Two aspects of innovation

In the face of the development of markets in Asia, Africa and South America, Europe is retreating. Innovation, which is so loudly spoken of by state and European institutions, is to stimulate the European economy and to awaken it from dream. “Innovation” has become so often used concept that it is hard to tell what innovation is, what it is not, and when it is used as a fig leaf or packaging used for the mere mystification of reality.

In the Technology Dialog Foundation, we see two faces of innovation. On one hand it is understood as a synonym of entrepreneurship and ingenuity. On the other it embraces activities which combine the achievements of science, research and development with commercial and social implementations.

Innovation understood as a synonym of entrepreneurship and ingenuity affects key business areas, such as new products, better (faster, cheaper) production processes, alternative methods of promotion and sales. Such innovation refers to the well-known marketing mix concept of “4Ps” - product, price, place and promotion. Therefore, the first face of innovation defines market game that pleas for differentiation from the competition.

Innovation understood as a factor that combines scientific achievements with practical implementations requires a partnership dialogue between political, scientific, industry and funding institutions acting towards common goal which is a long-term competitiveness of the economy.

At the Technological Dialog Foundation, we want to support the pursuit of harmonious development of the following pillars of innovation-based economy progress:

  • definition of strategic areas in which research is conducted and industry is developed through active participation in shaping economic policy and innovation in the institutions of the European Union,
  • consolidation of the science and research sector by skillfully combining formal organizational issues with the identification of competence centres that correspond to the defined strategic sectors of the economy and science,
  • continuous improvement of management skills of the research and development staff to ensure the continued relevance of research and development progress to the changing needs of the industry.

The challenges that we set for ourselves require the involvement of a multidisciplinary team of experts with international experience in areas such as research, valuation and protection of intellectual property rights, finance, marketing and project management.

Leo Turno, January 2019