Supporting Open Innovation Behaviors in Researchers: Developing a Training with Acceptance and Commitment Training

This study explores the use of Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) to overcome individual-level barriers to open innovation and cross-boundary collaboration in academic and research environments. Rooted in the management literature on Not Invented Here and Not Shared Here biases, the research examines how to overcome rigid professional identities that obstruct knowledge exchange and interdisciplinary collaboration. Although perspective-taking has been identified as a promising method for mitigating these biases, actionable interventions remain scarce, particularly in scientific contexts. To address this gap, we developed and iteratively refined a two-day training intervention using an Action Research Innovation Management Framework. The training was designed based on existing literature and delivered in five different institutions. Qualitative data were collected during each training session through surveys, interviews, and participant observations, while focus groups were conducted six months after each iteration to assess longer-term impacts. The intervention integrates ACT principles to enhance perspective-taking and promote open innovation behaviors among researchers. Findings demonstrate that the training effectively reduces cognitive biases related to knowledge flows. The results also highlight how to activate perspective-taking in facilitating the adoption of open innovation practices within academic settings. The study provides practical implications for university administrators and Knowledge Transfer Offices, emphasising the need to address psychological barriers alongside structural incentives to enable more effective implementation of open innovation initiatives.