IOIT

Due to the ongoing globalization and the shortening of product life cycles, small and medium enterprises (SME) are facing an increasing pressure to innovate. To encounter that innovation pressure, big companies are very successful in employing the principles of open innovation, within which the company’s innovative potential shall be strengthened by opening its innovation process. By doing so, it is possible to integrate external know-how from customers, suppliers and other stakeholders, to generate more successful innovations in a shorter span of time.
Similar to SMEs, universities are currently facing an intense competitive pressure, as they are forced to adapt to the international level of scientific quality, which is predefined by American universities in many fields. This pressure is being increased by the bologna-initiative for standardizing the European higher education. In addition to that there is another aspect, which mainly affects German universities. By the cessation of the so called ZVS (central office for the allocation of places in higher education) they are now fully responsible in acquiring new students and are therefore forced to become more attractive by creating an interesting and innovative range of courses. To succeed in this competitive environment and to keep up with their American competitors, universities are forced to reinvent themselves continuously.