Networks are important to MAC-Team as it also corresponds to an important lever to reinforce Multi-Actor Cooperation which is at the heart of MAC-Team.
This network of networks approach is strongly base on an Open Innovation 2.0 spirit in which people as individuals also play a key role.
The term 'open innovation' has various commonly accepted definitions, which are all subject to continuous change. It can defined as "...the use of purposive inflows and outflows of knowledge to accelerate internal innovation, and expand the markets for external use of innovation, respectively". The endgame of this new paradigm is to create economic growth by utilizing internal and external ideas and internal and external paths to market. To achieve this goal, new capabilities are needed to manage internal and external knowledge in open innovation processes. It has been recognized that the large, vertically integrated R&D laboratory systems of the 20th century are giving way to more vertically disintegrated networks of innovation that connect numerous companies into ecosystems.
Open innovation has been recognized as one of the most important factors in societal development and the future for European competitiveness. It accelerates the exchange of knowledge and technology among European Union Regions, creating new business opportunities on traditional and new emergent sectors, responding to the EU's new societal and community needs. Ultimately, such strategies lead to increases on quality of life, living conditions and employment rates. This new innovation paradigm based on openness and continuous interaction and collaboration among different actors within innovation ecosystem and platforms (be it suppliers, users, customers, universities, research institutes or even competitors) is on the top priority for Europe.
The EU and the European Commission put a lot on emphasis to reboot Europe's economy and help Europe's citizens and businesses. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation is one key dimension of the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) which is the first of seven flagships initiatives under Europe 2020, the EU's strategy to deliver smart sustainable and inclusive growth.
Open Innovation 2.0 is also supported by the European Commission.
This article of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation dimension of DAE introduces the Open Innovation and the drive towards Open Innovation 2.0.
As presented by the European Commission in that article:
Open Innovation 2.0
We [NB: the European Commission] drive the Open Innovation 2.0 paradigm towards recognition and adoption in Europe, in all sectors.
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Networking;
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Collaboration involving partners, competitors, universities, and users;
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Corporate Entrepreneurship, enhancing corporate venturing, start-ups and spin-offs;
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Proactive Intellectual Property Management: to create markets for technology;
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Research and Development (R&D): to achieve competitive advantages in the market.
Quadruple Helix Model
We [NB: the European Commission] base our thinking on Quadruple Helix innovation models – involving institutional bodies, research sphere, business sector, and citizens in the process. This new generation of open innovation leads to stronger economic impact and better user experience in Europe.
From a funel initial approach on Open Innovation, MAC-Team is also encouraging its partners to embrace more widely a multi-disciplinary approach and the Open Innovation 2.0 model to break limitations and boundaries for moving towards a genuine mash-up. (as shown here below towards an effective ecosystem of mutual beneficial innovation).