Innovation through Collaborative Research and Technology Development in the Energy Sector

Open innovation generates new technology by combining the technology developed internally within an organization and that developed externally by sources outside the organization. Using a case study methodology in the context of the energy sector, this thesis studies the practical application of open innovation to generate and apply technologies to solve the kinds of major problems that an organization cannot resolve on its own. Findings from five case studies create the framework for a new Collaborative Research and Technology Development (CRTD) model, which can be used by organizations with similar interests to collaborate to develop technology. The CRTD approach allows for the sharing and transfer of technology among organizations, reducing the burden on internal R&D and helping organizations to overcome their technological limitations.