Research & practice of Open Innovation in one person: Dr. Oana-Maria Pop

This podcast combines research and practice of open innovation.
Sometimes we have researchers as guests sharing scientific
insights, other times we have practitioners sharing best practices
on open innovation. Today, we combine both in one person: Dr.
Oana-Maria Pop, head of open innovation at HYPE Innovation! Oana
did her Ph.D. in economic ecosystems and collaboration. Oana has
always been back and forth periodically between research and
practice. Now she is applying her research into practice and
supporting companies in integrating open innovation into their
innovation strategy.


Oana & Aurelia got to know each other in June 2021 at a panel
discussion organized by United Europe. Oana came from the service
industry and Aurelia from psychology but what unites both was the
intersection of open innovation. They hosted a challenge session
at the World Open Innovation Conference together and it clicked
so well that there was not much preparation needed as they both
shared the same values and beliefs which was an important
foundation for a successful collaboration without using many
words.


A quote that influenced Oana on her way of doing research and
business:
"You cannot really trust someone who is not willing to change
their mind"

The understanding that social science is not static has a big
impact on Oana's line of work. There is interesting research on
why people want to collaborate and why people do not want to
collaborate. Her favorite book is "This Idea Must Die" by John
Brockmann which is a collection of essays by different authors.
You have to progress through things - nothing stays forever. Some
people are not comfortable with pivoting and changing their way
of doing things.


Oana & Aurelia collaborate very well with each other as they
both share the same values and beliefs. Oana emphasizes
the following values that decide whether she would like to
collaborate with a person or not:
- Authenticity: Don't pretend to be someone you are not
- Humour: Take yourself less serious
- Curiosity: Be interested in new things
- Trustworthiness: Being able to trust
- Track records: Such as how that person interacts with the
waiter
- Shared goals: Are we going in the same direction?
- Inspiration: Does this person inspire me?


Oana is not looking for a "one-hit wonder" but for a long-term
collaboration! It is about the journey and what you pick up along
the journey... Aurelia & Oana agree that there is no need for
more unicorns but rather sustainably growing companies that learn
and improve steadily along the way!

Reasons why companies stop investing in innovation:

According to Oana:
1) Companies don't really know that investment in
innovation increases their profit in the long run.
2) Companies are scared and hesitant at the
moment.
3) Companies stop innovation programs because they don't
see the success. The reason for this: They don't measure the
results.
Companies want to see quick wins and underestimate the
sustainable success of innovation. This is contradictory to
building a sustainable innovation culture.

Everything is at our fingertips at the moment. Everything comes
up simultaneously. There is not sufficient patience anymore. If
we do a better job of documenting how we work, would already
increase our sense of success to make people believe in the
progress. But changing behavior and habits take a while and
people lose their patience too early.