Date: April 2, 2026
Time: 11h00 - 12h00 (EET)
Format: Online, via Google Meet (link)
Invited Speaker: Temp. Assoc. Prof. Juan - Pablo REYES OCHOA (Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, Paris, France)
Presentation Title: Innovating with the Crowd: How to Orchestrate Innovation Crowdsourcing Platforms

Abstract:

In today’s highly competitive environment, firms face constant pressure to innovate, yet internal R&D resources are often insufficient to address complex and cross-disciplinary problems. Innovation crowdsourcing (ICS) platforms have emerged as key intermediaries that allow organizations to access a global pool of expertise drawn from a diverse “crowd” of contributors. Despite their growing importance in open innovation strategies, the organizational mechanisms through which these platforms operate and create value remain insufficiently understood.

In this presentation, I examine how intermediary ICS platforms orchestrate interactions among contributors and generate value. My empirical focus is on Kaggle, the world’s leading platform for data science competitions. Founded in 2010 and acquired by Google in 2017, Kaggle has evolved into a dynamic ecosystem connecting firms with a large and diverse community of contributors, ranging from amateurs to highly skilled professionals.

Drawing on multiple empirical studies, I show how platform design shapes innovation processes and contributor behavior. I discuss how both monetary and non-monetary incentives structure coopetitive dynamics among participants, influencing team formation and performance outcomes. I also examine how contributors and client firms perceive the value created by these platforms, highlighting their role in talent development, recruitment, and brand visibility.