Proven open innovation model

Program

Start with a portfolio of shared problems

Innovation

The solution is often already available in other domains

Implementation

We have only innovated if a solution is being applied

ESTI education

Learn how to innovate together, through the practical ESTI-modules

Real problems, real solutions

The Ecosystem Thinking Institute is a non-profit organization, that inspires to generate successful innovations with a positive impact on people, animal and planet.

We offer insight, experience, system thinking and passion to activate the entire ecosystem around the necessary solutions.

By consolidating the demand side, we create a larger market. This enriches the opportunity for solutions. With lower risk and better quality through collaboration. Together we build an innovation-ecosystem around societal challenges.

Building blocks

System thinking

To be able to get to real innovation it is necessary to work with the outside world. Because of the growing clock speed of innovation, keeping up is already a real challenge for organizations – let alone staying ahead. Change by now is the only constant factor.

The mindset that fits with this is: ‘access is the new ownership’. You do not need to be the owner of knowledge or of a solution, you only need access in a fair way.

Building blocks

To be able to get to real innovation it is necessary to work with the outside world. Because of the growing clock speed of innovation, keeping up is already a real challenge for organizations – let alone staying ahead. Change by now is the only constant factor.

The mindset that fits with this is: ‘access is the new ownership’. You do not need to be the owner of knowledge or of a solution, you only need access in a fair way.

Working together in an ecosystem brings other challenges, than if an organization can perform all their innovation tasks in-house. Within your ecosystem there will be organizations who are complementary to what you do, but also those who have conflicting interests to yours. Agreeing on how to collaborate – the ground rules – needs to be done aforehand. What happens in case…? Then…

These ground rules serve to address and remind all parties involved throughout the innovation process on what was agreed.

ESTI offers knowledge, experience and instruments for the neutral guidance in the ecosystem. This way the ground rules are set together from the start and ESTI is appointed to ensure these rules are respected – all in the spirit of the intent of the collaboration.

The collaboration takes place on the demand side; these are the parties who wish to solve the same type of problem. It’s also possible that on the solution side there is a need for integration or consortium building. ESTI does not have a stake in either side of the trajectory – only the successful collaboration of the ecosystem.

One of the most underestimated influences in ecosystem-thinking and innovation is the human factor. Both creating as well as accepting novelties comes with many decision points. Almost nothing is as powerful as the human embracing or rejecting change.

On top of the solid process of open innovation, ESTI is very experienced in guiding the human factor in innovation. We do this through our innovation culture programs, that are geared towards the mindsets and diversity necessary for innovation.

Next to the actual innovation trajectories, ESTI offers the possibility of learning the HOW of open innovation and ecosystem thinking in practice. The ESTI-modules are interactive, offer a steep learning curve and are easily accessible.

ESTI uses extensive gamification theory to enhance the experience towards the learning goals to a maximum. On our Curriculum page you will find an overview of the modules we offer.

At ESTI we keep the communities around the shared problems actively involved through our innovation platform. This way the knowledge and solutions we generate from the innovation challenges remains accessible and forms the basis for new developments.

Stay tuned with the progress of the ESTI innovation challenges; register here for the ESTI innovation platform.

The Experiences from our ecosystem

An impression of our Clients

ESTI has a proven track record with public as well as private organizations,
varying from large corporates and local authorities to i.e.
education institutes and social housing corporations.

ESTI’s partners

Innovation takes place within ecosystems more and more.
ESTI is very proud of her partnerships:

“The word ‘Open’ in Open Innovation is not an adjective, it’s a verb.”

– Margot Nijkamp

Interested?

We will gladly help you with additional information on our innovation programs and our education modules.