Monthly Archives: June 2009
Dr. Peter Diamandis, Chairman/CEO of Xprize Foundation kicked off the incentive2innovate conference at the United Nations with the promise that incentivized innovation and open innovation would be the focus for the two days of the conference.Incentivized innovation is not just about winning the prize, but about driving innovation beyond the goal of the contest – beyond the attainment of that goal to create tangible benefits for society.Dr. Diamandis talked about how the teams spent $100+ million competing to win the original $10 million Xprize, and about how over $1 billion has been invested in the private space industry (thanks in part to the $10 million Xprize). They then showed an Xprize video.Matt Bross, CEO of BT Innovate took the stage and talked about how commercial success and corporate social responsibility are no longer in conflict. He then went on talk about how it is difficult for us as a people … Continue reading
I had the opportunity to interview Charlie Brown of Ashoka’s Changemakers at the incentive2innovate conference this week at the United Nations in New York City. You can see the video interview here:Ashoka’s Changemakers is a community of action where people can collaborate on solutions. The community provides the platform for people to attack projects one idea at a time as they attempt to solve the world’s most pressing social problems. The goal of the community is to create a community of people willing to share solutions that have value as is or that can be built upon to create leverage beyond the benefits created by the original contributor.Community members talk about issues, share stories, mentor, advise, and encourage each other in group forums. Ashoka’s Changemakers also partner with other foundations to offer challenges to the community.Their mantra is “Everyone is a Changemaker.”What do you think?Braden Kelley (@innovate on Twitter)
I had the privilege of interviewing Dean Kamen of DEKA Research and FIRST fame at the incentive2innovate conference this week at the United Nations in New York City. You can find the video of our conversation here:I was pleasantly surprised that Dean Kamen draws the same distinction between invention and innovation that I do. We had a great conversation about the challenges of taking a technological invention and overcoming cultural resistance to achieve a true innovation. Dean Kamen spoke about how really important technology inventions take twenty years or longer to be accepted by society. We also spoke about the importance of efforts like FIRST and of making math and science fun and mysterious for kids, and about how the pace of technological invention is speeding up but potentially the ability and willingness of people to absorb it is slowing down.Please check out the video and let me know what … Continue reading
I had the opportunity to interview Neil Blakesley of BT Americas at the incentive2innovate conference this week at the United Nations in New York City. You can see the video interview here:Here are the questions I asked him:What do you see as the most exciting innovation in telecommunications to reach businesses in the next 12-18 months?What have been some of the greatest successes that BT has had outside of the UK and how did innovation play a role?What do you feel is unique about BT’s approach to collaboration and innovation?Do you feel that incentives have a real impact in stimulating innovation?The biggest takeaway for me was that even if you design the greatest approach to internal or external open innovation ever seen by mankind, it will still be important to try and keep it fresh for people so that participation can be sustained.What do you think?Braden Kelley (@innovate on Twitter)
I had the opportunity to interview InnoCentive founder Dr. Alpheus Bingham, PdD and InnoCentive CEO Dwayne Spradlin at the incentive2innovate conference this week at the United Nations in New York City. You can see the video interview here:Here are the questions I asked them:In your view – What are the greatest strengths of the open innovation movement?Do you feel that open innovation will face its own s-curve of declining interest and decreasing submission quality over time?Where do you think the greatest opportunities lie for open innovation in the future?Open innovation is a fascinating topic, and it will be interesting to see whether or not companies are able to adapt to expanding innovation beyond their own payroll. Doing so will require companies to master a new competency, and potentially organizations that do not adapt to the new potential of partnering to innovate will be disrupted by new entrants who do. What … Continue reading
I came across this video of Sir Ken Robinson speaking about how schools kill creativity.He contends that more emphasis should be placed on teaching creativity in schools, and that teaching creativity should be as important as teaching literacy. Here are some of his other key thoughts and insights:The great thing about children is that if they don’t know, at least they’ll have a go – “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.” – Sir Ken RobinsonUnfortunately, by the time we become adults, most of us lose this capacity.”We don’t grow into creativity, we grow out of it, or we are educated out of it.” – Sir Ken RobinsonWe are educating people out of their creative capacities.Every society has the same heirarchy of educational subjects:Mathematics and LanguagesHumanitiesArtsArt and MusicDrama and DanceAs children grow up we start to educate them from the waist up, … Continue reading
