ISPIM2017-presentation "Accelerating innovation in research context" of Kaisa Still & Maaria Nuutinen

1. VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND LTD
Accelerating innovation in
research context
Kaisa Still and Maaria Nuutinen
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

2. 10/04/2017 2
Innovation acceleration approached in the
context of startups and internal startups

3. 10/04/2017 3
A description of the journey

4. 10/04/2017 4
Validated in Finland and Belgium
Finnish startups could
easily place themselves to
the continuum of the
process
Used in European startup
masterclasses

5. 10/04/2017 5
In the background
Technology transfer from universities and other public research
organizations is increasingly viewed to play a significant role in new
venture creation, growth of existing firms, and new job creation.
Reaping the benefits of product and service innovation—an in a timely,
successful manner, continues to be a challenge (European paradox)
European Commission has placed renewed emphasis on the
conversion of Europe’s scientific expertise into marketable products and
services, through seeking to use public sector intervention to stimulate
the private sector and to remove bottlenecks which stop such ideas
reaching the market (Eurostat 2016).

6. 10/04/2017 6
Understanding the research context
The traditional project goal is
exploration; in startups it is
exploitation (Nelson 2014).
It has been stated that ideas
are generated for their own
sake, and their
implementation is
considered less important or
irrelevant (Winter 2010).
In this so-called non-
commercial environment,
speed has proven to matter
(Lockett et al 2005).

7. 10/04/2017 7
Some literature and examples about innovation
in research context
Proof-of-
concept, proof-
of-value,
proof-of-use
(Nunamaker
1991)
Technology-push
and market-pull
(Autio 1997) with
catalyzing impact
Doing, Using and
Interacting (DIU)
model, which relies
on informal
processes of learning
and experience –
based know-how
(Jensen et al 2007).
Universities moving
from their traditional
roles of research,
teaching, and
knowledge
dissemination to a
more advanced role
of creating spinoffs
and promoting
academic
entrepreneurship
(Pattnaik and Panday
2014).
Public research
organizations
(PROs) play a
crucial role in R&D
and innovation
across a wide range
of industries
(Steinmo and
Rasmussen 2016)
The five disciplines has been developed at SRI
International (Carlson and Wilmot, 2006). NABC
(Need/Approach/Benefits/Competition) is a tool used for
the development, assessment and presentation of ideas—
and taking them organization wide.
VTT iBet (Innovative Business from Emerging
Technologies programme) looking for great
ideas that can be incubated, refined, and
transformed into inventions, further developing
them into innovations into marketable products,
solutions and services
VTT Development of
service models for
enhancing co-creation of
value with the customer and
other partner

8. 10/04/2017 8
Mapping of innovation in research context into
the acceleration methodology

9. 10/04/2017 9
Results and implications
The early phases of innovation get emphasized in research contexts
It is suggested that research organizations start addressing this gap. Competence
development, hiring practices and strategic partnering etc. are possible methods in
developing go-to-market capabilities.
The impact of context in the innovation activities of an entity is
emphasized: it may be detrimental to expect the same kind of
entrepreneurship from scientists at research organizations than from
individuals working at startups
A clear call for clarity of roles and responsibilities of various ecosystem players and for
addressing the dynamics of such systems.

10. 10
TECHNOLOGY FOR BUSINESS