Life Coach - Kaikaku - 16 - Innovation Center continued

The following edited comment from Rajesh Snehi is precisely what makes it important to create an Innovation Center.

"Due to the steep hierarchy, there is a problem with the ideas reaching the right person for further action. In the IAF an officer is required to submit a service paper along with his AR mandatorily. If he so desires, he may choose to put up a service paper every week. But the problem, in my opinion lies in the focus shifting from the merit of the idea to the quality of service writing. Secondly, most of the time no feedback is received of those papers that are forwarded up in the chain. Thirdly, in today’s fast paced world, it takes a long time..."

There will be problems that we have to handle - how to motivate people to contribute, what should be the reward and recognition policy, how to ensure quality over quantity, but these are normal with every organization and easy to overcome. First comes the intention, next the desire and lastly the plan to execute.

So what should be the plan to move this forward?

Establishment of an innovation center

The establishment of an innovation support structure has two phases

• Elaboration of strategic directions; and
• Operational planning and implementation.

Elaboration of strategic direction

The elaboration of a strategic direction for the innovation support structure would comprise the following activities:

• identify a possible general manager or coordinator;
• define objectives of center (with general manager or coordinator);
• define the center’s corporate structure;
• define participants (stake-holders) in innovation structure (network) or innovation center;
• identify government agencies (departments of industry and technology);
• identify universities and other public R&D organizations;
• identify banks and other financial institutions;
• identify private persons and organizations;
• define the board membership;
• define the activities of the innovation support structure;
• innovation awareness advertising;
• training and awareness seminars for inventors/researchers/associates;
• invitations to inventors/researchers/associates to submit proposals;
• evaluation of project potential of submitted inventions/innovations (technical & commercial);
• selection of projects with success potential (and rejection of non-viable projects);
• development of commercialization strategies (business plans);
• management advice for project development and commercialization;
• internet site with information on center and links to other relevant sites;
• technology to enable idea capture, collaboration, records management, work flow documentation, approval process, project management

Operational planning and implementation

Operational planning and implementation of the plan for establishment of the innovation support structure (network, center) would include the following activities:

• recruitment of Innovation Champion by the Board;
• identification of site/premises for offices of the Innovation support structure
• formulate policies and procedures for operations;
• policy relating to initial free consultation (e.g. 1 hr. duration);
• policy on further support (e.g. project equity, note fee by Center);
• produce a check-list to assist Inventors/Researchers to submit proposals;
• produce a score sheet to facilitate project evaluation;
• select local advisers to innovation support structure;
• select project assessment panel and seek views on checklist and score sheet;
• select accountants and auditors for Innovation Center;
• select legal advisers for Innovation Center;
• identify technical experts to assist in project evaluation;
• develop and apply pro-forma and model agreements;
• pro-forma confidential disclosure agreement;
• pro-forma supply of materials agreement;
• pro-forma assignment of rights;
• model R&D, license, and joint venture agreements;
• create and publish internet site with information on innovation support services and links to other relevant sites;
• engagement of business development executives

Typical list of policies and procedures (not comprehensive)

• Innovation policy
• Innovation center vision document
• Innovation center handbook
• Innovation framework
• Innovation training policy
• Idea approval process
• Budget approval process
• Innovation project management process
• Kill gate criteria
• Rewards and recognition policy
• Intellectual property management
• Third party vendor involvement
• Non disclosure agreements
• Security policy
• Business continuity and disaster recovery policy
• IT Infrastructure and management policy