1. The document discusses open innovation with seniors in Germany, including a project called openISA from 2010-2012 that developed innovative services and products for older people through an open innovation platform. 2. The project was successful in proving that seniors are innovative and want to share their knowledge, establishing infrastructure for a silver innovation community, and convincing industry that silver innovation is valuable. 3. Insights from the project show that seniors are very willing to participate in idea contests and provide more elaborate ideas and comments than younger participants, though fewer seniors ultimately became innovators. A broader or more concrete topic engages seniors more.

1. 111
Brussels 10
th
of March 2015
silver innovation
Open innovation with seniors in Germany
Frank Leyhausen

2. 222
(open)
innovation and age
is a perfect match
seniors are innovative and effective
open innovation on age related topics
helps to de-stigmatize and
builds awareness for
age related needs and
business opportunities

3. 333
The man with a new idea is a crank
until the idea succeeds.
(Mark Twain)
the term "old" is rarely used in
innovation management context

4. 4444
project openISA (2010-2012)
 development of an open innovation platform,
where innovative services and products are
developed and evaluated with elder people
 proof that elderly are innovative and want to innovate / share
their knowledge
 set up infrastructure for a silver innovation community
 convince industry that silver innovation is valuable
Four successful idea contests with industry support
proof of silver innovators (innovators pool)
wide coverage in public as in academic media
best visited special session at WDA 2010

5. 555
Website
Open to all age groups
Online and offline
application
3rd of March to 6th of
June 2010

6. 6666
Website
message board
idea discription
and
highlights
rating
comments
user

7. 777
9.900 user
950 hrs spent on site
175 participants
267 submitted ideas (one offline)
31.709 words to explain an idea (Ø119 per idea)
1.915 ratings of ideas
674 comments to ideas
17.046 words to comment an idea (Ø25 per idea)
Facts & figures
A very high involvement of the participants, esp. quality and
quantity of ideas, straight forward attitude by 55plus
But a comparably low conversion from user to innovator,
WHY?

8. 8888
Over 100 ideas by 150 user
More „experts“ and more social
activites on site as by mobile challenge.

9. 999
Insights silver innovation
 Elder people are very willing to participate in idea
contests, no restrictions due to the urge to be online (only
two out of over 200 ideas were submitted offline via mail)
 Young and old innovators participates at the same time
and discuss online
 Ideas submitted and comments given are far more
elaborated and extensive compared to those of the
ordinary (younger) contest participants
 A broader topic e.g. work space over challenged user, a
more concrete topic is more sufficient

10. 101010
Benefits
 Seniors feel / are integrated & enjoy the opportunity to
participate
 Getting valuable consumer insights
 Ideas and concepts created in the contest become your IP
 Serious approach in understanding senior needs
 New option for generating public awareness and an innovative
image
 Exploration of potentials for future customer integration (board
of consumer / members)

11. 111111
Toothbrush Theory
Everyone wants a toothbrush,
everyone needs one,
everyone has one,
but
no one wants to use anyone else’s
Dan Ariely The Upside of Irrationality
AKA
Not invented here (NIH)
Persistent of institutional culture
that avoids using or buying already
existing knowledge because of their
external origins.