Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation
Summary. This paper identifies four distinct search paths firms use to find external knowledge for innovation: situated, analogical, sophisticated, and scientific paths. These paths combine two dimensions—whether firms search locally or distantly, and whether they rely on experience or cognitive reasoning. The study of 18 open innovation projects reveals how problem framing and boundary spanning mechanisms operate within each path to solve technology problems, providing a structured framework for understanding how firms conduct external knowledge searches.
Cite this article
Lopez‐Vega, H., Tell, F., & Vanhaverbeke, W.. (2015). Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation. Research Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003
Lopez‐Vega, Henry, et al. “Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation.” Research Policy, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003.
Lopez‐Vega, Henry, Fredrik Tell, and Wim Vanhaverbeke. 2015. “Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation.” Research Policy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003.
@article{lopez-vega-2015-where-how-search-search-paths,
title = {Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation},
author = {Henry Lopez‐Vega and Fredrik Tell and Wim Vanhaverbeke},
journal = {Research Policy},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003}
}
TY - JOUR TI - Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation AU - Henry Lopez‐Vega AU - Fredrik Tell AU - Wim Vanhaverbeke JO - Research Policy PY - 2015 DO - 10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003 UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003 ER -
Details
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.respol.2015.08.003
- Countries
- Sweden, Spain, Belgium
- Regions
- Europe
- Categories
- innovation-theory, innovation-networks, general-innovation
- Added
- 2026-04-28