As organisations confront rapid technological change, persistent skills gaps and budgetary pressures, Learning and Development (L&D) teams and consequently their suppliers, are under increasing pressure to deliver transformative results. Strategic partnerships, especially those rooted in the concept of co-opetition, are emerging as a powerful lever for innovation and organisational agility. Co-opetition, a blend of cooperation and competition, enables organisations and providers to collaborate for shared goals while maintaining their competitive edge.
The Strategic Value of Partnerships in L&D
Strategic partnerships in L&D have become more critical as organisations seek to access external expertise, innovative technologies and scalable solutions. For in-house L&D teams, these alliances offer access to specialised knowledge and resources that can accelerate transformation in response to trends like hybrid work and the rise of AI-driven learning tools. For commercial providers, even partnerships with competitors can open up new markets, foster innovation and enhance credibility.
Understanding Co-opetition in L&D
Co-opetition refers to the practice of collaborating with competitors to achieve mutual benefits. In L&D, this might involve rival providers co-developing industry standards or organisations working with multiple vendors to integrate advanced technologies into their learning ecosystems.
This approach is not unique to L&D. For instance, in the automotive sector, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Toyota shared components to jointly develop a city car, demonstrating how competitors can combine resources for mutual gain, while preserving their unique market positions.
Benefits of Co-opetition in L&D
There are many reasons why co-opetition and partnering within L&D is becoming more commonplace. The benefits can include:
- Faster access to innovative solutions and expertise
- Enhanced credibility through collaborative projects
- Address L&D challenges collectively (e.g. skills gaps, GenAI adoption)
- Cost efficiency through shared resources
- Opportunities to learn from competitors and refine offerings
- Enhanced training outcomes and improved employee engagement, via diverse and fresh viewpoints and perspectives
- Expanded market reach and visibility (e.g. new sectors and geographical regions)
- Greater resilience and adaptability in a changing environment
- Enables L&D professionals to broaden their horizons, learn new practices and fill structural gaps in their organizations
Challenges and Considerations
Despite its promise, co-opetition presents several challenges:
- Intellectual Property (IP) Risks: Sharing ideas and resources can create concerns around ownership and confidentiality
- Competitive Tensions: Balancing collaboration with competition requires clear boundaries, trust, commitment and mutual benefit
- Cultural and Strategic Alignment: Differences in organisational culture and goals can complicate partnership dynamics
Successful co-opetition hinges on establishing trust, defining shared objectives and ensuring transparency. Clear agreements and ongoing communication are essential to navigate potential conflicts and maximise the benefits of collaboration.
Real World Applications and Case Studies
While examples of co-opetition in L&D are still emerging, notable initiatives demonstrate its potential and emphasises the transformative potential of such collaborations:
- Competitors Sponge Learning, Learning Pool, and Kineo are the principal organisations behind the development of the Adapt Learning project, including the Adapt Authoring Tool. This collaboration was established to pool expertise and resources in order to create and maintain a leading open-source tool for responsive digital learning.
- LXP vendor Thrive Learning, has forged a content partnership with Skillsoft, even though Skillsoft operates as a direct competitor with its own learning platform, Percipio.
- CrossKnowledge has actively collaborated with several industry peers, including competitors such as Elucidat and Lawpilots, to enhance digital learning offerings and standards:
- PADILEIA, led by Kings College London (UK) and working with the American University of Beirut (Lebanon), Al al-Bayt University (Jordan), Kiron Open Higher Education (Germany) and FutureLearn (UK), helped refugees in Jordan and Lebanon to access higher education through a unique online and blended learning initiative.
Content and Platform Partnerships on the Increase
An increasing trend in recent years has been partnerships between L&D content providers and platform (LXP, LMS) providers, even though the companies may compete directly or indirectly.
This has been driven by the increasing demand for integrated, scalable, and personalised learning solutions. Organisations are increasingly looking for seamless access to high-quality content within intuitive learning ecosystems, eliminating the need for multiple fragmented tools. Platform providers benefit from enriched offerings, boosting user engagement, while content providers gain broader distribution and deeper analytics on learner behaviour.
The surge in skills-based learning, corporate upskilling, and AI-driven recommendations has made interoperability a necessity, ensuring learners receive tailored experiences that align with evolving workforce needs. The trend reflects a shift toward holistic learning solutions, where technology enables agility, efficiency and measurable impact.
The boundaries between content and platform providers in L&D are becoming increasingly blurred, fuelling both direct and indirect competition as each seeks to capture a greater share of the rapidly evolving corporate learning market.
Conclusion
Co-opetition represents a progressive approach to strategic partnerships in L&D. By embracing collaboration, even with competitors, organisations and providers can drive mutual growth, address systemic challenges and deliver transformative learning experiences. As the L&D sector continues to evolve, those who proactively leverage co-opetition could well be best positioned to lead and innovate.