More than half of European businesses consider partnerships with startups essential to their Artificial Intelligence (AI) plans, according to a report by Sopra Steria.
In a groundbreaking European-wide study, Sopra Steria and Sopra Steria Next have published the "Open Innovation Report 2025," shedding light on the growing trend of corporations and startups collaborating to accelerate the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The report, issued by AuthorCision PR Newswire, highlights key insights regarding collaboration between large corporations and AI startups. According to the study, mature, well-managed collaborations are becoming more successful through strategic structuring, clear objectives, and dedicated innovation teams, enabling faster experimentation and scaling of AI solutions.
Seven in ten corporates view startups as "vital" to their AI strategies, with 57% of these organisations having run AI-focused Open Innovation projects. Notably, 6 out of 10 of these AI-focused projects are within generative AI.
The report underscores the growing trend of enterprises and public organisations collaborating with start-ups to drive AI adoption. Improved success rates are evident, with 65% of partnerships now meeting intended objectives, up from 58% in 2023. This reflects increasing maturity and experience in managing open innovation ecosystems.
More corporations are moving beyond one-off experiments towards treating open innovation as a strategic, structured process. This involves intentional setup, clear measurable goals, and consistent management of collaborations with startups. The report identifies three critical practices enabling better outcomes: defining clear, measurable objectives for each initiative, assigning ownership of open innovation projects to dedicated teams, and adopting phased collaboration models starting with experimentation and progressing toward scaling.
Infrastructure development is another key aspect of these structured approaches, reducing risks and aligning expectations, creating smoother pilot-to-scale transitions. Leading European corporate innovation programs demonstrate these patterns, signalling more scalable and repeatable success in partnerships with AI startups.
Fabrice Asvazadourian, CEO of Sopra Steria Next, stated that Open Innovation is no longer a tactical option but a strategic imperative for companies to unlock real impact in AI-driven transformation. Once a strategic advantage, partnerships between large companies and startups are now essential for maintaining a competitive edge.
The year 2024 marked a turning point in the digital revolution, driven by the rapid rise of AI. As such, collaboration between established corporations and innovative startups has become a cornerstone of digital transformation strategies.
For media inquiries regarding the Open Innovation Report 2025, please contact Laura Bandiera at [email protected]. The full press release can be viewed in its entirety at this link: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/7-in-10-european-companies-judge-startup-collaboration-as-vital-to-their-ai-strategy-reveals-a-sopra-steria-report-302465287.html
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The press release was distributed by Cision PR Newswire, and further information about Sopra Steria can be found on their website: https://www.prnewswire.com/companies/sopra-steria/
The Open Innovation Report 2025 points out that 6 out of 10 AI-focused projects involve generative AI, demonstrating a notable trend in collaboration between corporations and startups. In addition, the report emphasizes that improved success rates are seen in structured partnerships, with 65% of collaborations now meeting their objectives. This underscores the strategic importance of such collaborations in the field of artificial intelligence.
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