What challenges do German startups encounter in implementing open innovation and which strategies do they employ to overcome these challenges?

Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)

Abstract

This thesis examines the challenges German startups face when engaging in open innovation and the strategies they apply to navigate them. Based on qualitative interviews with sixteen startups from different industries, the study analyzes how firms collaborate with universities, research institutes, other startups, established companies, customers, and innovation hubs. The findings show that startups benefit from openness but encounter recurring obstacles related to coordination, intellectual property, power asymmetries, and partner alignment. The analysis highlights how young firms address these issues through pragmatic, adaptive approaches. The thesis contributes to a better understanding of how startups manage open innovation in practice.

Authors 1

1. Florian Schulte corresponding Aachen Research Associate

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   ( Research Associate at RWTH Aachen