InFactory Solutions is a spin-off from Airbus, which acts independently from the large corporation, although it is still currently a 100% Airbus Group subsidiary. It started life as an idea generated within Airbus’ innovation and central IT department, which was put forward as a candidate for a new internal incubator initiative of the aviation group aimed at “intrapreneurs” and fostering good ideas which were not core business for Airbus. After an initial incubation period within Airbus, InFactory Solutions was founded as a spin-off in June 2016, but has rapidly established a solid customer base in the aerospace sector and is seeking to gain further independence from the big corporation by bringing in venture capital and renegotiating Airbus’s shareholding. It is also moving into other sectors such as automation and wind energy. The case is an interesting example of “inside-out” open innovation – an SME which has evolved from know-how held by a large company, and is allowed to develop away from the big company.
Open innovation for SME's
