Business Model Innovation through Open Innovation: Empirical Evidence from the Automotive Industry

Abstract

Although open innovation (OI) has been characterized as one key driver for business model innovation (BMI), the literature lacks an in-depth understanding of how OI influences the business models (BM) of new ventures. However, such an understanding is crucial for improving the value creation and value capture for technological innovations in inbound OI settings. Based upon a unique dataset of 19 new ventures from 7 countries, which participated in Europe’s largest OI platform, this study finds that OI leads to an expansion in the customer segment, a greater focus in the value proposition, a shorter (but deeper) value chain, and challenges to the revenue model. The paper highlights important theoretical contributions for the BMI and OI literature, and derives tangible managerial guidance for entering OI partnerships.