Innovation projects are described as uncertain and open processes, as the path from an initial idea to a not clearly definable marketable novelty cannot be planned in detail. The complexity of the innovation endeavor increases when heterogeneous, independent actors are involved. In this case, spatial distances, disciplinary specifics, and different perceptions of time must be overcome to achieve a necessary degree of coordination and commitment. Katrin Hahn discusses both theoretically and empirically the challenges of innovation collaborations between heterogeneous actors and highlights the limitations of existing explanatory approaches. The focus is on innovation collaborations between research-intensive and non-research-intensive partners, based on the three dimensions of space, time, and discourse.