The task of bringing innovations into widespread use needs to have as much emphasis as the development of new technologies or their new products
Processes of innovation do not attract the interest that new products and services do, so we should celebrate the new Level39 at Canary Wharf, a fast-expanding hub of creativity focusing here on financial services and retail, but a model that could find a place in other ‘clusters’; and Angel investing continues to thrive and expand, as do start-ups and Accelerators.
The UK rates highly as a centre of innovationism, with well-identified technological foci and a strongly developing entrepreneurial culture. But while we are plagued by new offers, new deals, new apps, we remain desperately slow to bring major innovations into being, such as HS2, new sources of energy, new airports, new systems (eg in the NHS and in government). Leaders say that innovation is their top priority, but they don’t seem to deliver.
Applied Creativity September 2013
Briefings from John Whatmore at The Centre for Leadership in Creativity
Join the discussions at https://johnwhatmore.com/
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Level39, Canary Wharf – a throbbing new Innovation Centre
This unique tailor-made innovation eco-system has been carefully designed to meet the varied needs of those who are looking for innovations and those who are seeking to develop them in this part of London; and to bring them together in successful collaborations. What it does and how it does it might have some useful lessons for all those involved in innovationism.
Angel investing taking yet more steps forward
Now far from its origins as a side-line for rich single investors, angel investing is becoming a collaboration between different contributors and the UK Business Angels Association – a major supporter of fast-growing young businesses.
YCombinator a unique experiment
A recent article in the Times (27.7.2013) about YCombinator – as an archetypal Accelerator, emphasises some of its seemingly nuttier aspects; so what do they tell us? (http://wp.me/p3beJt-6d)
Managing to-day’s Accelerators
At a recent Workshop I ran with people involved in Accelerators, it was clear that Accelerators are becoming more institutionalised. They are no longer one-offs, they are part of continuing programmes; they are working with more established entrepreneur ‘teams’; Accelerators are no longer being managed by just one or two individuals but by teams; and they are involving a wider cohort of followers. Moreover they are developing fast. (http://wp.me/p3beJt-5W)
‘Supporters’ becoming more integral to Accelerators
Advisors, Speakers, Mentors and other specialists are getting more and more involved in Accelerators; but generalists, polymaths or iconoclasts should not be excluded. (http://wp.me/p3beJt-6f)
Managing Bubbles
The government would like to discourage ‘bubbles’ caused by overheating, but to encourage others where they are the green shoots of the future. How can they do so? (http://wp.me/p3beJt-61)
Calibrating my Raspberry Pi – my own ‘Outrage Meter’
I don’t need the Press any more: I have found a computer which I can programme to deliver just the items I want that will give me my regular dose of outrage instead of reading the media! (http://wp.me/p3beJt-6h)
The Centre for Leadership in Creativity (a ‘virus for creativity’) carries out research and provides consultancy and peer-to-peer learning for organisations looking to enhance their creativity and innovation.
Copyright John Whatmore 2013
The Centre for Leadership in Creativity 138 Iffley Road,London W6 OPE
Tel: 020 8748 2553 E-mail: john.whatmore@btinternet.com
Applied Creativity 