Open Innovation Three-Dimensional Model

Open Innovation (OI) can provide important advantages for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that operate in environments of constrained resources, especially in competitive innovation-driven industries such as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Yet SMEs adopt far fewer OI practices than large multinationals. This study explores key external agents and the dynamics of their relationships in the FMCG environment, aiming to enable SMEs to foster partnerships for product development when internal resources are limited. Through a combination of literature review and exploratory interviews, the study proposes an Open Innovation Three-Dimensional Model (3DM) that provides a framework to map key external agents in different dimensions, serving as a foundation to enable the development of innovation projects by leveraging resources from outside partners. Furthermore, the proposed framework lays out a foundation for additional studies that can expand across industries, dimensions, and markets, adapting to evolving practices and technologies that may emerge in the future.