Research shows that companies investing in structured innovation outperform their peers in revenue growth and resilience. Yet many still struggle to move from scattered brainstorming to consistent value creation.
This is where open innovation platforms make a difference. These digital systems help organizations organize and scale their innovation efforts by moving beyond sourcing new ideas internally. They try to solve complex open innovation challenges with a wider network of outside collaborators.
A powerful open innovation platform enables companies to connect with startups, researchers, customers, and other partners to drive innovation across ecosystems. This type of external input is critical as companies face increasingly complex business transformation goals, like adopting sustainable practices, entering new markets, or embracing digital-first business models.
Open innovation platforms also foster continuous improvement by enabling organizations to optimize processes and adapt to changing market needs.
By managing the full open innovation lifecycle, from idea capture to evaluation and implementation, platforms help align innovation with strategic priorities. They turn passive suggestion boxes into engines of growth.
For organizations looking to stay competitive, scalable innovation tools are a vital infrastructure. Embracing open innovation through purpose-built software helps organizations unlock innovative solutions that address evolving business challenges.
Short answers and FAQs on open innovation software
What are the features of the best open innovation platforms
The best open innovation platforms combine structure, scalability, and flexibility.
These tools enable organizations to collaborate with internal and external crowds, run global innovation campaigns, and drive technology scouting efforts. Key features typically include customizable cross organizational collaboration workflows, real-time analytics, and integrations with other software.
Strong co-creation functionality is also essential. Leading open innovation platforms support collaboration between cross-functional teams, partners, and even customers. They provide secure spaces to manage contributions from diverse sources, including external partners and the broader global community. Many top platforms leverage a global network to connect diverse participants and facilitate international collaboration.
Scalability is another key differentiator. Open innovation platforms that support large, distributed teams offer multilingual functionality, permission control, and role-based access. Finally, visual tools—such as radars, pipelines, and dashboards—help organizations measure progress, track innovation projects, and align ideas with strategic business goals.
What is the best open innovation software
While several strong players exist, ITONICS is widely considered among the best open innovation software platforms in 2025. It combines project portfolio management, technology scouting, and ideation management in a single system. ITONICS supports both top-down strategy execution and bottom-up innovation activities, making it versatile across industries.
Other top contenders include Qmarkets, Brightidea, and Wazoku. These tools are known for facilitating crowdsourcing campiagns, managing digital transformation projects, and solving complex challenges. The “best” platform ultimately depends on your organization’s goals, team structure, and desired level of process maturity. Understanding your target audience is crucial for selecting a platform that aligns with your innovation objectives and stakeholder needs.
Some tools are better suited for employee innovation and internal knowledge sharing, while others excel at engaging external ecosystems.
How does open innovation help with co-creation
Open innovation unlocks the full potential of co-innovating by breaking down silos and inviting new voices into the innovation process. Through platforms that support external sources, organizations can collaborate with startups, universities, suppliers, and even customers to solve complex problems or develop impactful solutions.
This model of collaboration generates fresh ideas and helps validate concepts faster. Rather than relying only on internal teams, co-creation extends across the innovation ecosystem, fostering diverse perspectives and valuable insights.
This is especially powerful when developing new technologies or entering new markets. By involving partners early, companies increase their chances of achieving business growth and competitive advantage.
What is the difference between open innovation an idea management software
Although related, open innovation software and idea management software serve different purposes.
Ideation software focuses on capturing, organizing, and prioritizing ideas - usually from within the company. It is often used to structure brainstorming sessions, run employee innovation campaigns, and streamline internal innovation goals.
Open innovation software, on the other hand, extends these capabilities beyond the company’s boundaries. It facilitates collaboration with external stakeholders, supports co-creation, and enables technology scouting across the broader market. While managing ideas may be a feature within an open innovation platform, the latter is broader and more externally oriented.
Choosing between them depends on your innovation maturity. Many organizations begin with ideation and expand into open innovation as they build trust, processes, and external networks.
How to integrate open innovation into the innovation process
Integrating open innovation into your innovation process starts with setting clear objectives. Are you looking to accelerate innovation, scout emerging technologies, or engage with external partners? From there, choose a platform that aligns with your workflow and supports collaboration across your innovation initiatives.
Start small with pilot projects, such as running a crowdsourcing campaign or launching a global innovation challenge. Involve cross-functional teams, establish evaluation criteria, and make sure internal and external stakeholders have visibility into outcomes.
As momentum builds, integrate open innovation more deeply into strategic business challenges and digital transformation projects. The right platform can help you evaluate ideas, track outcomes, and refine your innovation strategy over time.
What is open innovation software
Open innovation software is a digital open innovation platform that helps organizations discover, develop, and implement innovative ideas by collaborating beyond internal teams. Unlike traditional approaches, open innovation leverages insights from customers, partners, startups, and other external contributors to solve innovation challenges and co-create solutions.
These platforms support the entire open innovation process, from launching innovation projects and crowdsourcing new ideas, to assessing ideas and selecting the most promising concepts. By enabling access to external solutions and diverse expertise, open innovation software drives competitive differentiation and accelerates time to market.
The best platforms foster collective wisdom by uniting fresh perspectives from both inside and outside the organization. They often include tools to evaluate the best ideas, track progress, and align activities with strategic goals. Users are empowered to accept mission challenges, submit ideas, collaborate in real time, and contribute to shared innovation goals.
Ultimately, open innovation software turns siloed efforts into structured, inclusive, and scalable innovation ecosystems. It’s a critical asset for companies looking to stay ahead in dynamic markets. By leveraging open innovation software, organizations can proactively identify and adopt emerging technology trends, enabling them to capitalize on new opportunities and maintain a competitive edge through open collaboration.
What criteria to look for when choosing the right open innovation management software
Selecting the right open innovation software is essential for turning bold ideas into business impact. A strong open innovation platform does more than manage submissions. It connects organizations across ecosystems and drives innovative projects that solve real business challenges.
One key criterion is collaboration. The software should enable easy engagement with potential partners, from startups and research labs to suppliers and customers. Look for platforms that support external innovation, allowing you to tap into ideas beyond company walls. Integration with internal tools and workflows is also important, especially for business leaders who need a clear view of how open innovation aligns with strategy.
A modern innovation management platform should support scouting for emerging trends, start-ups, and new technologies as another facet of open innovation. For example, traction technology, tools that track idea progress and measure impact, ensures that innovation isn't just activity, but outcome-driven.
Gamification features can boost engagement by encouraging users to contribute ideas, vote, and accept mission challenges. This makes the platform more dynamic and fun while improving participation rates.
Finally, consider scalability and support. Your software should grow with you, whether you’re piloting a small initiative or managing a global innovation program. A good vendor offers onboarding, training, and flexibility to match your evolving needs.
By selecting a solution built for real-world complexity, companies can empower teams, accelerate innovative projects, and unlock the full value of open innovation.
7 Best open innovation software review
Choosing the right open innovation software is key to driving collaboration and solving complex challenges. In this review, we highlight the top 7 innovation platforms for 2025.
These tools help organizations manage innovation processes, run co-creation programs, and engage with internal and external stakeholders. Whether you're focused on technology scouting, new busines model ideas, or accelerating digital transformation, these platforms support innovation at scale.
1. ITONICS - The Innovation OS
ITONICS is the most comprehensive innovation software platform that supports every stage of the open innovation journey.
It enables teams to scout emerging technologies, manage idea submissions, and engage diverse partners within a single, centralized workspace. With customizable workflows, trend radars, and portfolio management, ITONICS offers organizations a flexible environment to align strategy with execution.
It’s built to integrate seamlessly into existing management software systems while encouraging cross-functional collaboration. Leading companies like Bosch or Pierer Innovation use ITONICS for engaging global communities.
ITONICS - Pros
Users praise ITONICS for its strong visualizations and structured approach to innovation activities. The platform is scalable, supporting both small teams and global organizations. It’s particularly effective for enterprises running multiple innovation initiatives across departments.
It enables data-driven decisions and brings clarity to complex innovation landscapes.
ITONICS - Cons
Due to the variety of customization options, it can be complex for smaller teams or those new to innovation management.
ITONICS offers comprehensive consulting and training to best use all functionalities.
2. Brightidea
Brightidea is a cloud-based open innovation platform, focusing on idea collection, crowdsourcing, open innovation, and hackathons.
Brightidea - Pros
The platform is designed to engage employees across the globe, breaking down silos and geographic barriers to foster a company-wide culture of innovation. It enables organizations to crowdsource ideas on a grand scale.
The platform fosters a culture of innovation by enabling employees to easily share ideas, comment on others' suggestions, and build upon them. This collaborative environment encourages active participation across the organization.
Brightidea - Cons
Some users find the backend interface complex and not intuitive, leading to a steep learning curve. The abundance of features can make navigation feel cumbersome, likened to being in a "pilot's cockpit" with numerous controls to manage.
The extensive features may cause the backend to operate slowly, resulting in a less responsive user experience.
Users have reported that the mobile app is buggy and lacks functionality, with little to no improvements over time, making it less effective for on-the-go idea collection.
While Brightidea offers customization options, some users find certain pages and templates could be more adaptable to fit unique organizational needs.
3. Qmarkets
Qmarkets is a leading innovation platform designed for large-scale open innovation and crowdsourcing ideas. It helps organizations collect, evaluate, and implement ideas from employees, customers, and external stakeholders.
Qmarkets- Pros
Qmarkets is praised for its ability in managing both internal and external idea campaigns. The platform is backed by a dedicated customer success team that provides timely and thoughtful assistance for any platform issue.
The platform automatically compares new submissions with existing ones, enhancing the efficiency of idea evaluation.
Qmarkets - Cons
Some users find the general user interface to be unintuitive, which can hinder navigation and task execution.
The software may lack sufficient customization capabilities, particularly concerning auto-generated newsletters and campaign forms, restricting users from tailoring these features to their specific needs.
Users have expressed a desire for more comprehensive reporting functionalities to better track and analyze innovation metrics.
Users have reported difficulties in following the history of an idea, especially when multiple evaluators are involved, complicating the tracking process.
4. Wazoku
Wazoku is a cloud-based idea platform designed to help organizations capture, evaluate, and implement ideas from employees, customers, and partners. It fosters a culture of innovation by providing key features that facilitate collaboration and streamline the innovation process.
Wazoku - Pros
Users appreciate the knowledgeable and supportive customer service team, which assists in platform navigation and issue resolution.
The platform is designed to be intuitive, making it accessible for users across different departments.
Wazoku - Cons
Some users have noted restrictions in customizing the platform and integrating it with other systems, which can hinder seamless workflow integration.
Some users feel that the platform's design lacks dynamism, which may affect user engagement and experience.
There are reports of missing valuable analytics functionalities, which could impact the depth of insights available to users.
5. Hype Innovation
HYPE Innovation is an innovation platform designed to facilitate the collection, evaluation, and implementation of ideas within organizations. It enables companies to engage employees, customers, and partners in collaborative problem-solving, driving innovation across various business areas.
Hype Innovation - Pros
Users expressed satisfaction with the responsive customer service, helping users to navigate platform challenges.
HYPE Innovation connects to multiple specific and dedicated data sources, enhancing analytics and improving decision-making across various business functions.
Hype Innovation - Cons
Some users find the platform’s configuration options somewhat rigid, which can limit customization to specific organizational requirements.
There are reports of open innovation challenges in navigating the backend interface, making it difficult for users to locate specific functions.
The platform’s licensing model may restrict the number of users, potentially hindering widespread adoption within larger organizations.
Some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the project management features, indicating a need for improvement in this area. Integrating a more robust tool could streamline workflows and enhance collaboration.
6. IdeaScale
IdeaScale is am open innovation platform designed to help organizations capture, develop, and implement innovative ideas from employees, customers, and partners. By fostering a collaborative environment, it enables users to submit, discuss, and prioritize ideas, streamlining the open innovation process.
IdeaScale - Pros
The platform's features, such as voting and commenting, effectively engage users and encourage active participation in the open innovation process.
The platform is backed by a dedicated customer success team that provides timely and thoughtful assistance, ensuring users can maximize the software's potential.
IdeaScale - Cons
Some users have noted that the platform's customization options are limited, which may restrict tailoring to specific organizational needs.
The analytics tools can be complex, requiring a learning curve to fully utilize and interpret the data effectively.
Integrating IdeaScale with other enterprise systems may require additional effort and technical expertise.
Open your innovation pipeline. Today with the best open innovation software.
The ITONICS Innovation OS is the most powerful open innovation software. ITONICS offers solutions for running successful internal idea campaigns or leveraging the knowledge of the crowd.
We provide users with a straightforward interface and an external idea submission form that does not require any login. It offers configurable submission forms. Idea submitters only need to enter the idea, and the right expert will receive it.
We provide a no-code solution that easily integrates your unique processes, language, and branding. Each department can run its own idea campaigns or global open innovation challenges. With our AI capabilities, we automate idea generation, idea evaluation, or refining text descriptions related to any idea.
With a sophisticated system for role and permission management, we provide dedicated spaces for teams and communities. This way, we unify foresight, ideation, and innovation portfolio management into one comprehensive system, allowing strategy execution and a fitting ideation process.