Recently I returned from the World Open Innovation Conference in Bilbao, and once again it reminded me why this gathering is one of the most energising moments of my professional year. Even after four editions, WOIC keeps surprising me with its warm, global, and refreshingly open atmosphere.

Every edition of WOIC reminds me how powerful it is when academics and industry practitioners truly mix.

As one of the leading open innovation conferences globally, WOIC continues to show what is possible when research and industry collaborate deeply. Originally held in Napa Valley where wine became part of the tradition, the 2025 edition carried that same spirit forward with its Basque variation and an atmosphere powered by curiosity. A heartfelt thank you to Marcel and Marisol for keeping Henry’s legacy alive and for creating a place where ideas and people grow. I returned home with more energy than when I arrived.

Highlights that Stayed With Me

Bilbao already holds a special meaning for me. It is where I won my second Best Practice Award and delivered my first international masterclass. Coming back to the same city with the WOIC community felt like picking up a good story exactly where it left off.

Professor Zobel opened the conference with a keynote inspired by her daughter’s favourite movie Wicked, using it as a playful entry point into how open innovation helps us tackle the wicked problems of our time. Her example from construction resonated strongly since I am currently co-developing a construction innovation ecosystem with Embuild and Buildwise.

This year’s sessions showed one thing clearly: open innovation in construction is gaining real momentum.

Claire and I presented our work on Fixes that Work in Open Innovation. The interaction afterwards was fantastic and the questions helped us sharpen several parts of our approach.

I also hosted a workshop on the ISO standard for ecosystem management systems. Exploring how standardisation can strengthen innovation practice across sectors and countries was a highlight for me. The alignment in the room showed that this conversation is more timely than ever.

Innovation becomes real when collaboration moves beyond theory and turns into shared experience.

Celebrating Best Practices

A returning highlight at WOIC is the moment we pause to celebrate the Best Practice Award winners. This year’s innovation best practices offered a clear view on what works in real settings and why some collaboration models scale faster than others.

Elina Mikelsone received the Best Practice Paper Award for her work on circularity and Greenopoly.

Greenopoly proves that gamification can lift both idea quantity and sustainability quality.

I will certainly bring some of her insights into my Wintercircus session on December 1.

Herman Rolfers won the public Best Practice Award with The HEINEKEN Brewhouse, a model that connects startups, scale ups, corporates and partners in a global ecosystem that delivers fast moving and scalable solutions.

The HEINEKEN Brewhouse shows how structured collaboration drives global impact.

Missed the Best Practice Presentations?

On Monday December 15 at 19h30 CET, I will host a short webinar where both award winning cases are presented once more. If you want a direct look at the practical methods behind this year’s best practices, you are very welcome to join. Register here

Another engaging moment was the session on the so called 64bis, a transferable tax scheme with a measurable effect on regional innovation activity. The topic may sound technical, yet the underlying insights are highly relevant for anyone working on innovation ecosystems or policy driven collaboration models.

The post conference tour rounded off the event beautifully. Our visit to Tecnalia and Iberdrola’s smart grid lab offered a strong example of corporate and startup collaboration with mutual benefit. It was a strong demonstration of how innovation ecosystems generate shared value across sectors. The day ended with txuleta grilled on a small table BBQ overlooking the Bilbao hills.

WOIC feels less like a conference and more like a global family gathering where ideas and people grow together.

It captured the WOIC spirit perfectly.

Looking Ahead to WOIC 2026

The next WOIC takes place in Kaunas in Lithuania, and it is already safely reserved in my agenda. If you are considering submitting an industry best practice paper for next year, I am happy to share advice and help you prepare a strong contribution that bridges theory and practice.

If you want to shape the future of open innovation, Kaunas 2026 is where you should be.

WOIC remains a place where ideas grow, partnerships form, and innovation becomes something you experience rather than analyse from a distance. I am already looking forward to next year.