The Crucible – Solve for X
March 2020
As innovators, hard circumstances have tested us before. Media cannot resist the Cassandra stories of doom, but the energy-related crisis of the 70’s, the Asia crisis of the 90’s, the dot-com and telecom bubbles with 9/11, and the financial reset in 2008 were all heralded as the end of life as we know it. But these times also generated some of the best innovations and most sustainable ideas, such as distributed software development, SAAS, sharing economy, and deep learning, to cite just a few modern examples. While we as a global community navigate uncharted waters, be assured that calm shores lie ahead. Persevere. Create. Innovate.”
–Edward Jung, CEO and Founder of Xinova
Not one of us asked for it, but we’ve all been conscripted into the COVID-19 business in some way. During this surreal chapter in human history, our skills and perspectives as innovators have become even more valuable. We must find workarounds at every link of the value chain to ensure important projects stay on track, our people stay in contact, and breakthrough solutions stay possible.
We humbly request your help in continuing the Xinova mission of solving the most daunting problems confronting industry and society. While COVID-19 signifies the Gordian Knot of innovation challenges, even the global pandemic can be untangled one strand at a time. Tell us the strands you are seeing and working on. We want your ideas, your insights, and your stories. In turn, we’ll continue to showcase opportunities and ideas from across the network that will keep your hands and business activities from going idle.
We are setting up guideposts through these uncharted frontiers with a suite of COVID-19-related content, activities and opportunities. Check it out. Meanwhile, we are issuing non-pandemic related opportunities and articles as well. Life goes on, even in this new reality. As it must and as it should. We are focused on continuing our life’s work, and committed to fighting the most urgent threat to our way of life. We appreciate you for doing the same. Stay safe.
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– Matt Ferguson
VP Innovation Services
Featured Opportunities
Seeking Innovation Challenges for COVID-19
COVID-19 is a problem that seems to change every day. While medical equipment and logistics tracking solutions are clear challenges that demand solutions, we know many other problems are arising from the pandemic’s direct and indirect impacts. Find those innovation gaps, define the problem, and submit an innovation challenge. Become an innovator who has chosen to join the fight.
CLOSING SOON: May 12, 2020
COVID-19 Diaries: Seeking your insights and stories
These are unprecedented times. Let’s document and understand this crisis together through our stories and ideas as innovators. They may help in unexpected ways. Submit your story or request an interview now, like Xinova Innovator, Kate Stephenson, PhD, on medical device innovation and supply chain management in the time of COVID-19.
“I don’t see there being an intense new period of product innovation in answer to the challenges posed by the pandemic so much as I think that the technologies and answers we already have will be put through extreme cycles of test and improvement.”
Innovation under COVID-19
Four steps to solving the right problems under stress, even COVID-19
Xinova Innovator, Kate Stephenson, PhD
“During a sharp rise in a single infectious disease, we need to rapidly increase the availability of medical products to prevent infection, aid detection, and treat critical patients. In some cases, like in the creation of new tests and vaccines, this requires invention. But for most of the shortages we are experiencing, we don’t necessarily need new products, just access to what is needed, when it is needed.”
ESG and Coronavirus
Xinova Innovator, Richard Hartung
“Corporate emphasis on environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives has become essential to acquiring clients, increasing profitability, satisfying shareholders and ensuring the viability of the company. Perhaps surprisingly, companies with better ESG practices are holding up relatively well during the current COVID-19 pandemic and may come out of it stronger.”.
Featured R&D Leadership Profile
A Beyond the Box:
Profile of leadership with PepsiCo Senior Manager of External Innovation, Sameer Talsania, PhD
“At the end of the day, the solution has to make sense for the business and you have to look at whether you have the internal capability to create that solution… If not, then you can look outside to an external partner, like an academic institution or a startup, or a curated network of inventors.”