In this chapter, Hans provided an in-depth review of the empirical literature on R&D alliances, highlighting how this area of research has developed over time and its critical role as one of the key practices in open innovation. The chapter offers a structured literature review that uncovers a substantial body of research on the factors that lead to the formation of R&D alliances, their characteristics, and the outcomes they produce. Interestingly, nearly half of the reviewed studies explore R&D alliances in conjunction with other open innovation practices, revealing the interconnectedness of these strategies.
Hans emphasized that while the R&D alliance literature is robust and well-developed, there is still significant potential to explore how R&D alliances interact with other open innovation practices and how these interdependencies influence overall performance.
