Open innovation via virtual team : how and why do we meet?

Open innovation can take place on several levels. In this paper we will look at the virtual R&D project team level, especially at the ‘fuzzy front end’ of open innovation. We conducted qualitative research with six case studies of virtual R&D project teams, consisting of partners all over Europe. We found that most partners were intrinsically motivated for the virtual R&D project team because they were interested in the content of the project. These partners were already involved in research concerning the topic internally in the organisation. By collaboration in a virtual R&D project team they were able to put this research on a higher level. We also found that concerning the forming of the network, i.e. the virtual R&D project team, is that most partners are acquainted to each other, or are ‘acquaintances of acquaintances’.