Connecting the Path Between Open Innovation and Industry 4.0: A Review of the Literature

The role of digitalization in industrial and entrepreneurial processes has acquired more and more attention in the last few years. The technologies and platforms behind the digital economy allow generating a global connection between consumers, employees, enterprises, and industries. Therefore, there is a growing interest in digital knowledge and technological tools in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) from an open innovation (OI) perspective. Indeed, the OI model and related initiatives that refer to external exploitation of knowledge are fully in line with the needs of an integrated digital business model. Although the characteristics of digital technologies suggest OI as a strategic option, due to its characteristic of channeling mutual information flows, the relationship between I4.0 and the OI initiatives is still unclear. This article aims to find evidence from the literature and understand how I4.0 technologies can support OI initiatives. The article investigates the evolution of OI and I4.0 paradigms through a systemic literature review process. Afterwards, we highlight the link between OI and I4.0 by building a taxonomy and a framework of I4.0 technologies supporting OI practices. Finally, we conclude and outline the gaps that emerged from the literature and avenues for future research.