IdeaConnection Innovation
BLOG

The Future of Healthcare Innovation

Mar-25-11 By Aminda
What place does open innovation have in the healthcare industry? Here are two examples of how innovators are working to transform the industry on a global scale.
Drug Development
A couple of doctors recently posted a thought-provoking article suggesting that drug development companies could benefit from innovation initiatives such as done by Procter & Gamble’s “Connect and Develop’’ open initiative. “A thoughtfully constructed open innovation platform built around existing medications could offer enormous value in the development of new therapeutics,” they said. Such efforts are blocked by regulators, not entirely to our detriment, according to one commentator, who predicts that “a lot of nonsense would emerge in such online communities, and some of it would actually cause harm.”

Lifesaving Networks

Mar-23-11 By Aminda
Innovators are committed to making the world a better place, from developing energy-saving technologies to designing creative ways to engage customers in corporate social responsibility. A couple new grassroots efforts show how effective some simple initiatives can be in saving lives.
Helping Citizens Help Each Other
There’s a hero in all of us, according to a California fire department who this year launched a free iPhone app called fire department that could make heroes out of many more of us. Users trained in CPR can sign up to be notified if someone nearby is a victim of sudden cardiac arrest and may require CPR. If the cardiac emergency is in a public place, the application, using sophisticated GPS technology, will alert citizens in the vicinity of the need for CPR. The application also directs these citizen rescuers to the exact location of the closest public access Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Global Innovation Centers

Mar-22-11 By Aminda
Several new innovation centers have either been open or announced, with the goal of stimulating innovation in diverse countries and in varied industries.
Technology in Canada
This month, Toronto based technology consultants, UNIS LUMIN, launched a national Innovation Office, dedicated to exploring and analyzing trends in business and technology, and developing roadmaps to open innovation opportunities for companies pursuing leadership positions in their industries. According to a company press release, the center is designed to a place where customers and UNIS LUMIN to validate and develop fresh business strategies with the potential to drive competitive advantage and differentiation. A cross-section of business partners have been invited to participate in an inaugural Innovation forum, to learn, debate and exchange strategic ideas.

Aiding Recovery in Japan

Mar-21-11 By Aminda
For the past week, the world has been fixed on news of the devastation in Japan; the initial damage from the earthquake and the subsequent nuclear threat. In addition to traditional aid, several innovative technology-based efforts have been undertaken to help the country in this time of crisis.

Patent Wisdom

Mar-18-11 By Aminda
A previous post discussed the process individual patent owners could take when looking to sell or license their patents. Legal issues are also a big concern for companies endeavoring for increased openness.  Here are some words of wisdom from the experts.  

Don’t Ignore Licensing
Patent lawyer Patrick Anderson writes that in order to embrace open innovation, businesses need to “embrace technology licensing as a legitimate business in and of itself, and dropping the ridiculous notion that owners of IP shouldn’t receive credit for innovations they don’t personally commercialize.” Particularly for small businesses, licensing has the advantage of requiring less up front cash and putting some of the risk on the patent owner.

Capitalizing on Customer Service

Mar-17-11 By Aminda
“If you build it, they will come.” The statement might be one of the biggest myths in today’s crowded business environment. Most businesses must follow a careful process to bring the right product to the right market and then follow through with exceptional customer service that will both encourage repeat purchase and incentivize new customers.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a valuable skill for any innovator looking to share their idea with the world. “Just as you don't have a performance without an audience, you can't have innovation without customers”, according to an HBR article. Here are some tools.

Join the Search for ET

Mar-16-11 By Aminda
The SETI Institute (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) is calling for alien hunters around the world to join the search for intelligent life in the universe. Last week, the institute launched the beta test of Android app, SetiQuest Explorer, allowing smart phone users to help crunch data coming from outer space
The crowdsourced initiative will have volunteers looking for patterns in the fuzzy noise from radio signals picked up by the Allen Telescope Array in Northern California. The telescopes are trained on stars beyond the Solar System that are though to possibly be able to sustain life.

Highlights from South by Southwest

Mar-15-11 By Aminda
For those unable to attend the South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Texas this week, here are a few notable quotes and highlights. The five day conference is the largest technology/Internet conference in the United States, features a trade show, networking events and an extensive educational program.
 Rebooting Iceland
A YouTube clip shares highlights from an inspiring panel of young Icelandic visionaries who have been part of a citizen group working to shape a new national constitution for the country recovering from a 2008 economic collapse. The process started in 2009, when a group of 1,500 citizens, representing a subset of voices from the entire nation, convened for a day. The event, based on Agile methods and crowdsourcing theory, resulted in a coherent set of values, vision and ideas. A second assembly was held in 2010 as a preparatory step in the development of a new national constitution. Inspired by open-source processes and leaning heavily on social media technologies, these citizens are rapidly prototyping new forms of democracy utilizing the web and open innovation. They are rethinking Iceland’s role in the world; determined for the country to be seen not only a tiny island but as a new developer of democracy.

Governments Making Gains

Mar-14-11 By Aminda
Governments across the globe continue to make a difference by embracing Open Innovation strategies. Here are a few stories.
UK University IP
The Universities of Bristol, Glasgow and King’s College London have won £80,000 in funding from the Intellectual Property Office – the government body responsible for granting Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom – to pioneer easy access to their intellectual assets.
According to a University representative, the pioneering project will advance the use of IP created by the three Universities by innovative growth companies and offers a new way for Universities to contribute to the growth required in the UK economy.

U.S. Patent System Overhaul

Mar-11-11 By Aminda
This week, after a six year effort, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to overhaul the country’s patent system. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the bill shifts the patent process to a first-to-file system from a first-to-invent system. It also allows the patent office to set its own funding, allowing entrepreneurs to pay an extra fee to fast-track the process. An effort to narrow damages for patent infringement was dropped prior to the vote.
The changes are aimed at reducing a growing backlog of some 700,000 patent applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, by encouraging filers to prioritize the innovations they need to get to market first by choosing the ones worth the extra fee. However, many fear it may punish smaller firms and independent investors who lack the resources to compete under the new system.