Innovation networks in healthcare as mean of knowledge transfer

Purpose-The present work focuses on the study of healthcare networks as key tool for innovation creation and spreading, by deploying the emergent paradigm of open innovation. During the early development of a technology, when the interactions among component types are unclear (in a state of flux) and, therefore, difficult to codify and freeze, organizations build connections with research centres and universities to explore alternative technological solutions. Once such interactions are better understood, codified, modularized and shared, then more exploitative networks (e.g. with suppliers and customers) may be better suited to exploit the current technology. Design/methodology/approach-The explorative analysis conducted refers to the healthcare sector, since its complexities and singularities are called to deal with new organizational issues. To this purpose, a preparatory desk analysis was determinant in order to find out the existence, within healthcare facilities, of organizational forms similar but not exhaustively matching with the main features of open innovation.. Originality/value-This methodology puts in evidence how evolved policies of open innovation lead to a systematic realization of process of knowledge exploration, exploitation e retention, both inside and outside organizational bounds; it becomes so necessary for the involved actors, to develop relevant networking skills, in order to properly handle the whole set of innovation process. Practical implications-In the transition from the early development phase to the more mature phase, firms must build ties to startups and new entrants, and/or connect to third-party firms, since the supporting investments made by these firms may determine which of the alternative configurations will become 'the standard'. During this stage, the relationships across firms are defined and governed by modular interfaces that are, in turn, dictated by product interfaces. The outcomes of the present analysis mean to highlight a comprehensive perspective for understanding the dynamics of modularity and their implications for innovation networks. The main goal of the paper is therefore to show the ways through which the dynamics of technology development should reflect the dynamics of knowledge transfer of a healthcare firms network.