Open innovation: it all starts with people

What does open innovation mean and how is Markas embracing it?

'Open innovation' is an approach according to which collaboration with external stakeholders is essential to drive improvements and qualitative changes within a company or the business itself. Specifically for Markas, 'open innovation' translates into making employees the real protagonists of corporate change and developing a constant dialogue with various external players such as universities, schools, agencies, partners and research institutes. That's why a cross-functional team has been created; to pursue exactly that. 

With regard to collective catering, Markas has developed several projects promoting this approach. A good example is undoubtedly 'Markas Idea Days'. In the framework of this initiative, Markas' dieticians, chefs, area managers and designers presented new ideas for product and service innovation. Another example is definitely 'Students & Company Sprint ', an event organized by NOI Techpark  in collaboration with the Free University of Bozen/Bolzano  in which Markas took part to discuss directly with students the university canteen of the future.