I believe everyone here has the desire and capacity to change the world for the
and capacity to change the world for the
and capacity to change the world for the better
better
better innovation is one way to create positive
innovation is one way to create positive
innovation is one way to create positive impact in our community and beyond I’ve
impact in our community and beyond I’ve
impact in our community and beyond I’ve had the privilege to study innovation
had the privilege to study innovation
had the privilege to study innovation through a number of different lenses and
through a number of different lenses and
through a number of different lenses and have identified some keys to successful
have identified some keys to successful
have identified some keys to successful innovation I’ll share my insights with
innovation I’ll share my insights with
innovation I’ll share my insights with you today and I’ll begin by laying some
you today and I’ll begin by laying some
you today and I’ll begin by laying some groundwork and defining innovation
groundwork and defining innovation
groundwork and defining innovation innovation as a word is used so much
innovation as a word is used so much
innovation as a word is used so much that it’s nearly lost its meaning but if
that it’s nearly lost its meaning but if
that it’s nearly lost its meaning but if you try to think of a good definition it
you try to think of a good definition it
you try to think of a good definition it can be surprisingly challenging a
can be surprisingly challenging a
can be surprisingly challenging a recently published paper titled the
recently published paper titled the
recently published paper titled the dynamics on expanding spaces proposes
dynamics on expanding spaces proposes
dynamics on expanding spaces proposes the definition I really like they begin
the definition I really like they begin
the definition I really like they begin by introducing the idea of a novelty and
by introducing the idea of a novelty and
by introducing the idea of a novelty and then they relate it to an innovation
then they relate it to an innovation
then they relate it to an innovation with the following description a novelty
with the following description a novelty
with the following description a novelty is something that’s new only for us or a
is something that’s new only for us or a
is something that’s new only for us or a few other people whereas an innovation
few other people whereas an innovation
few other people whereas an innovation is something that’s brand new and
is something that’s brand new and
is something that’s brand new and changes a paradigm or the habits of an
changes a paradigm or the habits of an
changes a paradigm or the habits of an entire population the paper goes on to
entire population the paper goes on to
entire population the paper goes on to just explore how we can mathematically
just explore how we can mathematically
just explore how we can mathematically model novelties and innovations and with
model novelties and innovations and with
model novelties and innovations and with that they introduce the idea of the
that they introduce the idea of the
that they introduce the idea of the adjacent possible and its role in
adjacent possible and its role in
adjacent possible and its role in forming something new the adjacent
forming something new the adjacent
forming something new the adjacent possible is that undiscovered area
possible is that undiscovered area
possible is that undiscovered area that’s right next to only once removed
that’s right next to only once removed
that’s right next to only once removed from what already exists the adjacent
from what already exists the adjacent
from what already exists the adjacent possible just around the bend
possible just around the bend
possible just around the bend is the fertile ground in which
is the fertile ground in which
is the fertile ground in which innovation takes root let’s take a look
innovation takes root let’s take a look
innovation takes root let’s take a look at the four keys I found that can help
at the four keys I found that can help
at the four keys I found that can help us access it the first key is the
us access it the first key is the
us access it the first key is the identification and understanding of an
identification and understanding of an
identification and understanding of an unmet need I believe this is a
unmet need I believe this is a
unmet need I believe this is a fundamental piece of innovation that is
fundamental piece of innovation that is
fundamental piece of innovation that is commonly missed when you think of new
commonly missed when you think of new
commonly missed when you think of new advancements usually you think of
advancements usually you think of
advancements usually you think of creative solutions and while solutions
creative solutions and while solutions
creative solutions and while solutions are a critical piece of the puzzle
are a critical piece of the puzzle
are a critical piece of the puzzle oftentimes people develop these
oftentimes people develop these
oftentimes people develop these solutions before they really understand
solutions before they really understand
solutions before they really understand what problem they’re solving I refer to
what problem they’re solving I refer to
what problem they’re solving I refer to these as solutions looking for a need
these as solutions looking for a need
these as solutions looking for a need and they usually fall short in there
and they usually fall short in there
and they usually fall short in there potential to be truly innovative these
potential to be truly innovative these
potential to be truly innovative these are usually the nice-to-haves
are usually the nice-to-haves
are usually the nice-to-haves or the novelties however if a solution
or the novelties however if a solution
or the novelties however if a solution solves a fundamental problem for a group
solves a fundamental problem for a group
solves a fundamental problem for a group of people it will profoundly affect
of people it will profoundly affect
of people it will profoundly affect their lives
their lives
their lives I consider this in innovation in 2012 I
I consider this in innovation in 2012 I
I consider this in innovation in 2012 I spent a year in the West of Ireland
spent a year in the West of Ireland
spent a year in the West of Ireland completing a bio innovate fellowship a
completing a bio innovate fellowship a
completing a bio innovate fellowship a primary component of this fellowship
primary component of this fellowship
primary component of this fellowship centered around clinical observations
centered around clinical observations
centered around clinical observations and the identification of the right
and the identification of the right
and the identification of the right unmet need that could be solved with a
unmet need that could be solved with a
unmet need that could be solved with a commercially viable medical device our
commercially viable medical device our
commercially viable medical device our team made up of a medical doctor a
team made up of a medical doctor a
team made up of a medical doctor a market access specialist and a fellow
market access specialist and a fellow
market access specialist and a fellow engineer spent months shadowing surgeons
engineer spent months shadowing surgeons
engineer spent months shadowing surgeons speaking to patients and talking to
speaking to patients and talking to
speaking to patients and talking to pretty much anyone who would engage with
pretty much anyone who would engage with
pretty much anyone who would engage with us about what issues needed to be
us about what issues needed to be
us about what issues needed to be resolved in order to improve patient
resolved in order to improve patient
resolved in order to improve patient care
care
care while this was my most intimate
while this was my most intimate
while this was my most intimate experience with unmet needs they’ve
experience with unmet needs they’ve
experience with unmet needs they’ve continued to crop up through virtually
continued to crop up through virtually
continued to crop up through virtually all of my learnings in innovation since
all of my learnings in innovation since
all of my learnings in innovation since then in 2011 when I was in South Africa
then in 2011 when I was in South Africa
then in 2011 when I was in South Africa in a rural clinic I saw a room filled
in a rural clinic I saw a room filled
in a rural clinic I saw a room filled with incubators and other hand-me-down
with incubators and other hand-me-down
with incubators and other hand-me-down medical equipment and they were just
medical equipment and they were just
medical equipment and they were just sitting there idle collecting dust
sitting there idle collecting dust
sitting there idle collecting dust various institutions and organizations
various institutions and organizations
various institutions and organizations had brought the technology to help sick
had brought the technology to help sick
had brought the technology to help sick infants but unfortunately the
infants but unfortunately the
infants but unfortunately the complexities and maintenance
complexities and maintenance
complexities and maintenance requirements often rendered these
requirements often rendered these
requirements often rendered these machines useless in this setting rather
machines useless in this setting rather
machines useless in this setting rather a much better cheaper solution had been
a much better cheaper solution had been
a much better cheaper solution had been adopted called kangaroo mother care if a
adopted called kangaroo mother care if a
adopted called kangaroo mother care if a mother keeps an infant close to her
mother keeps an infant close to her
mother keeps an infant close to her chest with skin-to-skin contact the
chest with skin-to-skin contact the
chest with skin-to-skin contact the baby’s heart rate and temperature are
baby’s heart rate and temperature are
baby’s heart rate and temperature are naturally regulated kangaroo mother care
naturally regulated kangaroo mother care
naturally regulated kangaroo mother care proved to be a much more sustainable
proved to be a much more sustainable
proved to be a much more sustainable solution that was well suited to the
solution that was well suited to the
solution that was well suited to the rural areas of sub-saharan Africa so if
rural areas of sub-saharan Africa so if
rural areas of sub-saharan Africa so if you don’t have a strong understanding of
you don’t have a strong understanding of
you don’t have a strong understanding of the problem you’re solving you may end
the problem you’re solving you may end
the problem you’re solving you may end up solving the wrong problem or
up solving the wrong problem or
up solving the wrong problem or developing something that is not useful
developing something that is not useful
developing something that is not useful to that population and for that reason
to that population and for that reason
to that population and for that reason the unmet need should always serve as
the unmet need should always serve as
the unmet need should always serve as your North Star in the innovation
your North Star in the innovation
your North Star in the innovation process the second key I refer to as
process the second key I refer to as
process the second key I refer to as cross-pollination
cross-pollination
cross-pollination cross-pollination is the exchange of
cross-pollination is the exchange of
cross-pollination is the exchange of ideas across disciplines specialties and
ideas across disciplines specialties and
ideas across disciplines specialties and geographies if you take a group of
geographies if you take a group of
geographies if you take a group of diverse people and you present them with
diverse people and you present them with
diverse people and you present them with an unmet need and ask them to generate
an unmet need and ask them to generate
an unmet need and ask them to generate solutions you can begin to see the magic
solutions you can begin to see the magic
solutions you can begin to see the magic of innovation sparking this environment
of innovation sparking this environment
of innovation sparking this environment creates unlikely collisions of ideas and
creates unlikely collisions of ideas and
creates unlikely collisions of ideas and is a great model for cross-pollination
is a great model for cross-pollination
is a great model for cross-pollination when I was finished in Ireland I landed
when I was finished in Ireland I landed
when I was finished in Ireland I landed in Silicon Valley at singularity
in Silicon Valley at singularity
in Silicon Valley at singularity University for those who are unfamiliar
University for those who are unfamiliar
University for those who are unfamiliar singularity university is an educational
singularity university is an educational
singularity university is an educational institution that hosts a summer program
institution that hosts a summer program
institution that hosts a summer program where they challenge participants to
where they challenge participants to
where they challenge participants to leverage technology and develop
leverage technology and develop
leverage technology and develop solutions that positively impact a
solutions that positively impact a
solutions that positively impact a billion people in the next 10 years
billion people in the next 10 years
billion people in the next 10 years lofty goal anyway so myself and 79
lofty goal anyway so myself and 79
lofty goal anyway so myself and 79 others from 30 different countries
others from 30 different countries
others from 30 different countries United to learn about cutting-edge
United to learn about cutting-edge
United to learn about cutting-edge technologies and then to work across
technologies and then to work across
technologies and then to work across language barriers to take on global
language barriers to take on global
language barriers to take on global grand challenges like poverty health and
grand challenges like poverty health and
grand challenges like poverty health and security singularity University led to
security singularity University led to
security singularity University led to some of the most interesting
some of the most interesting
some of the most interesting conversations I’ve ever had but not only
conversations I’ve ever had but not only
conversations I’ve ever had but not only does it spawn interesting conversations
does it spawn interesting conversations
does it spawn interesting conversations it also leads to creative solutions to
it also leads to creative solutions to
it also leads to creative solutions to unmet needs multiple companies have
unmet needs multiple companies have
unmet needs multiple companies have grown out of singularity with
grown out of singularity with
grown out of singularity with international teams taking intriguing
international teams taking intriguing
international teams taking intriguing approaches to solve big problems like
approaches to solve big problems like
approaches to solve big problems like using 3d printing in space to facilitate
using 3d printing in space to facilitate
using 3d printing in space to facilitate maintenance on the International Space
maintenance on the International Space
maintenance on the International Space Station or another international team
Station or another international team
Station or another international team that’s developing technology that looks
that’s developing technology that looks
that’s developing technology that looks at micro RNA for early cancer
at micro RNA for early cancer
at micro RNA for early cancer diagnostics singularity University
diagnostics singularity University
diagnostics singularity University provided a host of opportunities for
provided a host of opportunities for
provided a host of opportunities for cross-pollination but we have to
cross-pollination but we have to
cross-pollination but we have to remember those opportunities are
remember those opportunities are
remember those opportunities are everywhere around us what take TEDx
everywhere around us what take TEDx
everywhere around us what take TEDx Bozeman for example what ideas might be
Bozeman for example what ideas might be
Bozeman for example what ideas might be shared between us today the third key is
shared between us today the third key is
shared between us today the third key is an understanding of the trajectory of
an understanding of the trajectory of
an understanding of the trajectory of technological advancement
technological advancement
technological advancement this key is instrumental for any
this key is instrumental for any
this key is instrumental for any innovation involving technology Moore’s
innovation involving technology Moore’s
innovation involving technology Moore’s law states that the number of
law states that the number of
law states that the number of transistors per square inch on an
transistors per square inch on an
transistors per square inch on an integrated circuit doubles every two
integrated circuit doubles every two
integrated circuit doubles every two years since their invention that means
years since their invention that means
years since their invention that means we’re advancing at an exponential rather
we’re advancing at an exponential rather
we’re advancing at an exponential rather than linear rate in practice that can be
than linear rate in practice that can be
than linear rate in practice that can be seen in the fact that the amount of
seen in the fact that the amount of
seen in the fact that the amount of computing power in your cell phone is
computing power in your cell phone is
computing power in your cell phone is comparable to what existed in the
comparable to what existed in the
comparable to what existed in the supercomputers of the 80s so when you’re
supercomputers of the 80s so when you’re
supercomputers of the 80s so when you’re coming up with your next technological
coming up with your next technological
coming up with your next technological advancements it’s critical that you
advancements it’s critical that you
advancements it’s critical that you think of what is happening with this
think of what is happening with this
think of what is happening with this trajectory and find just the right
trajectory and find just the right
trajectory and find just the right inflection point if you think of it like
inflection point if you think of it like
inflection point if you think of it like surfing for the timing in which you
surfing for the timing in which you
surfing for the timing in which you stand on the wave is crucial to your
stand on the wave is crucial to your
stand on the wave is crucial to your success or if you paddle too slow or too
success or if you paddle too slow or too
success or if you paddle too slow or too fast or stand up too early or too late
fast or stand up too early or too late
fast or stand up too early or too late you won’t catch the wave but the tricky
you won’t catch the wave but the tricky
you won’t catch the wave but the tricky part here is we’re on an exponential
part here is we’re on an exponential
part here is we’re on an exponential timescale so things are advancing so
timescale so things are advancing so
timescale so things are advancing so fast that you can easily miss the wave
fast that you can easily miss the wave
fast that you can easily miss the wave and be leapfrogged by a new better
and be leapfrogged by a new better
and be leapfrogged by a new better technology before you’re even bet done
technology before you’re even bet done
technology before you’re even bet done with development it’s imperative to
with development it’s imperative to
with development it’s imperative to innovation then that you understand the
innovation then that you understand the
innovation then that you understand the market and technology trends as well as
market and technology trends as well as
market and technology trends as well as this trajectory of technology to ensure
this trajectory of technology to ensure
this trajectory of technology to ensure that the solutions you develop are
that the solutions you develop are
that the solutions you develop are relevant useful and accept it so you’ve
relevant useful and accept it so you’ve
relevant useful and accept it so you’ve made it to the last key and
made it to the last key and
made it to the last key and unfortunately a lot of times this is
unfortunately a lot of times this is
unfortunately a lot of times this is where innovation goes to the Graveyard
where innovation goes to the Graveyard
where innovation goes to the Graveyard at this point if you’ve adopted all my
at this point if you’ve adopted all my
at this point if you’ve adopted all my earlier keys you have a brilliant idea
earlier keys you have a brilliant idea
earlier keys you have a brilliant idea generated to solve an unmet need paired
generated to solve an unmet need paired
generated to solve an unmet need paired with a group of great diverse minds and
with a group of great diverse minds and
with a group of great diverse minds and an understanding of the technology that
an understanding of the technology that
an understanding of the technology that could be leveraged but that idea does
could be leveraged but that idea does
could be leveraged but that idea does not make an impact or become an
not make an impact or become an
not make an impact or become an innovation until it has been implemented
innovation until it has been implemented
innovation until it has been implemented sure there’s plenty of reasons not to
sure there’s plenty of reasons not to
sure there’s plenty of reasons not to follow through on an idea maybe it’s a
follow through on an idea maybe it’s a
follow through on an idea maybe it’s a fear of failure a lack of resources or a
fear of failure a lack of resources or a
fear of failure a lack of resources or a number of other self-imposed hurdles
number of other self-imposed hurdles
number of other self-imposed hurdles but those can all be overcome it is the
but those can all be overcome it is the
but those can all be overcome it is the responsibility of the innovator to bring
responsibility of the innovator to bring
responsibility of the innovator to bring that idea into practice and that’s why
that idea into practice and that’s why
that idea into practice and that’s why action is the last key so you’ve heard
action is the last key so you’ve heard
action is the last key so you’ve heard the four keys and really all that’s left
the four keys and really all that’s left
the four keys and really all that’s left to unlocking innovation is for you to
to unlocking innovation is for you to
to unlocking innovation is for you to ask yourself what is it that inspires me
ask yourself what is it that inspires me
ask yourself what is it that inspires me to impact now go act on that inspiration
to impact now go act on that inspiration
to impact now go act on that inspiration and elevate the world around you thank
and elevate the world around you thank
and elevate the world around you thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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