Knowledge Management as the Base of the Open Innovation Process

The purpose of this article is to analyze the relevance of Open Innovation, based on Knowledge Management carried out by SMES companies in Colombia. Likewise, it seeks to contextualize the reader and/or entrepreneur regarding new concepts and paradigms that imply the era of knowledge, such as Open Innovation. To carry out this study, the Google Form tool was used, which allowed for a survey directed at the owners and / or managers of existing SMES in Colombia and researchers at the District University; this in order to demonstrate the knowledge on the part of those involved and the way to carry out aspects such as Knowledge Management, innovation and the articulation of these through external alliances, in the organization. The surveyed actors consider that innovation is important and should impact socially. Most companies carry out some type of innovation in their organizations, however, much of them still do not know the term of Open Innovation and / or fear of opening organizational knowledge to an external entity. The entity that generates the most confidence among entrepreneurs to start with Open Innovation is the university Manufacturing SMES can take advantage of the main features of Open Innovation that characterize companies in developed countries, integrating it with knowledge management, or developing AI processes applying the MEMFI methodological framework. In this way, it will strengthen its relationships and not only generating individual but collective benefits with which it will be allies, obtaining greater benefits and greater growth at the individual organizational level.