Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing for Industrial Innovations − Solutions and Challenges for SMEs

Crowdsourcing for Industrial Innovations − Solutions and Challenges for SMEs

Christof Thim, André Ullrich ORCID Icon, Felix Eigelshoven, Norbert Gronau ORCID Icon, Ann-Carolin Ritter
Innovation activity in the industrial environment is shifting towards product-service systems as a result of digitalisation. Small and medium-sized enterprises have so far focused their development activities strongly on product development. The switch to “smart” products and the coupling to services often requires personnel and financial resources that SMEs cannot provide. Crowdsourcing is one way of opening up the innovation process to external actors and realising cost and speed advantages. However, the integration of crowdsourcing elements faces several challenges. This article shows both the potentials and the barriers of crowdsourcing in the industrial environment.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 36 | 2020 | Edition 6 | Pages 9-13 | DOI 10.30844/I40M_20-6_S9-13
Open Innovation – Making Use of the Creativity of External Partners

Open Innovation - Making Use of the Creativity of External Partners

Martin Kaschny, Matthias Nolden
The difference between Open and Closed Innovation is that external partners can get actively involved in all stages of the value added process and are not limited to being mere idea generators. Whilst finding solutions for their own problems and needs, creative individuals or groups of individuals can play an active role in the development of innovative products featuring new functional and design elements. In addition, Open Innovation provides further benefits in the field of image building and innovation marketing.
Industrie 4.0 Management | Volume 32 | 2016 | Edition 1 | Pages 34-37