Strategic Innovation Labs

Are we realising the potential of our networks to make change happen? Most innovation emerges from collaborative projects where teams openly “borrow” & adapt each other’s (often small but powerful) ideas. Many networks & communities of practice could achieve so much more by experimenting together around collective priorities to generate & share new solutions. This is beyond spreading known “best” or “good” practices. It is about innovating to design new solutions collectively. So I appreciated this piece from Ed Morrison about three different kinds of networks: - Advocacy networks are communities that seek to mobilise people, creating pressure to shift policies, priorities or messages in a particular direction. Their aim is to connect & influence rather than to change how they themselves work. - Learning networks are communities of practice. They share knowledge, compare practice & build shared capability. Learning networks often excel at spread & improvement of existing practice, but only sometimes move into structured innovation work. - Innovating (or transforming) networks are communities that combine their assets - ideas, relationships, data, capabilities - to create new value that none could produce alone. They manage collaboration as a process of experimentation: agreeing a shared outcome, running multiple connected tests of change, learning by doing & amplifying what works across the network. https://lnkd.in/edbbexiG. Every learning network has the potential to become an innovating/transforming network. Some actions to enable this: 1. Build a foundation of strong, trusting relationships within the network, understanding each member’s starting point & motivation for change 2. Focus on helping each other to succeed; listen to each others’ stories & plans, co-coach, give advice to each other & build shared inquiry 3. Move from “sharing” or “raising awareness” to some concrete outcomes the network want to change together through collective experimentation 4. Agree some simple norms for the network so that members help each other to make progress, make it safe to try things, fail fast & share incomplete work 5. Encourage multiple, parallel tests of change around similar outcome so projects can “steal with pride” from one another & quickly refine promising ideas 6. Put simple routines in place for noticing patterns (what is shifting where & why), capturing these insights & amplifying them across the network 7. Add additional success metrics including innovations tested, adapted & adopted in multiple places Graphic by Ed Morrison. Content with added inspiration from June Holley.

Don't go it alone - collaborate to deliver global impact with your research! Delighted to share findings from our newly published pilot-scale study on CO₂ capture heat integration. It's exciting not only because of new approach to reducing the reboiler duty by 6% and cooling duty by 24%, resulting in operating cost savings of CO2 capture. It's exciting because it proves that collaboration is essential for credible, impactful research. Our team brought together multi-institutional expertise, industrial partners, and real-world site access on a coal-fired power plant. This work was possible because this collaboration enabled: - Access to infrastructure - Operating a mobile pilot on a live power plant requires partnerships beyond any single lab. - Data rigour - Validating marginal energy gains demanded cross-disciplinary expertise, including thermodynamics, advanced data reconciliation, and process engineering. - Industrial validation - Co-developing with site operators built credibility and practical insight from day one. - Diverse expertise - Chemistry + engineering + simulation + field operations. Individual researchers miss insights that teams can easily identify. The lesson: Impact = great ideas + rigorous execution + real-world validation. Collaboration is how you deliver all three. If you're pursuing energy research with genuine traction, treat collaboration as a core strategy, not optional. Build networks early. Your best work will come from teams you haven't yet assembled. #science #research #scientist #researcher #professor #phd #CCUS #engineering

'Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055' by UK Ministry of Defence offers foresight analysis from a thematic and geographic perspective, complemented by five scenarios which describe hypothetical pathways into a future world order. The publication identifies six global key drivers of change, connected in turn to 22 underlying trends that can be observed today, and which are likely to shape the coming decades. Taken together, these drivers represent a complex set of dynamics which serve to influence, counteract or accelerate each other, often in unexpected ways. By describing the key drivers of change and illustrating alternative outcomes, it helps you to test assumptions and prepare for an uncertain world. Without context, there is a risk that planners, policy makers and capability developers will assume a future that conforms to preconceived ideas and assumptions. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/dt_qqPxp #Scanarios #Futures #2055

AI isn’t a shift in the quality of care, it’s a shift in the practice of it. As clinicians, we’ve always been committed to delivering quality care. That commitment isn’t new. What’s evolving, what’s disruptive, is how we practice. How we document, decide, and deliver. How we connect with patients and with one another.   AI is threading itself into our workflows in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. From ambient scribing and diagnostic models to clinical decision support, care navigation, and patient communication, AI is either being considered or implemented. These are not just time-saving tools. They’re behavior-shaping technologies.   That means this moment is about more than adoption. It’s about transformation. I don't use that word lightly. We can't improve upon what is broken; we have to revolutionize our approach. In my role as Vice Chair for Innovation and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences , I spend a lot of time speaking with clinicians, health systems, and tech leaders. And I keep emphasizing that clinicians must be co-architects of this transformation.   Too often, AI solutions are deployed without enough input from those who understand the nuance of patient care. That gap can lead to tools that promise efficiency but disrupt workflows or worse, tools that inadvertently erode trust and connection. We don’t need more tech for tech’s sake. We need tech that enhances human care. That’s why I encourage health systems and innovators to bring clinicians in early and often. When we lead the design process, we can build systems that amplify insight, reduce burnout, and preserve the empathy at the heart of healthcare.   Here’s the lens I encourage my students, colleagues, and collaborators to adopt: -AI should augment, not automate, clinical thinking -Design should be human-first, not backend-first -Clinicians should be at the table, not just in the training module   The future of medicine isn't just algorithmic; it's collaborative. The clinician’s role is not disappearing; it’s evolving. And we have the opportunity and responsibility to shape what that evolution looks like. I'm honored to lead through the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences to spark meaningful conversations about the future of care, the role of clinicians in digital transformation, and the ethical deployment of AI in practice.   Let’s not be passive recipients of change. Let’s be purposeful designers of it. If you’re building, leading, teaching, or innovating in this space, I’d love to connect. Because I think when clinicians lead, AI doesn’t replace us. It reveals the best of us.  

As I meet more people, especially budding tech founders, a recurring question is about leveraging partnerships as a revenue channel. One key aspect that often stands out in these discussions is identifying the right partner. The right partnership can provide up to 80% leverage in your ROI by aligning perfectly with your goals and capabilities. Consider the example of a health tech startup partnering with a large hospital chain. By integrating their cutting-edge telemedicine platform with the hospital's extensive network, the startup was able to provide virtual health services to a vast number of patients. This partnership enabled the startup to scale rapidly and gain credibility in the healthcare market, while the hospital chain could offer innovative services to their patients without developing the technology in-house. To help identify the right partner, I recommend using a simple framework like the "PARTNER" scoring model: - 'P'urpose Alignment: Do your missions and goals align? - 'A'ccess to Market: Can they help you reach new or larger markets? - 'R'esource Complementarity: Do they offer resources you lack and vice versa? - 'T'rust and Reliability: Can you trust them to deliver consistently? - 'N'etwork Synergy: Do their connections and networks benefit you? - 'E'conomic Benefit: Is the partnership financially advantageous? - 'R'eputation: Does partnering with them enhance your brand image? By scoring potential partners on these criteria, you can identify the one that offers the best strategic fit and highest potential for ROI. #B2BPartnerships #TechFounders #BusinessGrowth #StrategicAlliances image - courtesy to Freepik

Have you been following every Trend for your Brand's Marketing? Did you know that every year, hundreds of social media trends emerge and fade away? Yet, only a small fraction of them bring meaningful results for brands. It's tempting to jump on every viral challenge or hashtag, but doing so without a strategy can do more harm than good. Take the recent #Binod trend in India or the wave of short video challenges on platforms like Instagram Reels. While some brands cleverly incorporated these trends to boost engagement, many others saw little to no benefit, wasting valuable time and resources. Before you hop onto the next big trend, consider these crucial points: 1️⃣ Brand Alignment: Does the trend align with your brand's identity and values? Jumping on a mismatched trend can confuse your audience and weaken your brand image. 2️⃣ Audience Relevance: Is your target audience engaging with this trend? If not, your efforts might go unnoticed. 3️⃣ Strategic Purpose: What do you aim to achieve? Ensure that participating in the trend serves a clear business objective. 4️⃣ Execution Capability: Can you execute it effectively? A poorly executed trend can damage your credibility. 5️⃣ Long-Term Benefit: Will this trend offer value beyond a temporary spike in attention? Focus on sustainability rather than fleeting popularity. Trends can offer a quick boost, but they don't guarantee positive outcomes. Being selective and strategic is essential to make them truly work for your brand. Instead, I recommend strategising marketing such that you can create a trend and let others follow it. I know it is easier said than done, but to stand out in this crowded environment, differentiation matters rather than merely following blindly. Ps. This photo was 5 years ago when in our business group meeting, there was no trend of people wearing a tie, but to look different I started wearing one and then later on it became a trend that everyone followed. So, If you want to navigate trends that genuinely elevate your brand or create a trend for your brand, we're here to help. Let's connect! #Trends #SocialMediaTrends #DigitalTrends #MarketingTrends

How Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell Service is Disrupting Telecommunications—and What’s Next for AI-Driven Innovation Imagine a world where your smartphone works anywhere—from the top of a mountain to the middle of the ocean. Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service is making this a reality, eliminating dead zones by connecting unmodified phones directly to low-Earth orbit satellites. No cell towers. No extra hardware. Just seamless connectivity. Why This is Game-Changing: 1. Global Coverage: Say goodbye to connectivity gaps. Starlink ensures calls, texts, and eventually data—even in the most remote areas. 2. Empowering Emergency Response: Free global emergency connectivity ensures help is just a call away, regardless of location or affordability. 3. T-Mobile Partnership: The first step in a bold vision to make universal satellite coverage a standard, starting with U.S. beta testing in 2025. But this disruption goes beyond telecommunications. It’s a glimpse into how AI and satellite technology can revolutionize other industries: • Healthcare: Imagine real-time consultations with doctors in remote regions via satellite-enabled devices. • Education: AI-powered remote learning platforms that work anywhere, ensuring no child is left behind. • Agriculture: AI-driven insights sent directly to farmers in the field, optimizing yields and addressing climate challenges. The Future of Disruption Starlink’s approach shows how AI can combine with cutting-edge technology to break barriers and redefine industries. As we step into this new era, the question is: What’s next? 👉 What industries do you think are ripe for disruption by AI and innovative tech? Share your thoughts below. #Innovation #Starlink #AI #Disruption #FutureOfWork #Connectivity #DigitalTransformation #Leadership

⸻ Alliance success is built on the quality of the relationship — not just the quality of the contract. Too often, organizations believe that alliance performance comes down to the mechanics: the business case, the governance structure, the KPIs. These are important, but they are not decisive. What makes the difference between an alliance that thrives and one that stalls is the quality of the relationship between the partners. When trust is high, information flows freely, problems are surfaced early, and opportunities are shared without hesitation. When trust is low, every discussion becomes a negotiation, every decision a battle, and every issue a potential deal-breaker. Strong relationships enable: • Resilience – partners work through challenges instead of walking away. • Innovation – ideas are exchanged openly, leading to new joint solutions. • Speed – decisions happen faster when there’s confidence in intent. • Growth – partners invest more when they believe the other side is equally committed. I’ve seen alliances with modest commercial logic succeed because the relationship was strong, while others with brilliant strategic alignment failed because the relationship was brittle. In the end, alliances are human endeavors. Strategy and structure may set the stage, but it is the relationship that drives success. 👉 What’s your experience? Have you seen relationships make (or break) an alliance?

Most companies chase obvious applications in new markets. 3M architects entire industries instead. When Dr. Jens Eichler began exploring hydrogen opportunities for 3M four years ago, everyone was excited about household heating. Today, 38 studies confirm that was a dead end. But Eichler's team had already moved on. Not because they had better technology, but because they asked better questions. Their secret comes from two deceptively simple words: "when" and "where." Instead of pushing technology into markets, 3M deeply understands where challenges will actually emerge. Take iridium catalysts for hydrogen electrolyzers. The company faced a truly fundamental constraint: geology. Scaling production would exhaust Earth's iridium supply. So 3M developed catalysts that achieve the same performance with dramatically less material, solving the boundary condition itself. This is "architecting" rather than participating. It's the difference between waiting for a market to form and actively shaping how it will function. 3M's 15% culture plays a crucial role here – the principle that technical people in 3M can spend 15% of their time on projects of their own choosing. Most people think 15% culture is about generating breakthrough inventions. It's not. It's about building connective tissue – those "weak ties" between specialists that spot opportunities at the intersection of technologies and needs. The multilayer optical films now in billions of LCD screens? Two colleagues with adjacent posters at a Tech Forum event. The key is that 3M doesn't just tolerate exploration, they engineer it. No permission needed. No bureaucratic approval. If someone is passionate about a topic that serves 3M's interests, they contribute their 15% time. That removes the friction that kills innovation in most large organizations. Eichler calls hydrogen ventures "class six" programs – new products for markets still finding themselves. There's no stable reference point. Even the definition of "green" hydrogen remains contested. Yet this ambiguity creates opportunity for those who architect rather than chase. The lesson is that having breakthrough technologies is good. Having the organizational infrastructure to recognize which technologies matter and when is transformational. Read my full story about this in Forbes (link in Comments).

🌍 Joint Ventures: The Fastest Way to Access New Markets with Minimal Risk 🤝 Want to expand into new markets without the crushing cost and risk of going solo? Here’s a proven growth tactic the smartest companies use: Joint Ventures (JVs). A joint venture is a strategic alliance where two or more businesses team up for a specific project, product launch, or market entry—sharing resources, expertise, and rewards while keeping their own identities. Why it works: You tap into your partner’s established assets—like distribution channels, brand recognition, or local expertise—while splitting costs and reducing the risk. 🚀 5 Steps to Building a Profitable Joint Venture 1️⃣ Identify the Right Opportunity ♠️ Pinpoint your goal: market expansion, product development, or tech capability ♠️ Look for partners whose strengths complement—not compete with—yours 2️⃣ Approach and Qualify Partners ♠️ Research reputable firms with mutual interests and aligned values ♠️ Start informal talks to gauge chemistry and operational fit ♠️ Do thorough due diligence—financial, legal, and cultural 3️⃣ Structure the Deal Clearly ♠️ Decide on form: contractual JV or separate legal entity ♠️ Outline contributions: capital, IP, tech, people, or market access ♠️ Set governance rules, profit-sharing, and dispute resolution processes 4️⃣ Start with a Low-Risk Pilot ♠️ Launch a mini-campaign, trial product, or limited rollout to test success ♠️ Learn, adjust, and build trust before going all-in 5️⃣ Measure and Optimize Together ♠️ Agree on KPIs from day one ♠️ Hold regular check-ins, share results, and adapt quickly ♠️ Keep communication open to strengthen the partnership 💡 Why Joint Ventures Work So Well ♠️ Faster market access without building from scratch ♠️ Shared costs = reduced financial exposure ♠️ Instant credibility through your partner’s brand ♠️ Access to local or niche market knowledge you don’t have internally 🔥 Your Challenge: Think of ONE market or audience you want to reach in the next 12 months. Now ask yourself—who already has their trust, attention, and access? Message them THIS WEEK to explore a small, low-risk collaboration. You might be one conversation away from your next big win. 👇 Drop a comment: What’s ONE joint venture idea you’ve considered (or tried) that could open a new market for you? #JointVentures #StrategicPartnerships #BusinessGrowth #MarketExpansion #Collaboration #Entrepreneurship #B2B #GrowthStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #SmartGrowth #Networking #BusinessTips