copyright © jlabs, llc 2010 sustainable innovation aep forum judy estrin october 22, 2010 copyright...

COPYRIGHT © JLABS, LLC 2010

Sustainable Innovation

AEP ForumJudy Estrin

October 22, 2010

Copyright © Judy Estrin 2008 1


Influences on My Perspective

Copyright © Judy Estrin 2008

Computer science• UCLA • Stanford • Early networking researchAdvisory Boards

• Bridge Communications• NCD• Precept • Packet Design, LLC

• Mother!

• CTO Cisco Board member • Disney (current)• FedEx • Rockwell• Sun Microsystems

Author - Closing the Innovation Gap, McGraw-Hill, 2008Over 100 interviews with innovators, leaders, educators

Academic Entrepreneurial Corporate


Innovation is Not Just a Soundbite


Innovation drives economic growth, quality of life and is the only hope of

addressing the major challenges that we face

It is also very personal, impacting our lives in and out of the office


• Innovation needs to be nurtured• It is messy - you need to be

willing to invest without knowing the outcome

• Talent is critical - skill, aptitude, passion, drive

• Small teams of diverse perspectives (“no larger than a jazz band”)

Innovation Doesn’t Just Happen


IDEAS


Innovation Builds on Innovation


1 Breakthrough Innovation Invention of something completely new (transistor, credit card)

2 Incremental InnovationEnhancement of current product or process (higher performance system, private labeled credit card)

3 Orthogonal InnovationCombination of existing innovations for use in a completely new way (iPod, debit card, Better Place)

1 & 3 can be “disruptive” creating new markets and industries

2 is necessary, just not sufficient


Interrelated But Not Equal

• Creativity: originality of thought or expression

• Innovation: new thing or method

• Sustainable innovation: environment that enables ongoing innovation (requires both of above)


Ecosystem For Sustainable Innovation

Ecosystems must be in balance to sustain lifeEcosystems must be in balance to sustain life


Core Values = Capacity for Change

Values need to be in balance.

QuestioningCuriosity, self-assessment, non-judgmental, free flowing

RiskVulnerability, attitude toward failure, fail early, learn from failure

TrustIn oneself, in others, safety net (bankruptcy, healthcare, education)

Tenacity, patient capitalPatience

To imagine, new data, sharing, surprise, change Openness


Many Opportunities for Innovation• Future depends on creation of new industries and disruption of

existing mature industries (education, food, transportation, commerce, entertainment…)

• Driven by 21st century realities • Energy independence and sustainable environment• Health - expanding to include wellness, enhancements to delivery

of care to sick, elderly or disabled and additional focus on affordability (personalized medicine, mhealth….)

• Other applications requiring “touch” – direct or cultural such as education or entertainment

• Technology – affordability, security, mobility• Intersection of disciplines – bio, nano, IT, social sciences,

design…..


It’s a Two Way Street

Technology inspires the art and the art challenges the technology (Pixar)

• Technology innovation impacts the arts• Creation• Distribution• Experience

• Creative works advance science and technology• Importance of design• Virtual worlds, video games• Communication, education, engagement


National Landscape


How Did We Get Here?


• Decades of decline in our innovation ecosystem has resulted in an innovation deficit

• We have become increasingly shortsighted in business, government and our culture

• Decreasing recognition of importance of science and the arts (investment, respect for, education, “discretionary spending” ….)

• Insufficient attention to demographic shifts (safety net spending, education)

• Sustainable growth (vs looking for next bubble) comes from focusing on building, creating and caring - not just trading/manipulating money


There Is No Quick Fix

• Significant growth surges will only come from innovation driven start-ups and new industries.

• Connecting investments in innovation with job growth in the U.S. requires scaling here, not just starting here

• We must plant seeds for the future while implementing policies, incentives and projects that stimulate spending and provide safety net for short term

• Multiple problems with entrepreneurial ecosystem need attention including sources of $ and talent


Future Generation Innovators


• Our most precious seeds

• Our education system and culture are currently working against innovation – undermining core values

• Problems are numerous and complex. If we don’t frame the right questions we can end up going in the wrong direction (and we have)

• Need both incremental and orthogonal innovation – try many approaches, share/learn from success and failure


21st Century Requirements


• Adaptive - ability to learn, capacity for change

• Framing questions, not just answering them

• Playfulness, exploration, experimentation

• Active patience

• Collaborative

• Interdisciplinary: deep and wide foundation (tech+creative, engr+biology, tech+sports, science+investigation, science+law….)

• Scientific and technologic literacy and creativity


The Role of Government• Government is not the entire solution, but it must stop being

viewed as part of the problem• Leadership and inspiration - holistic view from the top can ignite and

maximize benefits of bottom up innovation• $ for research and education/retraining (and short term job stimulus)• Policy to incent short and long term behaviors - new requirements and re-

evaluate existing policy that reinforces status quo (subsidies, regulation)• If government is “bad”, how do we attract the talent to make it work for us?

• Regulation can accelerate acceptance of innovation by increasing confidence or trust, but beware of unintended consequences

• New models of collaboration in government, large and small business, academia and non-profits


Hard Questions• Is this time really any different or do we need to “let the system

work”? What happens when capitalism/free market economy becomes too short term focused? Democracy requires an informed public – do we have one?

• How do we ensure our competitiveness while accepting and benefiting from globalization (competition and cooperation)?

• How do we connect investments in innovation with job growth in the U.S.? Who is “marketing” our workers?

• How do we extend the horizon of capital markets and corporations and unlearn a generation of bad habits?


Harder Questions

• How do we reset expectations of levels of wealth without losing the concept and inspiration of the “American dream”? Standard of living does not necessarily increase with levels of consumption. When did aspirations for prosperity turn into short-term greed? What can we do about it?

• Do we have the courage and patience to solve our problems – education, healthcare, energy/environment…..?


Fear Works Against Change• Fear comes in many forms: safety, failure, not

fitting in, criticism, funding, litigation, political agendas….

• Great leaders turn threats into challenges to inspire and rally individuals

• Energy dependence/climate change/sustainability, healthcare, security are all opportunities for innovation that can drive the economy

• During hard economic times need to be smart about where to cut and where investment is critical - at personal, organizational and national level

• Not everyone wants to, or can be, a leader of other people, but each of us is our own leader - responsible for our path


[email protected]

www.theinnovationgap.com

copyright © jlabs, llc 2010 sustainable innovation aep forum judy estrin october 22, 2010 copyright...

Documents

copyright jlabs

innovation builds

expression innovation

innovation future

ongoing innovation

innovation gap

method sustainable innovation

llc mother