LAUSR

Abstract Open Innovation propagates the idea that sharing ideas with external parties is beneficial for sustaining innovativeness of a firm. However, recent studies have found that industry is hesitant to open up their innovation processes. Other studies have identified factors that enable successful adoption of Open Innovation in industrial firms. Accordingly, appropriate organizational culture and practical learning of open innovation are considered important. Moreover, a shared physical environment has been found to support open innovation and especially practical learning of open innovation practices. In a recent attempt at the University of Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt, we have developed a concept that aims at bringing together regional industrial firms with regional education and research institutions and private makers through an Open Innovation Learning Lab. The Lab is intended to play a vital role in reaching the next level of industrial production in a region that has a long-standing history in industrial production in Austria. In the paper, we will describe results of interviews with regional industry, their requirements and attitudes regarding open innovation in the region and a concept for a regional Open Innovation Learning Lab.