There is a common belief that bringing researchers and business leaders together in the same room is the starting point for innovation. However, I discovered that having the talent and the will did not guarantee that projects would actually materialize. Conversations often lost momentum just as they were getting started. The problem was not a lack of interest, but the absence of an invisible yet essential ingredient: trust.

That gap is bridged by recognizing that academia and the business world—while sharing an interest in solving complex challenges—operate according to different logics. While businesses prioritize viability, time-to-market, and implementation, researchers focus on rigor, evidence, and scientific validity. Far from being an obstacle, this difference is the engine of innovation: when aligned, the depth of academic knowledge is enriched by the business sector’s pragmatic approach, allowing ideas to transform into high-impact solutions.

The best collaborations I have witnessed do not begin with the intention of solving everything at once. They start with an honest conversation, a well-defined challenge, and an initial opportunity to work together. Testing a solution, validating a hypothesis, or developing a pilot project allows the parties to get to know one another through action. It is in this process that agreements are forged, expectations are clarified, and—above all—results are generated that build the confidence needed to move forward.

That is why open innovation goes far beyond simply connecting people or issuing a call for proposals. It is about creating the conditions for knowledge to meet relevant problems, and for organizations to access capabilities they would not possess on their own. It means opening up a space where companies, startups, universities, and research centers can pool their expertise and turn it into real-world impact.