Inovação aberta em contexto de crise: investigação multimétodo dos fatores bibliográficos, patentários e empíricos contributivos

Abstract

The crisis arising from the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a swift response to counter its negative effects. Thus, open innovation, encompassing the sharing of resources, knowledge, and capabilities for a common goal, became crucial for effective innovative processes in response to the situation. With the pandemic, companies and institutions increasingly viewed open innovation as indispensable in challenging times. However, despite the large amount of research on technologies developed to fight COVID-19, there is a lack of analyses focusing on open innovation to address crises by systematizing data, facilitating analyses, and examining collaboration networks. Therefore, this study seeks answers to the following research question: What are the relationships between technological cooperation and the development of patent-protected technologies solutions to tackle COVID-19? The research is divided into interdependent studies: (1) bibliometric and scientometric data analysis, (2) a protocol for patent data standardization, (3) social network analysis of patent data, and (4) the development of an application based on Design Science Research to analyze patents and foster innovation during crises. Study 1 demonstrates that the concept of open innovation in times of crisis differs from the traditional context, requiring accelerated collaborative solutions supported by networks and platforms, resulting in a specific conceptual framework for COVID-19. Study 2 reinforces the importance of data quality for patent analysis by proposing a standardization protocol for the Derwent database—providing a practical element, replicable in other patent databases, that ensures consistency and reliability in investigations. Study 3 presents a model validated by experts, illustrating the shift from centralized networks to distributed innovation ecosystems, and offering practical guidelines for organizations to foster collaboration. Finally, Study 4 developed the TechPath application, capable of integrating patent analysis with interactive dashboards, thus providing direct practical benefits to managers and researchers in emergency contexts.