Many people have respect for that word. But let's taste it. Can it be this simple?
An innovation is a creative idea that is realized to create value.
An innovation can be, for example, a new product, a new service, or a new improved process. An innovation is often born out of research, knowledge, or just plain curiosity. If an innovation is to be realized so that it delivers value, it requires not only implementation power and ability, but also the right timing, the right team, a viable idea, a functioning business model, control of external factors and capital. There are a lot of obstacles along the way.
A barrier can be a gap in knowledge, prejudices or ingrained patterns, or perhaps missing out on an upcoming trend. A clear example of the above is the wheeled suitcase. The example is highlighted by Katrin Marcal in her book "Inventing the World". It has become a classic example of how an innovation can take far too long, because an innovation requires society to broadly recognize its usefulness. The idea of the wheeled suitcase was presented with the response that it was a good idea but that no one would buy it. A suitcase was carried, it didn't go on wheels, until the buyer at Macy's in New York finally took the plunge and brought in the suitcase that "glides along".
But what can we learn from this? Well, that we often tend to miss the simple solutions. The more obvious a solution is, the less likely we are to find it using complicated methods. Often we seek the difficult and more complex. It took five thousand years (!) before we figured out how to put wheels on a suitcase. If we de-dramatize what innovation is, maybe we can get more creative ideas to create value.
We asked the question "What does innovation mean to you?" via our digital Innovation Panel. 48 percent answered "Innovative thinking in general terms", which we find gratifying. It doesn't have to be more complicated than that, even though we at Dalarna Science Park stick to the definition above.
A report published by Sweden Food Arena shows that Dalarna is top three in food innovation in the country, something we are of course very proud of, especially as we at Dalarna Science Park work with many food companies. What is a bit striking about our innovative entrepreneurs on the food side is that they do not come from the food industry. They come from other professions, but they all have a genuine interest in solving a social challenge, their ideas help to make the world a little better. This strong interest allows them to acquire the knowledge needed to accelerate their innovation. They obtain this knowledge through their own networks and the networks and processes we at Dalarna Science Park can offer. This is how innovations can be realized. It should never again have to take five thousand years.
You are welcome to Dalarna Science Park with your idea!
