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Innovation Challenge

12 Jun

Making Plastic Bottles from Sugarcane and Captured CO₂

by Dave Jones
in Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Innovation Software, Innovation Solutions, Technology Scouting
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A new study from the labs of Durham University's Dr. Andrew Smallbone lays out a pathway to making plastic bottles from organic waste material and CO2 captured from power plants. A thorough analysis of the economics shows this process could even be cost competitive for making things like plastic bottles. The process could start with something like the leftover plant material from sugarcane pressing. After a few reaction steps, which include the addition of some captured CO2 and some ethylene glycol produced from corn plants, you'd end up with a plastic polymer called polyethylene furandicarboxylate—otherwise known as PEF. Functionally, it's similar to the PET plastic used for water and soda bottles, denoted by the number 1 recycling symbol. Every step in the process has been at least demonstrated before, and some are quite common, so the paper doesn't spend much space on the chemistry. Instead, the researchers engage in life cycle analysis...

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Benchmarking Innovation Impact 2020
24 Oct

Insights from Today’s Innovation Leaders

by Stephanie Creech
in Enterprise Innovation, Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Innovation Solutions
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If you are lucky enough to be on an innovation team you understand the need to deliver successful innovative solutions. In this contemporary world assessing your progress and allocating resources is always a priority. Recently, Innovation Leader published the report, Benchmarking Innovation Impact 2020 offering an in-depth look at innovation strategies, investments, and approaches that drive successful innovation. ...

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Innovation Budget Planning Considerations
07 Nov

Innovation Budget Planning: 8 Things to Consider

by Stephanie Creech
in Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Open Innovation, Technology
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] As you start Innovation budget planning, here are eight things to consider:   When it comes to Innovation budget planning (and R&D), it is typically a laborious process that spans several months with business model canvases, business cases, proposals and pipeline discussions. I remember my inbox being flooded with documents, meeting requests and scientists pushing their research forward for my sponsorship. As Forbes magazine mentioned in an article last year “The presumption is that R&D spending is somehow connected to increased innovation, revenue growth and profits. However, leaders may be asking the wrong questions here. A focus on R&D spending might be a good way to gauge best practice within an industry, but it is not a measure of how innovative any company is. Having a great R&D process and achieving market success with the technologies we invent are two different things.” Nonetheless, budgets are the fact of corporate world and must be...

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Innovation Budget Planning Components Top 10
30 Oct

Innovation Budget Planning: 10 Key Components

by Stephanie Creech
in Enterprise Innovation, Innovation, Innovation Challenge, MedTech & Life Sciences Industry, Open Innovation, Technology
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As a follow-up to our recent blog on “What to Include in Your Innovation Budget” we have created an innovation budget planning components list with 10 key items you should include in your innovation budget for the coming year.   As you will notice as you go through the budget checklist, some of the key components include taking advantage of external resources. As Benjamin Franklin said, “time is money,” so keep in mind that innovation planning may go beyond optimizing internal resources and require you to invest in outside resources in order to speed up production time.     With that in mind, here are 10 key components that should be a part of your innovation budget plan:   Innovation Budget Planning Components #1 Outside Consulting Ask yourself: Do we have the skills and resources necessary for our project research and development? Can we bridge the gap with outside consulting resources?   Whether you need help developing innovation and best practices...

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creating a culture of innovation
02 Jan

Creating A Culture of Innovation Using Innovation Software

by Jennifer Creech
in Collaboration Software, Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Innovation Software, Open Innovation, Technology
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As companies increasingly recognize the importance of innovation and disruptive solutions to remain competitive, the big question remains: where does innovation come from and how a culture of innovation be cultivated? While it might certainly seem like a big question with a complicated answer, for most companies the solution within reach more than they could have ever imagined. Contrary to popular belief, existing employees account for the vast majority of innovative ideas and the right software can help unlock innovation while also shifting the entire company culture.   Companies who feel static, often look to outside sources for new ideas, but studies show that internal employees actually represent the best source of innovative ideas. The real challenge is creating a culture of innovation where employees feel free to share ideas and question the status quo. Here we have put together some of our most important findings regarding these issues in the article,...

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22 Oct

Top 10 Innovation Software Features For Your Innovation Challenge

by Dillon Carter
in Collaboration Software, Enterprise Innovation, Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Innovation Software, Technology
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Simply striving for innovation isn’t quite enough. Choosing innovation software features or a platform and seem to make things a bit more complicated while getting started. What should you look for in features? What’s important and what isn’t? All questions that we can easily assist you in answering and help you move forward quicker with your innovation strategy.   The right innovation software features are key to the success of your strategy. With the right software, your innovation efforts should feel streamlined, effortless and, ultimately, effective. There seems to be 10 features of interest that you’ll want to look for while choosing your software. Key Benefits of Innovation Management Software As you narrow down your options, it helps to know exactly how the right innovation management software can transform the way your organization approaches new ideas. Here’s a quick look at the major benefits you can expect: 1. Supercharged Collaboration (Without the Headaches!) A great innovation...

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02 Mar

5 Guiding Principles for Your Next Innovation Challenge

by Virginia Bush
in Innovation Challenge, Open Innovation
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Holding an open innovation challenge is an excellent way to ensure a continuous flow of fresh ideas to your organization. When launching your next challenge, consider these five guiding principles.     1. Cast a Wide Net to Find Unexpected Innovators   Let everyone know that you're on the hunt for ideas. You never know who is capable of coming up with a great innovation. Make the deadline and incentive for making submissions clear. Let the participants know what they will get for entering a winning innovation.   GE's CEO Jeff Immelt went all out when he launched the massive "Ecomagination Challenge," using a press conference, VC firms, and marketing to garner participation. This innovation challenge resulted in the largest public participation ever run with 100,000s of participants.     2. Make the Innovation Challenge Specific   The best ideas come from specific challenges. Make sure the contestants know the specific problems you're trying to solve. Set guidelines for any desired innovations...

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11 Jan

Encapsulation Delivery Technologies Innovation Challenge Launch

by Virginia Bush
in Innovation, Innovation Challenge, Open Innovation, Technology, Technology Challenge
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eZassi Launches Encapsulation Delivery Technologies Challenge We’ve launched our next open innovation challenge, Encapsulation Delivery Technologies. In partnership with our client, a global industry leader, we are seeking solvers to submit ideas and technology approaches to improve Delivery Technologies in the following ways: Controlled delivery Release mechanisms Encapsulation chemistry Enhancement of the properties of consumer/commercial goods through delivery technology All solvers are invited to submit their ideas through our open innovation challenge software portal at www.ezassi.com/innovation-challenges.  ...

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