The open innovation paradigm can be understood as the antithesis of the traditional vertical integration model where internal R&D activities lead to developed products that are then distributed by the firm. If pressed to express its definition in a single sentence, open innovation is the use of purposive inflows and outflows of knowledge to accelerate internal innovation, and expand the markets for external use of innovation, respectively. Open innovation is an paradigm that assumes that firms can and should use external ideas as well as internal ideas, and internal and external paths to market, as they look to advance their technology. Open innovation processes combine internal and external ideas into architectures and system. Open innovation processes utilize business models to define the requirements for these architectures and system. The business model utilizes both external and internal ideas to create value, while defining internal mechanisms to claim some portion of that value. Open innovation assumes that internal ideas can also be taken to market though external channels, outside the current business of the firm, to generate additional value.