External Knowledge – Underestimated Potential for Innovation
Globalization and short product life cycles are increasing the pressure on companies to open up their innovation processes. However, currently German industrial managers rate the use of external knowledge as least relevant for successful innovation. Only seven percent make a conscious effort to build and maintain networks with specialists. These are the results of the new Industry Innovation Index, for which the market research institute Forsa polled 250 top decision-makers across all sectors and 250 entry-level employees in German industrial companies, on behalf of the specialty chemicals Group ALTANA.
At present, companies are primarily focusing on internal programs. For one in two managers, the key features of innovative companies are the promotion of exchange between departments (58 percent), creativity and inventiveness of employees (57 percent) and scope for innovation (54 percent).