Should Innovation Always be OPEN?

Roland Harwood will reference how many large organisations are now embracing open innovation, open source and open data because it is proven to be a better way to solve complex problems, attract and retain talent, and to maintain accountability through transparency. And yet he will highlight the
significant challenges this still poses to most organisations, particularly in terms of intellectual property but also regarding collaborative cultures. However he will argue that anything that can be shared will be eventually and that those that do so by default will benefit more than those who have openness
forced upon them.

Roland Harwood is Co-founder and Networks Partner at 100%Open, the global open innovation agency that works with the likes of LEGO, P&G, Oxfam and Ordnance Survey to coinnovate with partners. It was a spin-out from NESTA in 2010, the UK Innovation Agency and Investment Fund, where he was Director of Open Innovation. Graduating with a PhD in Physics from Edinburgh University, he has held senior innovation roles in the public and private sector. In addition has worked with hundreds of start-ups to raise venture capital and comercialise technology. He is a keen piano player and has produced TV and film music for SonyBMG. Last but not least, he is a proud and often exhausted dad of 3 kids under 7.

Linked In: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/rolandharwood