The Tension Between Open Innovation and Appropriability in Marine Renewable Energy SMEs: Examining the Role of the Chief Executive Officer
研究了海洋可再生能源中小企业中开放式创新与专有性之间的平衡，发现专有性促进开放式创新，且创始人的教育、热情和实践经验显著影响开放式创新的采用。
ABSTRACT Marine renewable energy small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are vital in addressing climate change through radical innovation in a complex, high cost, and high‐risk sector. Open innovation (OI) is a strategic approach for SMEs to acquire external knowledge, important for creating their radical devices. However, OI strategies may result in R&D leakage, requiring SMEs to consider the balance between appropriation and OI. Founders/CEOs play a critical role in managing this tension, yet little is known about how they manage the OI–appropriation nexus. This study examines whether appropriability enables or hinders OI and how the founder/CEO's background influences the relationship. Using an explanatory, sequential mixed‐methods design, a positive relationship between appropriation and OI is identified. The founders/CEOs' education, passion, and practical experience have a strong influence on OI adoption. This study advances the OI–appropriation literature, shining a light on the neglected but important human‐side context of SME innovation management.