Hangout #50 | Let's Talk OPEN INNOVATION
- Date
- 2026-03-25
- Location
- Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Host
- Startup Portugal
About this event
Open innovation sounds like a big idea, but in practice it comes down to one simple question: how do better ideas move between people, teams, and communities to create real progress? Hangout #50 | Let's Talk OPEN INNOVATION is a chance to explore that question in person with people who care about collaboration, experimentation, and building stronger connections around new ideas. This milestone edition brings the above-beyond-hangouts community together in Porto for a focused, social conversation at the intersection of innovation and human connection. If you enjoy thoughtful discussion, meeting curious people, and leaving with sharper thinking than you arrived with, this meetup is built for you. What Is This? This event is an in-person community hangout centered on open innovation: the practice of learning, creating, and solving problems across boundaries rather than in isolation. Instead of treating innovation as something that only happens inside one company, one team, or one discipline, the conversation opens up space for fresh perspectives, outside input, and collaborative momentum. As part of the above-beyond-hangouts series, the format is designed to feel welcoming and conversational rather than formal or overly scripted. Expect a meetup atmosphere where networking and discussion go hand in hand, giving people room to share experiences, test ideas, and connect around common interests. This is not a lecture-heavy event built around passive listening. It is a social, community-driven gathering where the value comes from the people in the room: what they have seen, what they are building, what challenges they are facing, and what they are still trying to figure out. Because the topic is broad and highly relevant across sectors, the event creates a useful middle ground between a casual meetup and a focused professional discussion. That balance makes it easier to have meaningful conversations without the pressure of a highly formal setting. What to Expect The evening begins with the natural first step of any strong meetup: meeting people. Early conversations will help set the tone, giving attendees a chance to introduce themselves, share what brought them there, and quickly identify common ground with others in the room. From there, the event will center on open discussion around the theme of open innovation. Depending on how the conversation develops, this may include topics such as how organizations collaborate externally, how communities exchange knowledge, how ideas move from concept to action, and what makes innovation efforts more open, effective, and inclusive. You can expect a mix of activities and interactions such as: Informal networking with people from different backgrounds Group conversation around the meaning and practice of open innovation Shared perspectives on collaboration, experimentation, and problem-solving Idea exchange in a setting that encourages curiosity rather than polished answers Social connection that continues beyond a single discussion The tone is likely to be interactive and participant-led, which means the experience will be shaped by who shows up and what they bring. That is part of the point. Events like this work best when people come ready to contribute a question, a challenge, a story, or a point of view. Why Attend If you are interested in innovation, it is easy to spend a lot of time reading, planning, or talking within the same familiar circles. This meetup offers something different: a chance to pressure-test your thinking in a live setting with other people who are also curious about how new ideas emerge and spread. Open innovation becomes more useful when it is discussed with people outside your immediate context. Someone from a different industry, community, or way of working may frame a problem in a way you have not considered before. That kind of cross-pollination is often where practical insights begin. Attending can help you: Broaden your perspective on how innovation happens across organizations and communities Meet thoughtful people who care about collaboration and new ideas Explore real-world challenges in a more open, less performative setting Find language for your own work if you are trying to explain, improve, or rethink how ideas are developed Strengthen your local network in Porto through genuine conversation rather than rushed introductions There is also value in the simple act of showing up in person. In a time when many conversations stay online or remain transactional, a face-to-face meetup creates more room for nuance, trust, and unexpected connection. That matters when the subject is innovation, because innovation rarely grows in isolation. Practical Details Hangout #50 | Let's Talk OPEN INNOVATION takes place in person in Porto, Portugal on Wednesday, March 25 at 5:30 PM GMT. The in-person format makes this especially well suited for people who want real interaction, not just content consumption. Because this is a meetup and social gathering, it makes sense to arrive ready for conversation. You do not need a formal pitch or expert-level background to participate well. What helps most is a willingness to listen, ask smart questions, and engage with people whose experiences may be different from your own. A few useful ways to prepare: Bring a clear sense of what interests you about open innovation Be ready to introduce yourself in a concise, natural way Think of one example, challenge, or question you would be happy to discuss Leave space for spontaneity, since the best conversations are often the ones you did not plan for If you are based in Porto or will be there on the day, this is a strong opportunity to plug into a community-oriented conversation with substance behind it. Come for the theme, stay for the people, and expect to leave with new contacts, new angles, and a more grounded sense of what open innovation can look like in practice.
Who should attend
This is for people who enjoy thoughtful conversation, real networking, and exploring how ideas grow through collaboration. - You work in **innovation, strategy, product, startups, research, or community building** and want to hear how others approach openness, collaboration, and experimentation. - You are the kind of person who likes asking, **"How could this work better if more people were involved?"** and want a space to test that instinct with others. - You want to **meet people in Porto** who are curious, engaged, and interested in more than surface-level small talk. - You are building something, improving something, or rethinking something, and you would benefit from **fresh perspectives outside your usual circle**. - You do not need to be an expert in open innovation, but you should be ready to **participate, listen well, and contribute your own point of view**. - You value events that feel both **social and substantive**: relaxed enough to make genuine connections, focused enough to leave with useful ideas. If you like community-driven meetups where the conversation matters as much as the networking, you will likely feel at home here.