Applying Open Innovation Principles for Triggering and Accelerating Innovations: The Experience of Ericsson Spain, 2004 Through 2007

Ericsson Spain is an important subsidiary of the Ericsson Group. It hosts one principal research and development center and counts on a strong local marketing, sales, and delivey force to address a vibrant market of telecommunications. A landscape of abundant knowledge including leading universities in Madrid and a growing number of local technology and business partners complete the scene for a company that puts in practice open innovation approaches as introduced by Chesbrough (2003). The experiences of Ericsson Spain with its recent successful application of open innovation approaches will be described. The resulting improvements to the innovation effectiveness and the lessons learned from these experiences are also outlined.