Following a two steps research design based on inductive and deductive methods, researchers tent to understand the paths of emergence of coupled open innovation opportunities. The aim of this research is to provide rules to managers in order to support their open innovation thinking process. Firstly, this paper presents an emergent theoretical model based on the analysis of 20 cases, and aiming at analyzing the articulation of three boundary objects useful to develop coupled open innovation strategies and to deepen the understanding of the impetus of coupled open innovation. The three identified dimensions are Vision, Resources and Market. Secondly, according to the emergent model of coupled open innovation, researchers established technological rules and mechanisms dedicated to accompanying managers in the open innovation opportunities elicitation process. Those rules were tested with quasi-experimentations of the three identified rules of coupled open innovation opportunities elicitation. Examples are presented in this paper to illustrate the proof of concepts. The results of the tests show that those rules can accompany managers in their open innovation opportunities definition phase. This paper tends to lay foundations for further investigate paths toward coupled open innovation opportunities elicitation, especially in the aim of elaborating prescriptive rules to support managers innovative thinking.