Next - Voices from the Future | Open Innovation: from collaborative paradigm to measurable impact
In this new edition of Next – Voices from the Future, we revisit Open Innovation - one of the defining keywords of the contemporary business evolution. The occasion is the release of the “Open Innovation Lookout 2025” report, in which Sella participates as a partner. The report offers an in-depth analysis of the current state of the Italian innovation ecosystem, with a particular focus on Venture Building and the measurement of the impact generated by collaborative initiatives. It serves as a compass to navigate a constantly evolving landscape, one that increasingly demands tangible results. Promoted by the Politecnico di Milano, the Lookout aims to help companies orient themselves within the Italian Open Innovation scene, providing practical tools to explore its potential.
A growing but still polarized ecosystem
In 2023, the Italian Open Innovation services market reached €742 million, marking a significant increase from €696 million in 2022. The ecosystem consists mostly of small to medium-sized players (84% have fewer than 200 employees) with an average age of 19.4 years. However, 68% of service providers are still concentrated in Northern Italy, with Lombardy, Rome, and Naples emerging as key strategic hubs.
The report also highlights a strong market polarization: a few provider categories dominate the supply, making it difficult for new entrants to gain a foothold. On the other hand, corporate demand is becoming increasingly sophisticated, seeking end-to-end approaches and specialized services, including the application of generative AI to accelerate innovation processes.
Venture building: from experimentation to strategy
Among the most noteworthy trends is the rise of Corporate Venture Building. Of the companies that launched initiatives between 2021 and 2024, 68% adopted a collaborative approach, often with support from service providers. Still, only 26% of Italian companies have actually initiated at least one project.
While Venture Building is still largely used for exploratory purposes, especially in sectors like energy, healthcare, and high-tech, it is beginning to prove its effectiveness as a lever for creating new businesses, forging strategic partnerships, and generating measurable value.
Measuring open innovation: the balanced scorecard
One of the report’s most valuable contributions is the introduction of the Open Innovation Balanced Scorecard, a practical tool for tracking value generation across four dimensions:
- Input: resources, skills, initial investments.
- Initiatives: number and quality of launched projects.
- Output: MVPs, PoCs, new partnerships.
- Outcome: strategic, economic, and cultural impact.
This methodology addresses a real need: avoiding “Open Innovation Theatre” initiatives that prioritize communication over substance. With clear KPIs, companies can better engage their boards, justify investments, and plan strategically.
Toward a new paradigm: measure to evolve
The key message from the report is clear: Open Innovation in Italy has reached a new level of maturity. It is no longer enough to launch initiatives – companies must demonstrate their impact. This requires structured measurement tools as well as agile governance models capable of integrating startups, research centers, and service providers into a unified value-creation process.
In conclusion, the Open Innovation Lookout 2025 is not just an observatory, it’s a call to action. Companies that shift from an opportunistic to a structured approach can truly turn collaboration into a competitive advantage. The future of innovation is open, but above all, it is measurable.
