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Open Innovation (OI) is a process that in the information age requires a mindset focused toward innovation that runs counter to the secrecy and silo mentality of traditional corporate research labs. In this vein one of the guiding ideas behind the OI2Lab is to encourage cross border partnering.

With the successful launch of the latest challenge call OI2lab is again pushing companies to think beyond their own borders.

OI2LAB has started this year with a particularly rich offers for its users: January 2020 is not only the month in which we will unveil the winners of our 2nd Open Call ,  but it is also when we officially launch our revamped gamification component.

2019 is about to end very soon, and many of us are in scramble, if not panic, mode to wrap up all our current projects, to tie up loose ends, and to start reflect on this year’s achievements. But it is also the time to prepare ourselves for a period of joy and quality time together with our family and close friends. Christmas shopping, wrapping and unwrapping presents are most likely the very last urgent tasks to finalize before the Christmas day.

Europe is a leading generator of knowledge and ideas, nevertheless many of these do not make it to the market. OI2Lab is designed to foster the adoption of Open Innovation processes within SMEs in Europe, by bringing all the relevant actors together in one platform, a single European Open Innovation Marketplace. 

In Europe, September means a ‘fresh’ start. The new academic year kicks off, struggling businesses scramble and re-focus their energy to achieve their preset goals, while more successful organizations see it as a moment to invest in innovative ideas to grow their business.

For the OI2LAB, September is also an opportunity for a new start. A new start materialized with a new open call, with new opportunities for our continuously growing network of SME’s, startups and entrepreneurs.

Last December, in the prospect of the official launch of the OI2Lab platform, we were looking for our first project to be published on the platform. 

Almost ten years ago we organized a workshop on “Open Innovation in a Globalised World” for DG Enterprise and Industry. Some of the conclusions still are worth to be kept in mind for further discussions and policy development in support of open innovation.

“An appropriate mix of regional policies, science and technology policies and industrial policies is needed to support open innovation. This calls for improved coordination of these different policy areas.