1% from startups in 2015; 40% from startup in 2025; decline of R&D
innovation coming from the outside world is becoming increasingly relevant for companies: “Over the next five years, startups will rank as top innovation sources for companies. Moreover, hybrid forms such as innovation labs are essential as an interface between internal and external innovation. It is even more relevant for companies that do not have to innovate internally. Many are forced to source externally. As a result of this development, traditional R&D and internal business units’ employees will become less relevant as innovation sources within the next five years.” The study’s authors surveyed over 320 global companies and asked them about their top three innovation sources; internal (central R&D, Innovation Labs with dedicated and operational business staff) vs. external (suppliers, universities, third party, customers, startups, competitors, crowd). According to the respondents, 69 percent of innovation came from R&D, 33 percent from innovation labs, and only 10 percent from startups. The study’s author prediction for 2025 looks significantly different: • 29 percent from R&D • 71 percent from innovation labs • 44 percent from startups
Thompson, Neil, Didier Bonnet, and Sarah Jaballah. Lifting the Lid on Corporate Innovation in the Digital Age. Paris: Capgemini, 2020.
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