Accelerating open innovation collaborations using the iso 56000 family of international innovation management standards

Open innovation involves sharing knowledge across organizational boundaries to accelerate innovation efforts, but managing such collaborations is challenging due to misaligned goals, cultural differences, and intellectual property issues. The ISO 56000 family of international innovation management standards offers a solution by providing a common language and framework for systematic innovation management. This paper examines how core standards – ISO 56000 (fundamentals and vocabulary) and ISO 56001 (innovation management system requirements) – can be leveraged to accelerate open innovation collaborations.   

We outline how a structured innovation management system (IMS) helps overcome typical open innovation barriers and align partners towards shared objectives. We also provide practical recommendations for implementation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), innovation ecosystems (such as science parks), and supportive policy measures. Adopting the ISO 56000 family provides a formal yet flexible approach that can significantly enhance the efficiency and success rate of open innovation collaborations by aligning diverse stakeholders around common innovation practices.