Open and collaborative innovation for the energy transition: An exploratory study

Abstract

This work aimed at investigating how electricity sector companies have adapted their approaches to innovation in response to calls for openness and the participation of new actors. It combined results from academic and grey literature as well as real-world initiatives to identify companies' strategies to innovation. A systematic literature review was conducted, aided by the development of an ontology of collaborative and open approaches to innovation. These approaches were associated with four main aspects: open innovation, business model innovation, non-producer innovation, and the open movement. Among the main findings, it can be highlighted that, although partnerships, alliances, and co-development are now quite common, electricity sector companies have just started to participate in open data and open-source initiatives. Outbound innovation is less common compared to inbound practices. Co-creation, co-design, and crowdsourcing reflect the inclusion of communities in the ideation of transition pathways, even though in a limited manner. The inclusion of civil society is also emphasized in the development of alternative partnerships and user innovation. Challenges that accompany the implementation of collaborative and open approaches to innovation are varied and contingent on local circumstances, which emphasizes the relevance of international partnerships for the energy transition.