Open Innovation and Public–Private Collaboration in Manufacturing: A Case Study from Piedmont, Northern Italy

This study explores the dynamics of Open Innovation (OI) in manufacturing firms, with particular attention to collaboration with public research institutions. The research is performed in the Piedmont region, Northern Italy, which represents one of Italy’s leading innovation regions, with a strong manufacturing heritage and an active strategy to foster industrial transition through innovation clusters and partnerships. The research analyzes survey responses from 82 managers and decision-makers in manufacturing firms belonging to the local manufacturing ecosystem. The questionnaire investigated how company size, organizational structure for research and development (R&D), perceived importance of collaboration, innovation drivers and barriers, and trust in research institutions affect four types of innovation: product, process, marketing, and organizational. Results indicate that collaboration with other private companies is significantly associated with product innovation, while collaboration with public research institutions is associated to both product and process innovation. The level of R&D structuring in the management of innovative projects and trust in the expertise of public research organizations are also positively associated with product innovation. In addition, key drivers—such as the availability of dedicated financial resources, staff creativity, and openness to external partnerships—are significantly related to process innovation. The findings suggest that regional policymakers and industry stakeholders should promote targeted measures to strengthen OI adoption, particularly by improving the perceived competence and transparency of public research organizations.