Constructing Openness on Open Innovation Platforms in the Life Science Industry -Creation of a toolbox for designing an open innovation platform

Abstract

The post-genomic era has lead to a paradigm shift in the Life Science Industry, driven by technological advances and increased upstream patenting, resulting in Open Innovation initiatives to sustain growth in an increasingly competitive, knowledge driven environment. Open Innovation Platforms is a dynamic model for facilitating collaboration, and this study aims to uncover the underlying legal constructions used to regulate openness on Open Innovation Platforms, also creating a tool consisting of the legal and contractual models necessary to support the construction of openness and collaboration on different levels. The study benchmarks a model for designing Open Innovation Platforms based on general platform governance structures, access, use and cost parameters and takes a theoretical standpoint in the socio-legal approach, viewing regulatory interventions and constructions of contractual and intellectual property law as the legal framework enabling creation of openness, which in turn affects the choices made in the business arena. The study highlights; the complexity of regulating multi-stakeholder relations, existing structures on Life Science platforms and the many layers of openness created by contractual solutions with the regulatory system as a base.