--- title: "5 Open Innovation Examples: From LEGO to Industrial Cases" description: "Discover 5 practical Open Innovation examples. From LEGO's Inbound models to industrial applications supported by e-Novia's execution expertise." featured_image: https://e-novia.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/kvalifik-5Q07sS54D0Q-unsplash-1024x768.webp date: 2026-05-15 modified: 2026-05-19 author: m.parma url: https://e-novia.it/en/news/open-innovation-examples-industry/ categories: [News] --- # Open Innovation: 5 Examples to Bridge the Execution Gap in Industry ![Open Innovation: 5 Examples to Bridge the Execution Gap in Industry](https://e-novia.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/kvalifik-5Q07sS54D0Q-unsplash-1024x768.webp) ## What is Open Innovation and why is it crucial today? Open Innovation, a paradigm first defined by [Henry Chesbrough](https://haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/henry-chesbrough/), is a business strategy that pushes organizations to look beyond the physical and cultural borders of their own Research and Development labs. It relies on the structured integration of external technology and expertise into internal processes, along with sharing internal assets with the outside world. As analyzed in our previous article on the [Open Innovation Network](https://e-novia.it/news/open-innovation-network-ecosistema-innovazione/), collaborative innovation is now a strategic must for corporate competitiveness. However, data highlights a common issue: many corporate tech innovation initiatives fail to reach the commercial stage. This waste of value is caused by the *execution gap*: the inability to successfully turn a Proof of Concept (PoC) into scalable industrial production. When structured through a strict framework, Open Innovation reduces this risk by integrating third-party tech assets and intellectual property. Below, we analyze 5 examples that show the practical application of Open Innovation, from global B2C models to the integration of physical artificial intelligence in advanced manufacturing. ## Global Models: Inbound and Outbound Open Innovation Open Innovation frameworks can be grouped by the direction of knowledge flows. The following two examples illustrate *Inbound* dynamics (bringing innovation in from the outside) and *Outbound* dynamics (sharing internal assets with the outside). ### 1. The Inbound Model: Crowdsourcing and Co-design (The LEGO Case) In the early 2000s, the LEGO Group needed a new strategy to face falling market shares. Management decided to open the company's borders, building an *Inbound Open Innovation* model on a large scale. Through a crowdsourcing platform now known as *LEGO Ideas*, the company outsourced the idea generation phase, asking its community to propose and validate new concepts (using a 10,000-vote threshold for corporate review). As [highlighted by the Harvard Business School](https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-rctom/submission/open-innovation-at-lego-the-back-beat-in-everything-is-awesome/) and explained by Erik Hansen, Senior Director of Technology & Open Innovation, in [an interview with The Open Organization](https://open-organization.com/en/2012/05/16/open-innovation-at-lego-an-interview-with-erik-hansen-senior-director-technology-open-innovation-at-the-lego-group/): "We want to engage more deeply with our fans and users. We want to listen more to their needs and wishes so that we can better deliver what they want. In today’s world we cannot master all disciplines, so collaborations and partnerships become increasingly important." This strategy allowed LEGO to align its development pipeline with real market demand and reduce go-to-market risks. ### 2. The Outbound Model: Standardization through Intellectual Property (The Tesla Case) In June 2014, Tesla launched an *Outbound Open Innovation* initiative through the [Tesla Patent Pledge](https://www.tesla.com/en_my/legal/additional-resources), promising not to start patent lawsuits against anyone using its technology "in good faith." Tesla realized that the main limit to its growth was not direct competition in Electric Vehicles (EVs), but the lack of global infrastructure and shared standards. By making its IP accessible, the company encouraged other car makers to adopt its technologies, positioning itself as the market standard and lowering supply chain costs for the whole industry. ## Industrial Open Innovation: The e-Novia Framework While in software and B2C markets open innovation relies on communities and open-source licenses, in the **industrial sector** complexity is much higher. Building mechatronics and advanced hardware systems requires deep integration. In this scenario, simple strategy consulting is not enough. This is why e-Novia acts as an operational partner: it works alongside companies in product engineering and, through Venture Building, supports them in creating new corporate entities. Here are three examples of industrial application. ### 3. Innovation and Servitization (Tokbo) #### Contesto di mercato: L'esigenza di manutenzione predittiva nelle infrastrutture Il Gruppo Agrati, multinazionale leader nella fornitura di sistemi di fissaggio meccanico, ha collaborato con e-Novia per lo sviluppo di Tokbo, un sistema di bulloni sensorizzati progettato per migliorare efficienza e sicurezza nei settori automotive, infrastrutture e costruzioni. #### Soluzione di Open Innovation: Supporto allo sviluppo tecnologico e al Go-to-Market The project was born from an [Innovation Bootcamp](https://e-novia.it/en/workshop-innovating-successfully/) that shaped the strategy and pinpointed technology opportunities. e-Novia provided comprehensive support spanning strategic consulting, technology development (advanced hardware, data transmission gateway, analytics platform), and [Tokbo](https://tokbo.it/en/) brand positioning, evolving the product toward a Product-as-a-Service model. ### 4. Digital Ecosystem Development (Brembo TrackTribe) #### Strategic challenge: Elevating the on-track riding experience Brembo, a global leader in braking systems, set out to meet the needs of motorcyclists looking to monitor performance, sharpen their riding technique, and share the track experience. #### Co-design solution: Digital development and integration [Brembo TrackTribe](https://www.brembo.com/en/solutions/for-your-bike/tracktribe) is the system that lets riders monitor and analyze circuit sessions. Together with its subsidiary [e-Shock](https://www.e-shock.it/), e-Novia acted as a development and implementation partner for TrackTribe, helping embed technological innovation into Brembo Performance’s first native digital ecosystem, with the goal of supporting a rider’s technical growth in total safety. ### 5. Innovation Roadmapping for Traditional Products (Consumer Goods) #### The Context: A leading global brand, famous for its iconic writing instruments, had a strategic goal: explore product digitalization while keeping the analog, tactile user experience completely intact. #### The Solution (Innovation Bootcamp & Prototyping): To navigate the uncertainty of adopting new technologies, an accelerated innovation framework was put in place. Through an [Innovation Bootcamp](https://e-novia.it/en/workshop-innovating-successfully/) led by e-Novia, company management worked side by side with interaction design and electronic engineering experts. This synergy produced a clear technology roadmap and validated concepts for a new line of smart products, enabling the company to lower initial investment risk and precisely quantify development requirements before industrialization. ## Execution as a Competitive Advantage The true challenge of innovation is not just finding external ideas or sharing intellectual property, but the practical ability to turn new concepts into industrial products. Organizations that choose tech partners capable of covering the entire process, from strategic advice to final product manufacturing, secure measurable speed and a strong competitive edge in the market.