Open innovation in the development of medical technologies

Introduction: This article analyses how an academic unit in the medical field in a public Brazilian university implemented open innovation partnerships with external agents. It involved the identification of the types of arrangements, external agents, and knowledge accessed externally. Method: These initiatives were analyzed through the identification of two basic constructs, types of arrangements enacted, and types of knowledge accessed. Results: Two types of arrangements were identified, horizontal and vertical, three types of external partners, external academic departments, firms, and public services foundations, and two basic types of knowledge, knowledge creation in project teams, and knowledge about diffusion (dissemination) channels. Conclusions: This study should be improved through its replications in other universities and research institutes to identify the use of open innovation for development and diffusion of technologies. This article presents insights for universities to assess and plan open innovation arrangements. The insights revealed in this article can be used as an instrument for strategic planning of open innovation actions of academic units in universities for the development and diffusion of technologies useful for society. This article contributes by showing in detail how an academic unit of universities enacts arrangements to access external knowledge, and what types of knowledge are accessed externally to complement its internal competencies.