Technology valorisation in public and private organisations: exploring Open Innovation practices in Proof-of-Concept (PoC) programs

We explore how Proof-of-Concept (PoC) programs, as Open Innovation (OI) instruments, are implemented differently by public and private organisations in technology valorisation processes. PoC programs, traditionally employed in public institutions, are also gaining relevance in private companies to reduce uncertainty and increase market readiness of early-stage technologies. Through a multiple case study of 12 PoC programs, in this research, we compare their implementation in universities, national research centres, firms, and venture funds. We contribute to the OI and technology transfer literature by proposing four distinct PoC models and discussing how they facilitate OI practices differently across sectors.