Innovation processes are no longer the exclusive preserve of industrial research and development (R&D) departments. Nowadays, innovations also emerge in heterogeneous and non-strictly institutionally bound constellations, in which professional and non-professional actors work on shared, often time-consuming tasks and projects. In this context, open innovation processes, in the sense of crowd participation, are closely linked to internet-based interaction structures in order to implement and organise the processes. In particular, through the possibility of moving the processes to the cloud, i.e. to involve a multitude of actors regardless of location via information and communication technology (ICT) platforms and to utilise and further develop the services offered there (big data, innovation-supporting software as a service, infrastructures, etc.), innovation processes will in future become increasingly professionalised despite a continuing trend towards greater flexibility and openness.