The Role of Collaboration in Sustainable Innovation : A Case Study of a European R&D Consortium within the Area of Smart Paper-based Electronics

Abstract: For the past decades, sustainability enhancement has become a necessity for ensuring a brighter future for the coming generations. Promoting technologybased innovation is seen as the main path for reaching the ambitious sustainable development goals. However, the academic literature about innovation highlights the need for an open innovation approach because sustainable innovations require consideration of complex issues throughout the entire product life cycle. Building on previous research on external collaboration and radical sustainability-oriented innovation, this qualitative single case study aims at extending the knowledge by particularly focusing on collaborative capabilities in the early development stages of publicly funded networks. The empirical findings were obtained through nine semi-structured interviews, and they were supported by available documentation, from the selected European research and development consortium within smart paper-based electronics. The outcome of the thesis is a framework summarizing success factors and challenges for the identified themes; capability, expectation, disposition, communication, management, commitment, and experience. Furthermore, the findings suggest that decision-making, preconditions, resourcing, and commitment, are the four main differences when comparing to collaborative capabilities in small and medium-sized enterprises, and large companies. Concerning managerial implications, top-level managers should carefully consider the strategic objectives of participating in networks, to guarantee organizational and personal commitment.