Combining Disruptive Innovation and Open Innovation: Evidence based on case studies of Chinese latecomers

By focusing on relations between latecomer disruptors and incumbents that go beyond competitive interactions, we give a fresh perspective to the Disruptive Innovation literature. This paper uses case study to investigate Disruptive Innovation cases in China´s high-tech industries and identifies unique situations where both latecomer disruptors and incumbents can benefit from cooperation. This kind of Open Innovation may enable latecomer disruptors to catch up with or surpass the industry leaders and it allows incumbents to seize new Disruptive Innovation opportunities. Our analysis suggests that the decision whether or not to combine Disruptive Innovation and Open Innovation depends on the presence of complementary assets and intellectual property.