A Partner for Your Innovation

Partner for Your Innovation Since 2013, Cooper Standard has managed its internal innovation portfolio using our i³ (Imagine, Initiate and Innovate) stage-gate process. In 2019, with the inception of CS Open Innovation we expanded this process to external partners through our Open i³ process. Open i³ offers opportunities for you to engage with our leading experts.

CS Open Innovation leverages Open i³ as the preferred partner for innovation with startups, universities and suppliers. We understand the unique needs of early technology companies and employ a simple engagement process geared to meet the needs of our prospective partners.

Technical Services

CS Open Innovation is located at Cooper Standard’s state-of-the-art Global Technology Center in the Metro Detroit area of Michigan. We also operate a network of technology centers throughout the world in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and South America. With comprehensive capabilities for materials development, these facilities support our innovation partners in a variety of technical services including:

Material formulation and analysis
Compounding
Rubber and plastic extrusion
Extrusion with metallic inserts or knitted fiber reinforcements
Injection molding
Calendaring
3D printing with various technologies
Tooling design and fabrication
Testing and validation

Funding for Research and Pilots

CS Open Innovation engages with select startups and external labs to explore new technologies and pursue industrialization. Funding is limited and selection of projects is based on relevance to our product and process technology strategies, along with assessment of feasibility and economics. Cooper Standard does not typically provide seed or venture funding.