Creativity and Innovation

applicationsGeorges Aoun

Vice-RectorSaint Joseph University

October 2009

Summary

Creativity and the results of research are the main sources of innovation, they are not exploited enough in the Middle East This situation leads to paralysis, reduces creativity and prevents the region from joining the knowledge society

Summary (cont.)

This paper studies the conditions helping the emergence of innovation and the key success factors that allow entrepreneurs to innovate. Experiences from several companies are presented and two models adopted by Saint Joseph University to enhance innovation in Lebanon (Business incubator Berytech and Health Pole PTS) are analyzed as well as a new chair of innovation that was created through a network of universities supported by the Tempus program.

I- Research, Higher education and Knowledge society in the Middle East

Obstacles for a knowledge society in the Middle East

Limited freedom of opinion, expression and action

Low quality of higher education because of the limited resources and high demography in the region

Limited public expenditures in R&D Brain drain from the region toward developped

countries Governments think that it is easier to import

results of research than to invest in infrastructures………….

Results

Results (cont.)

II-Experiences to enhance creativity and innovation Emmerging from creativity, innovation

could occur in the process, the product, the service or the business model. To succeed and to have a lasting effect in the market, it should offer an added value for the final customers

Ideas management

Good ideas start usually from the bottom of the organization, management should create a system rewarding employees working on new ideas and allowing them to test these ideas and follow the implementation of the innovation that springs from the idea. The empoyees are recognized as innovators.

Procter & Gamble « Connect and develop program» 50% of

innovations originate from outside the company

Technology entrepreneurs look around the world for new ideas and are part of several networks this allows them to identify promising researchers that could be hosted in the company to test their idea

Productivity in R&D has doubled and the portfolio of innovative products has increased fourfold

Sanofi-Aventis The pharmaceutical Company Sanofi-Aventis

introduced flexibility and entrepreneurship in its R&D department.

It set up « Exploratory units » in contact with the outside world to inform the researchers about the challenges and the requirements.

The role of « Entrepreneur units » is to facilitate the emergence of new ideas and accelerate the presence of innovative products on the market

3M The six sigma method and the cost cutting at

all levels introduced in 2000 by the CEO of 3M has increased productivity and efficiency but cancelled the search for new ideas considered as a waste due to the unreliable outcomes

This decision reduced the innovation potential of 3M and its competitive stance

The balance between cutting expenditures and keeping a high R&D output should be carefully monitored

Apple

The image of Apple is dominated by innovations but the limited volume of sales for most of its new products (except the i-phone lately) prevented the company from getting a high return on its investments in R&D.

In trying to protect its rights in patents and intellectual property, Apple became isolated and was not able to build partnership with other companies to increase the market share of its new products

Organizations facilitating the technology transfer NineSigma: It offers information and services to

organizations to improve the innovation process through the creation of innovation networks that include scientists and companies interested by innovation, it facilitates the match between offer and needs in the innovation field

 Innovation Relay Centres and Enterprise Europe Network : They are virtual marketplaces allowing the creative persons to find companies that could be interested by their ideas

Organizations facilitating the technology transfer (cont.) Yet2.com: It offers consulting on patents and intellectuel

properties to inventors to facilitate their relations with potential buyers or partners. It protects the inventors’ rights and works with the companies interested by bying or using the patent.

Unico: This British association offers a forum to exchange good practices in the transfer of innovation and

establishment of partnership between individuals, private and public institutions

III- Contribution of Saint Joseph University to innovationBerytech:Business Incubator

Berytech (cont.)Business hosting and services

Health Pole

Host young graduates and researchers, bearing ideas and projects, looking for scientific validation of their ideas before they reach the market through an established company or provide services from the Health Pole

Contribution to the development of the knowledge society in the Middle-East and anticipation of future jobs in the scientific field

Health Pole (cont.)

Seven themes for research in the field ofmedical sciences have been adopted: Genetics - Oncogenetics Biomaterials - Biophysics Drugs, Therapeutical innovations & métabolic

pathologies Pathological Agents - vaccinology Nutrition Physiopathology & bio-medical applications Studies of populations

Chair of innovation

This chair created in the framework of a Tempus European program with 7 other universities allows the University to develop processes supporting creativity and to create a platform that facilitate the transfer of innovation from the University to partner companies.

Conclusion There are many obstacles to creativity in the

Middle East Innovation needs an adequate environment Companies feel the need to look for new ideas

outside their walls The evolution of the technologies and the

communication tools help the innovation Networks, benchmarking and implementing

good practices imported from other regions could improve the transfer of innovation

The civil society can play an active role in supporting this process