Innovation from the outside-in
Solve faster. Spend less. Deliver more.
75%
of Fortune 500 companies now use Open Innovation
62%
64%
see increased operational efficiency
see increased revenue
55%
see faster innovation
Sources: Sopra Steria Next (2025), Capgemini Research Institute (2023)
Break the innovation echo chamber
While companies have never placed a higher priority on innovation as they do today, just 30% say they’re good at it.
One of the core reasons commonly found is the echo chamber effect - with teams amplifying and reinforcing ideas, beliefs, or information, even if those views are flawed or incomplete.
It’s the reason why the performance of R&D teams typically declines after 5 years (source).
That’s where outside-in Open Innovation comes in, a practice that diverges from the classical closed innovation models. Since emerging in the early 2000s, Open Innovation has been embraced by 3 out of every 4 Fortune 500 companies and half of all SMEs — with excellent results.
In fact, 75% of those using Open Innovation say it’s been critical for tackling complex business issues, and just as many plan to increase their investments over the next two years (source).
So if you're struggling to solve a challenge that could redefine your operations or unlock new revenue streams, the missing piece might not be internal — it might be external.
Injecting fresh, outside-in thinking from other industries, sectors, and disciplines doesn’t just spark powerful new ideas — it can reduce development costs, mitigate risk, and accelerate implementation.
That’s the power of Outside-In Innovation.
Learn from an ecosystem of ‘Outsiders’
Our Services
Our proven co-creation approach combines Design Thinking with Systems Thinking to rapidly test assumptions and unearth new solutions to the most complex challenges in product and service development, operations transformation, and sustainability.
This is not Crowdsourcing, but a focused and scalable ideation workshop space that facilitates your team’s engagement with fresh thinking (and support) from outside its walls - including from other industries, sectors and disciplines.
Customers
Co-create solutions that genuinely address customer challenges—before they get to RFP.
Operations
Discover new technology and engineering solutions that transform your operations.
Sustainability
Tackle your most complex sustainability challenges by working across your entire value chain.
“Over many years, Chester and his team consistently brought fresh thinking from a wide range of industries and disciplines. Their approach is both stimulating and thought-provoking — and delivered within a method that creates a safe, open environment for boundary-free ideation.”
Phil Newman, VP Tailings Innovation, Anglo American
“Our sustainability goals depend on cross-sector collaboration, and Chester’s outside-in innovation model was exactly what we needed. We left not only with fresh insights and ideas, but also with a clear plan and strong partnerships to drive real progress.”
Simon Henzell-Thomas, Global Director Climate & Nature, Ingka Group (IKEA)
“Chester’s approach not only sparked breakthrough thinking in the short-term, but also established an innovation ecosystem with partners we then continued to collaborate with for long-term growth.”
Neil Kavanagh, Global Innovation Officer (ret), Woodside Energy
Our global team of experienced Open Innovation advisors has proudly supported clients from a range of industries with multi-year engagements, including:
