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We are committed to an open and collaborative approach that helps us, our clients and our partners succeed.
High-impact innovations happen when there is a clear vision, along with open collaboration, to convert ideas and inventions into real solutions that support social and environmental sustainability. This strategic framework – or Innovation Ecosystem – is essential for meaningful innovation to occur. Only then can the net result of research and development deliver innovations that matter to the world.
The Innovation Ecosystem is our framework for innovation both inside NTT and across a network of highly engaged collaborative partners and customers.
Global partnerships create real impact
Global partnerships between strong companies that complement one another are critical for our Innovation Ecosystem. Successful global partnerships require immense trust and a long-term commitment
Our global partners are also companies with shared beliefs. We trust in one another in all aspects of our relationship. We do business with them as a demonstration of commitment, with the goal that our global partners will do the same.
These partnerships are much more than relationships of transactional commerce. We establish real one-to-one relationships with our partners, knowing that the level of engagement, commitment and trust must be personal and reciprocal to drive innovation. We are people working together toward a shared vision of a better world for all.
Isolation is an enemy of innovation
Beyond our global partnerships, we are a connector across many channels. Since a successful Innovation Ecosystem requires others who share similar points of view, we seek and have established partnerships via global consortiums – including the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) Global Forum, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
We also work closely with customers as part of our Innovation Ecosystem. If a company wants to build out a private network to run their business, it needs to be secure, safe and private. That’s a collaborative project we view as an opportunity to be innovative together. We believe in positive, strong partnerships with our customers, so if a collaboration isn’t working then we won’t force it to happen, or we will continue to work on it until it is mutually beneficial. There needs to be a shared perspective, trust and commitment to create the conditions necessary to spark innovation.
Accessible and transparent ecosystem
As a long-term innovator, it is important for NTT to share our vision and actual results. Every year NTT hosts the R&D Forum in Japan , with more than 100 exhibits offering demonstrations and information about the innovative work our team is undertaking. We want customers and others to be able to see our ongoing R&D and talk to the scientists leading the research so that we can learn from each other.
There are few, if any, other companies in the world that invite their customers and partners to come and meet their researchers in an open exhibition to discuss work they are focused on today. We do this because we believe in being transparent about the investments we are making to create a better future.
Building a better world
In everything we do at NTT, we are focused on contributing to society. As a company that is built to last, we know we must innovate for good to continue to grow. But we also know that desire for innovation does not guarantee innovation. It requires a vision and a plan, executed with focus and an open collaborative working model.
The Innovation Ecosystem is our strategic framework to ensure we are intentional about supporting new ideas and innovations, enabling growth, and optimizing our $3.6 billion annual R&D investment in a way that will make a real impact on people, prosperity and the planet for years to come.
