What is Innovation?

Our definition of innovation is that it is "the successful exploitation of new ideas". This implies that it is not just the invention of a new idea that we are interested in, but that this idea is actually "brought to market", used, put into practice, exploited in some way, maybe leading to new products, processes, systems, attitudes or services that improve something or add value.

In our view there are different kinds of innovation. For us the main ones are:

• Incremental innovation - where something is adapted or modified. This may mean that an old idea is transferred to a new setting or that existing ideas are embedding in a new setting.
• Radical innovation - which involves completely new ideas.

Developing something innovative can be an individual process but we have frequently seen this is being done by groups of people who may take on different aspects of the process, playing to their individual strengths, knowledge and roles in an organisation.

Why is it important?

We consider that innovation is important now because we are facing a number of key challenges. Globalisation, the technological and knowledge revolutions, cultural debate and climate change are issues that face us all at some level. They mean that as well as wanting to innovate in order to improve a process or product and add value, we also have to innovate because there is an overwhelming imperative to do so. These issues pose challenges for the private sector, for public services and for governments and policy makers.

In The Innovation Unit, as educators our core aim is to provide the best life chances for all children and young people, not just in the present but also in the future when the factors listed above will affect society in a variety of ways.

For example, globalisation and shifting patterns of trade and commerce with manufacturing increasingly being undertaken in countries where labour costs are lower mean that different skills will be required by the workforce of the future.

Growing up in the world of MySpace, the popular social networking site, or Second Life, the rapidly growing 3-D virtual world built and owned by its "residents", with the whole web providing exabytes of information offers the potential for very different educational experiences.

Migration patterns and shifting demographics along with climate change will also impact on the futures of the young people in our society.

All this leads us to consider that innovation is now an essential component of any kind of system that has an impact on education.  We focus on innovation in public services to improve the experience of users. 

We have based our views on extensive reading and dialogue with leading writers.

Further reading:

Innovation in the Public Sector - Mulgan and Albury (2003) Cabinet Office UK

Innovation; lessons from the private sector - Professor Tom Ling (2002) National Audit Office, UK

DIUS innovation report (2008)

Nesta innovation briefing (2008)

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