Open Innovation Strategies: A Case Study of Ericsson

Abstract: Open innovation is an approach to innovation that has steadily started to gain ground during the last few years, as a practice that can help companies to remain innovative.This practice allows ideas to move freely inside out and outside in of a company. This means that a company can use external ideas to enhance its internal R&D and it can also utilize internal ideas in new innovative ways. As a result developing costs are reduced, products reach the market faster and new perspectives for future growth are created. This thesis studies Ericsson and how that company uses open innovation, what processes it implements and what are the motives behind its open innovation moves. By studying a company that utilizes open innovation for many years now and is considered a pioneer in this field we can gain valuable insight on this fascinating phenomenon.