The Positions of Virtual Knowledge Brokers in the Core Process of Open Innovation

Several companies are implementing the strategy of open innovation in their research and development operations. They become more dependent, therefore, on their capabilities to exchange knowledge and technology with external parties. To facilitate these exchanges, virtual knowledge brokers use web-based information systems. In this paper, we study how they use these systems to take position in the core process of open innovation. Virtual knowledge brokers connect problem owners with potential solvers, showcase technological solutions to potential buyers, or arrange alliances and joint ventures between parties. These core processes correspond to the outside-in, inside-out and coupled, respectively. This study shows that virtual knowledge brokers tend to take position in the outside-in process. Three case studies—Yet2.com, NineSigma and Innocentive—are provided as illustrations. The discussion brings up hypotheses for further research on sectoral patterns of innovation, the codification of knowledge and the internationalisation of research and development.