Corporate Connections
Corporate Connections is bringing together a diverse group of companies to encourage innovative thinking and develop shared opportunities, through a series of collaborative workshops.
The tailored workshops will focus on two specific activities. In the first, companies will share proprietary technologies to seek new applications. In the second, corporates will collaborate on a common issue, such as the sustainable use of resources, to mutual advantage.
Any ideas or opportunities that emerge from the workshops will be assessed and analysed, with the best ideas being followed up for further development and seed funding.
Goliath-Goliath collaboration
Corporate Connections attempts to push the boundaries of Corporate Open Innovation (COI).
COI usually involves one large company, a 'Goliath', collaborating with several 'Davids'. Corporate Connections will link various Goliaths across a wide range of sectors. We believe this cross-fertilisation will result in more unexpected innovation routes.
The innovation chasm
Often, after the excitement of innovation workshops subsides, inertia, IP and funding issues kick in and momentum can be lost. This 'open innovation chasm' is especially wide when it comes to experimental alliances between corporates.
This is where Corporate Connections differs. Together with H-I Network, we will ensure that good ideas are followed up and translated into profitable business.
The corporate line-up
Participating corporates include:
- AXA
- BASF
- BUPA
- Carbon Trust
- Eon
- GSK
- ITCM
- Kidde
- McClaren
- National Grid
- NATS
- Ordinance Survey
- Philips
- PPP
- Premier Foods
- Procter & Gamble
- QinetiQ
- RBS
- SEEDA
- Virgin Atlantic