WE ARE LIVING in a world that is changing at a rapid pace. Globalization and technological development are bringing about many benefits. However, the challenges we meet are often complex, inter-connected and systemic, so-called wicked problems. The challenges are no longer local or one-dimensional.

Addressing wicked problems requires new rules and new ways of thinking that are determined by collaboration, inclusiveness and openness. These global challenges call for updated models that both help to enhance involvement of multiple stakeholders in co-innovation and value co-creation, and help stakeholders to benefit from them.

The set of articles within this book demonstrate how such concepts as multi-stakeholders partnership, co-production of research and participatory Research, Development and Innovation take place in practice. The articles epitomise how new collaborations, dialogues and partnerships are being formed among academic, public and private partners, and civic society. As the described collaboration is characterised by impactful interdisciplinary and creative methodological experimentation, this publication seeks to engage a wide audience of researchers, educators, policy-makers, practitioners and others with an interest in combining collaborative academic, business and public expertise.

These articles introduce research results, methodological considerations and practitioners’ experiences on multi-stakeholder collaboration allowing for and benefiting from open research, innovation and educational processes. They make apparent the wide range of practices, tools and benefits of co-creation in the context of Open innovation, Open science and higher education. The articles shed light on the prerequisites of purposeful multi-stakeholder partnership and collaboration in different thematic and regional contexts.