The Positions of Virtual Knowledge Brokers in the Core Process of Open Innovation

By Naim Kenan Hacievliyagil, Yannick E. Maisonneuve, Jean-François Auger and Dap Hartmann.

Published by The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society

Format	Price
Article: Print	$US10.00
Article: Electronic	$US5.00

Several companies are implementing the strategy of open innovation in their research and development operations. They become more dependent, therefore, on their capabilities to exchange knowledge and technology with external parties. To facilitate these exchanges, virtual knowledge brokers use web-based information systems. In this paper, we study how they take position in the core process of open innovation. Virtual knowledge brokers connect problem owners with potential solvers, showcase technological solutions to potential buyers, or arrange alliances and joint ventures between parties. These core processes correspond to the outside-in, inside-out and coupled, respectively. This study shows that virtual knowledge brokers tend to take position in the outside-in process. Three case studies—Yet2.com, NineSigma and Innocentive—are provided as illustrations. The discussion brings up hypotheses for further research on sectoral patterns of innovation, the codification of knowledge and the internationalisation of research and development.

Keywords:	Research and Development, Open Innovation, Virtual Knowledge Broker, Technology Transfer, Knowledge Transfer, Web-based Information System

The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, Volume 3, Issue 5, pp.47-60. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 650.404KB).

Msc. Naim Kenan Hacievliyagil

Master degree student, Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management, Delft University of Technology, The Hague, Netherlands

Naim Kenan Hacievliyagil has a bachelor degree in industrial engineering from Marmara University in Turkey. He presently undertakes a master degree on the core process of open innovation at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at Delft University of Technology. In addition he is a research assistant in the research program ‘The Diversity of Knowledge Transfers across Public-Private Networks’.

Yannick E. Maisonneuve

Master student, Technology, Policy and Management Faculty, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands

Yannick Maisonneuve holds a master degree in computer engineering from the Ecole des technologies de l’ information et du management in France. He currently pursues a second master degree at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at Delft University of Technology. He studies the use of information and communication technologies in the management of innovation.

Dr Jean-François Auger

Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Dr Jean-François Auger specialises in questions pertaining to the social studies of science and technology. He has published on the interactions between universities, industries and governments in research. He contributes to the research program, ‘The Diversity of Knowledge Transfers across Public-Private Networks’, subsidised by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research.

Dr. Dap Hartmann

Assistant Professor, Technology, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Dr Hartmann has a PhD in astronomy. His current research interests are in the field of innovation management and the valorisation of new technologies. He teaches the courses ‘Turning Technology into Business’ and ‘Technology-based Entrepreneurship’. Aside from his academic duties, he coaches high-tech spin-off companies and works as a science and technology consultant. He also practices science and technology journalism.

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