This paper aims at investigating the role of makers in open innovation networks by focusing on whether and how knowledge leaks occur in open innovation networks with makers. In the last years, makers have been widely recognized as conducive to innovation and growth in different fields through a novel and open approach. However, little is known about the role played by makers and, more specifically, about the flow of unintended knowledge – i.e. knowledge leaks. Data have been collected by iteratively deploying a snowball sampling technique in an Italian high-tech cluster with a dense and heterogeneous ecosystem of makers. Data analysis relied on social network analysis method and techniques. Findings shed light on a totally unexplored phenomenon and suggest intriguing implications both for theory and practice on whether and how knowledge is exchanged in innovation networks and how knowledge leaks occur.

本文旨在研究制造商在开放式创新网络中的作用，重点关注与制造商之间的开放式创新网络中是否以及如何发生知识泄漏。在过去的几年中，制造商已被公认为通过新颖和开放的方式有利于不同领域的创新和增长。但是，对于制造者所扮演的角色，尤其是对意外知识流（即知识泄漏）的了解很少。通过在具有密集且异构的制造商生态系统的意大利高科技集群中反复部署雪球采样技术来收集数据。数据分析依赖于社交网络分析方法和技术。