Table 1 Technology-Exploration Definitions
Practice | Definition |
|---|---|
Technology exploration | |
Customer involvement | Directly involving customers in your innovation processes, for example by active, market research to check their needs, or by developing products based on customers’ specifications or modifications of products similar to those produced at the firm. |
External Participation | Equity investments in new or established enterprises in order to gain access to this knowledge or to obtain other synergies. |
External networking | Drawing on or collaborating with external network partners to support innovation processes, for example for external knowledge or human capital. |
Outsourcing R&D | Buying R&D services form other organizations, such as universities, public research organizations, commercial engineers or suppliers. |
Inward IP Licensing | Buying or using intellectual property, such as patents, copyrights or trademarks, of other organizations to benefit from external knowledge. |