Open Innovation Platforms
ICCIG 2
3rd-5th Dec, Tianjin, China
7th-8th Dec, Ahmedabad, India
Marianne Esders
PhD Student, Leuphana University Lueneburg
Research Fellow at SRISTI and IIM Ahmedabad
m.esders@gmail.com
SRISTI
Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions
WALKING
SRISTI
SRISTI
LEARNING
DISCOVERING
SRISTI
EXPERIENCING
SRISTI
Thank you
From Asymmetric Openness to
Decentralised Networks of Innovation
Challenge
Engagement of the formal sector with the informal sector in order to tap possibilities for mutual
understanding, learning and development that may lead to the creation of more sustainable
solutions for inclusive and harmonious development
Opportunity
Technological, educational, institutional and cultural innovations, practices and knowledge at
individual and community level
local practices of biodiversity conservation
agricultural practices and farming technologies
traditional knowledge of healers
innovative teaching methods
cultural creativity and entrepreneurship
knowledge of centenarians, traditional recipes
Outcome
Innovative, frugal, affordable, empathetic, eco-friendly, modular and multi-functional solutions
From Asymmetric Openness to
Decentralised Networks of Innovation
So far no proper mechanisms in place for
acknowledgement (respecting and rewarding )
attribution, (protecting intellectual property rights)
reciprocity (defining and executing ethics of exchange, benefit sharing and
value addition)
of ideas, knowledge and innovations at the grassroots level
10
What features and functions should open innovation platforms
provide for?
•Include the systematically excluded into innovation and institution building
processes
– Scouting, documentation, validation, business development and
dissemination efforts
– In situ value addition and incubation of innovators and grassroots
entrepreneurs
– Provide distributed FabLabs and workshops, possibilities to try out
new things and fabricate
•Don’t wait for innovators to come to you, go out and find them!
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What features and functions should an open innovation
platform provide for?
• Reduction of stakeholders’ transaction costs with regard to generation and
sharing of knowledge and ideas
• Online open access, open source
• Accessibility for everyone with internet / compatible mobile device
• Multi-media, multi-language
• Possibilities for real life communication and project collaboration, cocreation, annotation, learning etc.
• Complete transparency
• Function as resource planning and tracking system
• Global knowledge transfer and contribution of experts from anywhere in
the world
• Enabling g2G – grassroots to Global
• Linking actors from the formal and informal sector of society (grassroots
innovators, fabricators, industry, academia, designers, policy institutions,
students, mentors, etc.)
12
A start has been made by SRISTI with Techpedia.in
Creating a distributed knowledge network
Now what is needed is
Techpedia all over the world
in order to pool people’s knowledge/expertise and other resources
to co-create sustainable solutions that solve problems of society that cannot
be tolerated any longer.
Innovation Eco-System
IPR Protection through Technology Commons
P2P - Supports people to people sharing
P2C - Licensing model for people to company sharing
Decentralised risk funds and grants
Integration of innovation and creativity into the education system
More inclusive institution building and policy making processes
g2G
Integrate actors from the grassroots level with the formal sector, nationally
and internationally and allow for learning and knowledge transfer on a
global scale. Traditional knowledge and frugal innovations are needed in
every part of the world for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Reduction of ex-ante and ex-post transaction costs*
Ex –ante
•searching information on a project
•finding suppliers
•negotiating contract
•drawing up the contract
Ex-post
•monitoring and compliance
•side payments
•resolution of conflicts if any
•redrawing the contract
Gupta, Anil (1981) Viable Projects for Unviable Farmers - An Action Research Enquiry into the structure and
Processes of Rural Poverty in Arid Regions, Symposium on Rural Development in South Asia, IUAES Inter Congress,
Amsterdam