Technology portfolio perspective for analyzing open innovation: insights from Iranian high-tech SMEs

ABSTRACTProviding evidence from less studied ecosystems contributes to the evolution of the Open Innovation (OI) theory. While previous studies investigate the pros and cons of OI in the context of developed countries, this article addresses OI adoption among high-tech SMEs in an emerging country. A multiple case study is pursued within the advanced materials sector in Iran, a sector suitable for opening windows of opportunity to a country endowed with natural resources. Thus, we deeply studied four high-tech SMEs through interviews with key managers, followed by a qualitative content analysis of the transcripts and documents. The results show that besides frequent inbound OI practices, the firms adopt several outbound OI practices. Additionally, this paper found two distinct types of OI behaviour (Selective vs. Non-selective) in relation to the firms’ technology portfolio. Although SMEs that adopt OI in both core and non-core areas are exposed to the knowledge leakage risk, due to their smallness and lack of required resources they prefer to take advantage of external cooperation, at the same time they seek ways for handling leakage concerns through trust-building. This paper has practical implications for managers who think of extending their OI practices into the firms’ core technologies.KEYWORDS: Open innovationSMEcore/ non-core technologiesemerging countriesadvanced materials Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Notes1 Polyvinyl butyral film.Additional informationNotes on contributorsJavad MashayekhJavad Mashayekh, currently serves as an assistant professor at Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST). He received his doctoral degree in Management of Technology from Allameh Tabataba'i University in 2018. His research interests include open innovation, science, technology and innovation policy and, science diplomacy. He has previously published in Renewable Energy, Energies and Kybernets.Amir ZakeryAmir Zakery, has PhD in Industrial Engineering from Polytechnic University of Iran, and is currently assistant professor of Management in Iran University of science and Technology (IUST), Department of Management, Economics and Progress Engineering (from 2018). His main research interest is the Internationalization of Emerging Countries' Technology firms; which he usually follows with a knowledge-based perspective back to his background in Knowledge Management and Intellectual Capital. To complement theory and practice in this area, he has established a research unit in IUST entitled “Iran Think-tank for Export Development”. He has several publications in Journal of Intellectual Capital, Kybernetes, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Knowledge Management Research and Practice and many other local journals.