IOP was set up in 2009 and enables an elite group of companies, and their chief innovation executives, to regularly discuss the opportunities and challenges they face in developing new products and services or improving existing ones, in order to maintain their competitive edge.
Microsoft, which hosts the programme, is now expanding IOP into Europe, adding a further ten companies. It has chosen Imperial College Business School to provide academic support for both American and European IOP events and activities.
The Business School will provide the business-focused research, and will also work with other departments within Imperial to draw together engineering expertise for technical proof-of-concept and new technology development. Members of IOP will also be able to work with Imperial Innovations, Imperial’s tech transfer arm.
“Imperial is a perfect fit for IOP and its global members. It offers the latest research and practice on business model and process innovation, alongside an impressive track record of spinning out successful companies,” said Michael Steep, Chief of Operations, Microsoft Technical Strategy & Innovation.
Imperial College Business School will design and carry out preparatory research for IOP’s March Conference at Microsoft’s US headquarters and a June Conference in Europe. IOP corporate members will share ideas on how to unlock new commercial opportunities in managing the innovation process.
“We will bring together experts from a range of industries and share what is learnt through applied, market-facing research for the members,” said David Gann, head of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship research group at Imperial College Business School. "We are very pleased to be a central part of this strong network. It's an exceptional group of companies. They lead by continual - sometimes radical - product or service improvement. The IOP is a new model we hope will let corporations open their R&D departments to create new, exciting and successful ventures with other IOP partners.”
Imperial College will receive funding for its role in the IOP as well as research opportunities with and for the IOP members.
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