The paper focuses on collaborative practices applied in new product development (NPD) in Russian firms. Interfirm collaboration is considered as a crucial factor of NPD success in the context of a transitional economy. The research questions are linked to analysis of Russian firms’ openness in interaction with external partners in relation to product innovation; whether these patterns are related to the type of product innovation; and to what extent these patterns reflect the strategic orientation of the firm. The empirical basis of the paper is a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 223 Russian firms. The results indicate differences in interfirm collaboration in regard to the firm’s NPD strategy, the type of product innovation, and the strategic aims of the firm.