HomeResearch & Knowledgeback to Homeback to Research & KnowledgeRoche Diagnostics: Accelerating innovationback to

Case Study

Roche Diagnostics: Accelerating innovation

9 pages

May 2020

Reference: IMD-7-2163

In 2018, Roche Diagnostics created an open innovation platform through a global Silicon Valley based eco-system venture fund, Plug & Play to have access to a screened portfolio of start-ups in the digital health care solution domain. This enabled the company to create links between strategic priorities (point of care solutions, molecular diagnostics, diabetes care and tissue diagnostics) and start-ups focusing on digital healthcare innovations. There were a number of challenges to overcome – ranging from acceptance of the business to work with start-ups, setting legal frameworks that would allow collaboration between the business and the start-ups and ultimately converting the results of the three-months collaboration projects into ongoing contracts that would ultimately lead to new solutions that could be offered in the market. While the initial collaboration between the business and the start-ups over shorter periods of time worked, the scaling of the collaboration and the establishing of the business model for joint value creation still had to be worked out.

Learning Objective

The goal is to learn about how to successfully create an innovation ecosystem that enables start-ups to work with large multinational firms on innovation activities that will ultimately create value.

Keywords

Strategy, Open Innovation, Start-up, Economic System, Partnering, Acceleration, Venture Fund

Settings

World/global, Switzerland
Roche Holding, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals
2018-2020

Available Languages

English

IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email info@thecasecentre.org

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email custserv@hbsp.harvard.edu

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email ng_nicole@nucha.ac.jp

IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Keep reading

Article

Optimizing omnichannel assortments and inventory provisions under the multichannel attraction model

Assortment optimization presents a complex challenge for retailers, as it depends on numerous decision factors. Changes in assortment can result in demand redistribution with multi-layered consequences. This complexity is even more pronounced for ...

General Management

By Andrey Vasilyev, Sebastian Maier and Ralf W. Seifert

in European Journal of Operational Research

August 2025, vol. 324, no. 3, pp. 799-813, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2025.01.035

Article

The anatomy of family business conflict

Understanding conflict in family businesses is a complex but essential study area for practitioners and academics. To enhance theoretical precision and provide practical insights, this article presents a comprehensive framework of family business ...

Customer Centricity Family Business

By Marco Mismetti, Barbara Del Bosco, Cristina Bettinelli and Alfredo De Massis

in Journal of Family Business Strategy

June 2025, vol. 16, no. 2, 100660, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfbs.2025.100660

Article

Boundary conditions for organizations in the Anthropocene: A review of the planetary boundaries framework 10 years on

We systematically review business research concerning the planetary boundaries framework: A natural science framework that identifies nine Earth system boundaries that govern the safe operating space for humanity. Ten years after the introduction ...

Sustainability

By Amanda Williams, Paolo Perego and Gail Whiteman

in Journal of Management Studies

June 2025, vol. 62, no.4, pp. 1811-1846, https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.13150

Article

When it comes to trust, your actions speak louder than words

LeadershipWhen it comes to trust, your actions speak louder than words by Shelley Zalis Published 16 April 2025 in Leadership • 3 min readDownloadSave People don’t work for companies. They work for leaders they trust. And that trust is being teste...

in I by IMD

Article

When it comes to trust, your actions speak louder than words

People don’t work for companies. They work for leaders they trust. And that trust is being tested like never before.

Navigating the fine line: how businesses can avoid ‘pinkwashing’

Companies must stay the course on DE&I to prove to employees and other stakeholders that their values are non-negotiable.

in I by IMD

Article

Why Companies Must Stay the Course on DE&I

Staying committed to DE&I shows employees and stakeholders that your company’s values are clear, consistent, and non-negotiable — even in tough times.

Diversity and Equity and Inclusion

By Luca Condosta

in I by IMD

Article

Beyond chatbots: Navigating AI’s industrial transformation

AI's true revolution isn't in chatbots but in transforming industrial operations through dark factories and predictive maintenance. This will require leaders to balance technological advancement with responsible societal impact.

in I by IMD

Article

Navigating AI's industrial transformation - Beyond Chatbots

Toby Walsh reminds us that navigating AI's industrial transformation goes beyond chatbots—impacting factories, systems, and society.

Artificial Intelligence

By Toby Walsh

in I by IMD

Article

Well-being at work - Tackling The Crisis

Companies are waking up to the reality that well-being is a business necessity, not a luxury. Take the quiz below to gauge the scale of the problem, and read on to see how your organization can help.

By Andrew Sharman and Susan Goldsworthy

in I by IMD

Optimizing omnichannel assortments and inventory provisions under the multichannel attraction model

By Andrey Vasilyev Sebastian Maier and Ralf W. Seifert
in European Journal of Operational Research August 2025, vol. 324, no. 3, pp. 799-813, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2025.01.035

Summary

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications