ForTransRIS Network
Although the Open Innovation concept has initially developed essentially as a business driven phenomenon, it has implications for both the Research and Innovation policies and for the overall macro-economic policies, as framework conditions are very important to foster an open environment, allowing businesses to embrace Open Innovation approaches, and it entails the opening up beyond national boundaries of the Research and Innovation field. Therefore, it is now addressed at highest political level too. The OECD, e.g., in assessing how Research and Innovation, and education policies can efficiently contribute to sustainable economic growth and employment creation, has developed a focus on "Globalisation and Open Innovation". Another example is the Vision ERA-NET, a network of Research and Innovation policy makers and research institutions, which made Open Innovation the subject of its first EU-wide call for policy research projects.
Notwithstanding, the reality of many regions at the EU level is that the Governance system affecting Open Innovation is extremely multilayered as a result of confluent competencies both at the horizontal and at a vertical level. Thus, from a European Governance point of view, and taking into consideration EU Regions as the main actors in the dynamization of innovation, the promotion of such an Open Innovation approach demands the further co-ordination and integration of policies at the local, regional, national and EU level, creating Open Innovation friendly environments.
A step towards an integration and harmonisation of policies is the creation of an Open Innovation Network where “hot topics” can be discussed, experiences exchanged and pilot actions implemented.