Co-Development Partnerships
These structures mirror biological coordination mechanisms - bidirectional communication, shared investment decisions, adaptive resource allocation.
Neither party could develop optimal solutions alone - customers lack adhesive chemistry expertise; Henkel lacks deep knowledge of customer-specific applications.
Mycorrhizal fungi and plants engage in continuous co-development. As environmental conditions change - drought stress, nutrient fluctuations, pathogen pressure - both partners adjust their contributions. Plants alter carbohydrate allocation based on fungal nutrient delivery. Fungi redirect hyphal growth toward areas where the plant needs more phosphorus or nitrogen. This dynamic collaboration requires communication - chemical signals flowing bidirectionally - enabling partners to coordinate investments and responses.
Business Application of Co-Development Partnerships
Henkel's automotive partnerships formalize co-development through multi-year agreements: joint governance committees, shared project teams, intellectual property frameworks, and milestone-based funding. These structures mirror biological coordination mechanisms - bidirectional communication, shared investment decisions, adaptive resource allocation. ASML and Zeiss jointly invested over €1 billion developing EUV mirror systems through similar structures.