IAS Open Innovation in Practice

Open Innovation is a concept that in recent years has come to the forefront of innovation management. Different names are used to describe it - Procter & Gamble, its highest-profile user, call their programme ‘Connect and Develop’ , while Henry Chesbrough first coined the term in his seminal book ‘Open Innovation’ (Harvard Business School Press, 2003).

However, the concept of Open Innovation remains the same - that by looking outside their own boundaries, companies can gain better access to ideas, knowledge, technology and markets than would be the case if they relied solely on their own resources.

For the past two years, the Innovation Advisory Service for the South East of England has helped numerous companies to use Open Innovation to their advantage. Now there is an opportunity for companies to learn from this experience.

On Thursday 20 March the Innovation Advisory Service South East is hosting a National Conference on Open Innovation in Practice at The Royal Society in London, where delegates will have the opportunity to hear from companies, both large and small, about how different elements of the Open Innovation model have worked for them.

The key note speeches will be given by:

Steve Knowles, Technology Director – Mission Systems, General Dynamics UK Ltd

Dr Allyson Reed, Director of Strategy & Communications at the Technology Strategy Board

Dr Treve Willis, Project Director, Innovation Advisory Service South East

Greg Ward, Director, Global Markets, South East England Development Agency

Other presenters will include senior representatives from global firms such as, BAE Systems; 3M UK Ltd, Thales Research and Technology and Balfour Beatty; and from growing innovative companies such as, Lein Applied Diagnostics; Jack Knight Designs Ltd and Wines Medical Ltd.

To book your place at this important event, please RSVP with full contact details to events@iasse.co.uk by Friday 14th March 2008

22 Feb 2008