As economic turbulence shaped 2024, Open Innovation (OI) not only endured but evolved. This is the key message of Mind the Bridge’s Open Innovation Outlook 2025, a comprehensive report summarizing insights from the world’s top innovation leaders. Released following a closed-door session during the ninth Corporate Startup Stars Awards in Paris, the report offers a glimpse into how leading corporations are adapting to uncertainty and redefining Open Innovation for long-term success.

“The turbulence of 2024 serves as a reminder that innovation is rarely linear.” said Alberto Onetti, Chairman of Mind the Bridge. “Economic cycles inevitably influence corporate priorities, but the core principles of Open Innovation continue to drive long-term success. 2024 was a year of realization, highlighting the need to abandon outdated practices and embrace more integrated, hybrid approaches to innovation. This isn’t just about surviving volatility—it’s about thriving in it.”

Innovation Budgets Bounce Back

The standout finding is a renewed confidence in Open Innovation investments. After a challenging year in 2024, marked by caution and retrenchment, 86% of surveyed corporations plan to maintain or increase their Open Innovation budgets in 2025. This rebound reflects a shift in mindset: while innovation strategies may evolve, the commitment to collaboration, adaptability, and leveraging external ideas remains steadfast.

  • Cautious Optimism: The percentage of corporations planning budget increases rose to 25%, with 5% projecting significant growth. Conversely, those anticipating cuts dropped to 14%, compared to 27% in 2024.
  • Strategic Consolidation: Companies are refining their investments, focusing on tools and models with proven impact rather than expanding indiscriminately or starting to implement novel hybrid tools.

This renewed confidence signals a deeper understanding of Open Innovation’s role as a strategic imperative rather than a discretionary initiative,” Onetti noted.

2024 to 2025: From Turbulence to Transformation

The report paints 2024 as a pivotal year for Open Innovation. Economic pressures forced corporations to reassess their strategies, leading to some high-profile closures, such as Walmart’s tech incubator Store No. 8 and SAP.IO, SAP’s Open Innovation arm. Yet, these setbacks served as a catalyst for reinvention rather than a “back to basics” approach.

Corporations are now shifting to sophisticated, hybrid models that integrate ecosystems, partnerships, and technology. This shift signals the end of isolated innovation, with ecosystems emerging as the foundation of future strategies.

KPIs: The Challenge of Measuring Impact

Despite widespread recognition of Open Innovation’s transformative potential, the report underscores a critical gap in measurement. While financial metrics are well-tracked (95% of companies measure ROI, revenue growth, and cost savings), less tangible outcomes—such as sustainability and cultural transformation—remain underexplored.

While increasingly monitored (22% of corporate), sustainability KPIs tend in fact to lack structure and consistency, limiting their effectiveness; moreover, less than 10% of corporates identify Diversity and Cultural Impact as critical areas for measurement.

“To sustain momentum, we must establish robust systems to quantify Open Innovation’s impact,” Alberto Onetti emphasized. “Without actionable KPIs, it’s challenging to justify investments and scale initiatives effectively.”

 

Models: Evolving Tools and Trends

The report identifies clear winners and losers among Open Innovation tools:

  • Venture Builders on the Rise: With 13% of corporations planning to launch venture-building programs, this model is gaining traction as a way to scale transformative projects efficiently.
  • Decline of Accelerators: Corporate Accelerators, once a cornerstone of Open Innovation, continue their decline, with adoption dropping below 40%.
  • Venture Client Model Dominates: A mainstay of corporate-startup collaboration, the Venture Client model remains widely adopted, with 90% of corporations leveraging it to fast-track startup solutions. Among those not yet utilizing this approach, 7% plan to implement it soon.
  • Renewed Interest in M&A: startup acquisitions are regaining momentum, with 11% of companies planning M&A activity.

Organization: If Innovation is key, why does the CIO sit so far from the CEO?

Almost all corporate leaders have already established a structured, dedicated Open Innovation unit, generally a lean team of about 4-6 people.

Yet, Open Innovation is still not at the beating heart of the village.

Only 29% of Open Innovation units report directly to the CEO, while, more than two thirds are at least at one level of separation between them and the top management.

Scouting: Global Reach, Local Opportunities

Corporate startup scouting is increasingly global, with 88% of companies casting a wide net to source innovation at global scale. Beyond the “usual suspects”  (hubs like Silicon Valley, Israel, and the UK), emerging geographies, including Southeast Asia, Latin America, Australia, and the MENA region, are also gaining attention.

This trend reflects a broader shift toward globalization of the scouting effort, as companies seek to tap into a wider range of ideas and talent.

Looking Ahead: Innovation Priorities

We asked corporate innovation leaders about their priorities for 2025.

  • Innovation managers are gearing up to double down on decarbonization, electrification, and addressing ESG challenges.
  • AI remains a top priority
  • There is also a notable focus on partnerships – both with startups and within external ecosystems
  • Internally, fostering a culture of innovation, refining processes, and optimizing open innovation tools 

“2025 is not about going back to basics,” Onetti concluded. “It’s about redefining the fundamentals to build more resilient, adaptable, and collaborative businesses. Open Innovation is not just survivingit’s transforming the way we create value.”