This cases involves a software company which works on IT projects with a strong focus on societal challenges. They were invited to join an international R&D consortium consisting of 10 partners from 5 countries and comprising R&D centres, other SMEs and an end-user organization. Despite the strong USP of the ICT service solution to be developed and the chance to be first to market, the project partners lacked shared goals and ambitions which finally led to the decision not to invest in the product’s joint commercialization. The case reveals some important reasons why an open innovation collaboration does not always have a successful outcome.
(This is a pseudonym since the company prefers anonimity)