creating innovation capabilities for improving global health: Inventing technology for neglected tropical diseases in Brazil," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 84-114, March.
    7. Sanghamitra Chakravarty & Georgina Mercedes Gómez, 2024. "A Development Lens to Frugal Innovation: Bringing Back Production and Technological Capabilities into the Discourse," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(1), pages 82-101, February.
    8. Attila Havas & Doris Schartinger & K. Matthias Weber, 2022. "Innovation Studies, Social Innovation, and Sustainability Transitions Research: From mutual ignorance towards an integrative perspective?," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2227, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    9. Tiwari, Rajnish & Kalogerakis, Katharina, 2016. "A bibliometric analysis of academic papers on frugal innovation," Working Papers 93, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management.
    10. Schot, Johan & Kanger, Laur, 2018. "Deep transitions: Emergence, acceleration, stabilization and directionality," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 1045-1059.
    11. Villalba Morales, María Luisa & Ruiz Castañeda, Walter & Robledo Velásquez, Jorge, 2023. "Configuration of inclusive innovation systems: Function, agents and capabilities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    12. Jianghua Zhou & Hao Jiao & Jizhen Li, 2017. "Providing Appropriate Technology for Emerging Markets: Case Study on China’s Solar Thermal Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-21, January.
    13. Grillitsch, Markus & Hansen, Teis & Coenen, Lars & Miörner, Johan & Moodysson, Jerker, 2019. "Innovation policy for system-wide transformation: The case of strategic innovation programmes (SIPs) in Sweden," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 1048-1061.
    14. Marletto, Gerardo & Sillig, Cécile, 2019. "Lost in Mainstreaming? Agrifood and Urban Mobility Grassroots Innovations with Multiple Pathways and Outcomes," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 88-100.
    15. Christian Omobhude & Shih-Hsin Chen, 2019. "Social Innovation for Sustainability: The Case of Oil Producing Communities in the Niger Delta region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-26, November.
    16. Onwuegbuzie, Henrietta N. & Mafimisebi, Oluwasoye P., 2021. "Global relevance of scaling African indigenous entrepreneurship," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    17. Albert, Martin, 2016. "Concepts of innovation for and from emerging markets," Working Papers of the Chair for Innovation Research and Technology Management (BWL IX) 9-1, Chemnitz University of Technology, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    18. Soni, Gunjan & Mangla, Sachin Kumar & Singh, Pallavi & Dey, Bidit L. & Dora, Manoj, 2021. "Technological interventions in social business: Mapping current research and establishing future research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    19. Howell, Rachel & van Beers, Cees & Doorn, Neelke, 2018. "Value capture and value creation: The role of information technology in business models for frugal innovations in Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 227-239.
    20. Barnikol, Julian & Liefner, Ingo, 2022. "The prospects of advanced frugal innovations in different economies," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1431-:d:489627. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.