Strategic Innovation Labs

Impact Radar for Environmental Sustainability 🌎 The Emerging Tech Impact Radar for Environmental Sustainability identifies 29 emerging technologies and trends that are shaping the future of sustainable business practices. As environmental concerns become more central to business strategy, these innovations are critical for meeting growing expectations around sustainability while driving business resilience. Energy-related technologies are a key focus, with advancements in areas such as energy harvesting, microgrids, and battery storage supporting the global shift to renewable energy and improved efficiency. These technologies are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy resilience. Sustainable business practices are being transformed by innovations like cloud sustainability, environmental sensors, and sustainable software. These technologies enable businesses to operate more efficiently, reduce waste, and embed sustainability into their core operations. The radar also highlights technologies addressing climate challenges, such as carbon capture and climate risk analytics. These tools are vital for reducing emissions and managing the risks associated with climate change, helping businesses meet ambitious net-zero targets. The shift towards a circular economy is supported by technologies like life cycle assessments and materials informatics, which promote resource efficiency and waste reduction. These innovations are driving the transition from linear production models to more sustainable, regenerative practices. In agriculture and biodiversity, emerging technologies such as drone-based monitoring and blockchain for traceability are enhancing resource management and sustainable sourcing. These innovations are critical for preserving ecosystems and ensuring transparency in supply chains. Understanding the emerging technologies outlined in the Emerging Tech Impact Radar is crucial for businesses aiming to align with sustainability goals and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market. However, it is important to recognize that technology alone cannot solve all sustainability challenges. Businesses must combine these tools with strategic, systemic changes in operations, governance, and stakeholder engagement to create lasting, meaningful impact. What other technologies do you think should be part of this radar? Share your thoughts in the comments. Source: On the Path to Sustainability / The Insurance Industry’s Footprint #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #tech #technology

Almost 10 years ago, Mayank and I started our entrepreneurship journey in IT. We identified that global businesses are struggling to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology due to a lack of skilled talent. With India producing 1.5 million engineers every year and the second largest number of engineers, there is an abundance of talent who just need someone’s help to match them with the right opportunities. However, for the past 3 years, the way technology is changing, the skills that are in demand today might become obsolete tomorrow. They’ll either be replaced by some other tech or automated by AI. So my only advice to techies out there is to be aware of the tech trends in the market and continue to upskill yourself with new emerging technologies that will create more jobs in the next 3 years such as - AI, ML, and automation - Forrester predicts that this emerging tech will generate 9% of new jobs in the US by 2025. Generative AI - Businesses have started using Gen AI like crazy. 2 years back we used to say “Every company will be an AI company” but now it is “Every company will be a Gen AI company” Cyber Security - More advancements in tech mean more data, and data comes with threats and responsibilities. Demand for cybersecurity experts and security engineers will increase exponentially. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) - Forrester predicts that RPA will affect 230 million jobs but at the same time, it will create new jobs such as RPA developer, analyst, and architect. Quantum Computing - I've seen a lot of big tech companies hire quantum computing engineers with high packages, especially in the banking and finance sector for managing credit risk and detecting fraud. Now with a hugely smart and skilled talent base in India, I think it will be a great opportunity for tech professionals to upskill and ready themselves for these emerging technologies in 2024 and coming years. While upskilling yourself by learning new in-demand technologies, also focus on building skills that will stay with you forever and help you adapt to the new role, new tech, and new people faster like problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, team building, team collaboration, etc. #techtrends #AI #linkedinnews #emergingtrend2024

Entering a market isn’t guesswork. It’s math. And the equation is simpler than you think. When a new player shows up, incumbents move fast: → Drop prices until rivals run out of cash → Lock up distributors and suppliers → Flood the market with brand spend → Sign long contracts with penalties → Lobby regulators to raise barriers That’s 5 of 10 ways big companies protect their turf. For new entrants, fighting head-to-head rarely works. The smarter play is partnership. Instead of burning years and millions, you can borrow scale, credibility, and access. Here are 5 proven ways to do it: Co-distribution ⤷ Partner with a non-competitor who already sells to your target customers ⤷ You get reach without building your own network. Joint innovation ⤷ Collaborate with an incumbent to launch a new product ⤷ You share costs and inherit their credibility White-label supply ⤷ Sell your product under an incumbent’s brand ⤷ You scale quietly, while learning how the market really works Adjacent alliances ⤷ Enter through a related industry ⤷ Bypass the strongest defences Anchor partnership ⤷ Land one marquee partner ⤷ Their endorsement signals trust and opens doors The question is: how do you know if you have a real chance? Use the Entry Equation. Success Score = (Distribution × Incentive × Differentiation) ÷ (Switching + Regulatory + Capital) Score each factor 1–5 (5=Excellent): • Distribution Access • Incumbent Incentive • Differentiation • Switching Costs • Regulatory Barriers • Capital Intensity Interpretation: 0–5 = Low viability 6–10 = Conditional entry 11–15 = Strong entry Need an example? An EV battery startup partners with a Tier-1 auto supplier. Here's the assessment: • Distribution = 4 • Incentive = 5 • Differentiation = 5 • Switching = 3 • Regulatory = 4 • Capital = 3 Score = (4×5×5) ÷ (3+4+3) = 10 Interpretation → Conditional entry The path forward: reduce regulatory drag or switching pain This is how experienced CEOs think about market entry. Not just, “Can we compete?” But, “Who can we partner with to get through the defences?” Remember: Go-to-market partnerships aren’t a growth lever for new entrants. They’re the only way in. --------------------------- Was this helpful? Get cheatsheets like this each Wednesday. Subscribe to my free newsletter: https://philhsc.com ♻️ Repost this to help a founder or CEO assessing a new market ➕ Follow me, Phil Hayes-St Clair for more like this

AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly and Company launch digital health and AI innovation hubs in the Philippines and India >> 🇵🇭AstraZeneca will launch a Health Innovation Hub in the Philippines to attract investment and position the country as an ASEAN center for pharma, R&D, and digital health 🇵🇭 Its first project, an Oncology Innovation Center, will use AI for early cancer detection, expand patient support, and build healthcare workforce capacity 🇵🇭 The hub will drive collaboration and investment through business forums, B2B match-making, and regulatory support within ecozones 🇮🇳Eli Lilly has opened a Technology and Innovation Centre in Hyderabad’s Hitech City, set to expand from 100 staff to 1,500 by 2026–27, serving as a global hub for digital and technology capabilities 🇮🇳 The centre will focus on AI, automation, cloud, and software engineering, acting as a nerve centre linking Lilly’s global sites and accelerating medicine discovery and delivery 🇮🇳 Positioned as a centre of innovation rather than back-office support, it will bring together top talent in AI, data science, and engineering to drive digital transformation in pharma 💬 It’s great to see pharma innovation expanding across south and south east Asia, let’s hope the fruits are transformative vs just incremental #digitalhealth #ai #pharma

Top 10 Emerging Technologies Of 2023 And The Impact On The World Gen AI, Metaverse, Flexible Batteries, Sustainable aviation fuel, Designer phages, Metaverse for mental health, Wearable plant sensors, Spatial omics, Flexible neural electronics,  Sustainable computing, AI-facilitated healthcare This report goes above and beyond, offering a qualitative assessment of how these cutting-edge innovations will impact people, the planet, prosperity, industry, and equity. Authored by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Frontiers and over 90 experts spanning 20 countries, it captures diverse perspectives from every corner of the world. A transformation map that illustrates, how these technologies interconnect with other global topics and first time Impact Fingerprint Radar Chart. Ever wondered about spatial omics for molecular-level understanding, engineered viruses for health augmentation, or generative AI capable of creating original content? 🧬 💼💡 As a flagship product of the Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it aligns perfectly with their mission to promote a future that benefits everyone through human-centered and equitable technological progress. Now, let's take my 5 personal highlights of the top 10 emerging technologies of 2023 and how they can impact the world: 1️⃣ Combatting the climate and nature crises: Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): An eco-friendly solution to tackle aviation emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Wearable plant sensors: Harnessing the power of data to optimize crop yields, conserve resources, and improve agricultural productivity. 2️⃣ Powered by artificial intelligence: Generative AI: Going beyond written texts and images, this AI has applications in fields like drug design and space exploration! AI in healthcare: A game-changer for anticipating and preparing for health crises, improving healthcare access, and reducing treatment waiting times. 3️⃣ Emerging Technologies in Health: Metaverse for mental health: Creating virtual spaces for therapeutic treatments, mindfulness, and mental well-being. 🧠💻 Designer phages: Engineering microbiomes to enhance human, animal, and plant health, targeting microbiome-associated diseases. 🦠🌿 4️⃣ Spatial omics: Unraveling the mysteries of the human body at the molecular level, opening doors to new insights and potential breakthroughs. 🔬🧬 5️⃣ Engineering: Flexible batteries: Powering the future of flexible electronic devices, from roll-up screens to smart clothing and beyond! Flexible neural electronics: Advancing brain-machine interfaces with less invasive and more biocompatible technologies. 🧠💻 🌟These emerging technologies hold the key to transforming industries, addressing global challenges, and creating a better world for all. #AI #technology #Innovation #metaverse #marthaverse

From my new Harvard Business Review article, here’s how to build one of the four capabilities that every innovative organization needs: Trend Sensing. It involves…potato chips. Companies frequently hop on trends, but many do so only once the trends are well into their lifecycle. That can be costly and risky — market values may already reflect discovery of the trend, and the trend may have peaked. Nestle, for instance, bought the lean diet company Jenny Craig in 2006 for approximately $600 million, after weight loss trends were already starting to move away from Jenny Craig’s focus on fat content due to new discoveries in nutrition science. Nestle then sold the business cheaply seven years later as it divested several under-performing brands. There are other failure modes for trend-sensing, too. Firms can discuss trends in abstract ways – like how the population is aging – without tying them to specific changes in customer needs, supplier capabilities, operational challenges, or competitive pressures. Alternatively, trend sensing may become a soapbox for opinionated individuals to make the industry their inkblot test, asserting big strategic implications from ambiguous signals, such as arguing that the growth of AI means that companies should bring more IT capabilities in-house. That can lead to expensive missteps as companies overpay for assets that may be on-trend but which lack other strengths such as competitive differentiation or favorable economics. Witness perhaps the most disastrous merger of all-time: Time Warner’s with AOL during the dot-com bubble. What to do instead? For a contrast, look at PepsiCo, the multinational food and beverage powerhouse. It held a “Do Us a Flavor” competition for Lay’s potato chips from 2012 - 2018, seeking ideas from consumers for its next flavor. It didn’t actually need new ideas — the company has plenty — but this was an excellent way to track what flavor interests were trending and where. (The first year’s winner: cheesy garlic bread). Ultimately the program ended in part due to its popularity —  going through up to 3.8 million entries a year required a tremendous amount of labor and management time. The contest boasted characteristics of effective trend-hunting programs: it surfaced trends in real-time, it was inexpensive, it produced specific implications, and it was objective. Whether you sponsor a contest, go prospecting at conferences for adjacent industries, talk to your most passionate users, or embrace other methods, these parameters guide effective searches for trends. (Have you used other methods to go trend hunting? Please add them in the comments!)

AI isn’t a shift in the quality of care, it’s a shift in the practice of it. As clinicians, we’ve always been committed to delivering quality care. That commitment isn’t new. What’s evolving, what’s disruptive, is how we practice. How we document, decide, and deliver. How we connect with patients and with one another.   AI is threading itself into our workflows in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. From ambient scribing and diagnostic models to clinical decision support, care navigation, and patient communication, AI is either being considered or implemented. These are not just time-saving tools. They’re behavior-shaping technologies.   That means this moment is about more than adoption. It’s about transformation. I don't use that word lightly. We can't improve upon what is broken; we have to revolutionize our approach. In my role as Vice Chair for Innovation and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences , I spend a lot of time speaking with clinicians, health systems, and tech leaders. And I keep emphasizing that clinicians must be co-architects of this transformation.   Too often, AI solutions are deployed without enough input from those who understand the nuance of patient care. That gap can lead to tools that promise efficiency but disrupt workflows or worse, tools that inadvertently erode trust and connection. We don’t need more tech for tech’s sake. We need tech that enhances human care. That’s why I encourage health systems and innovators to bring clinicians in early and often. When we lead the design process, we can build systems that amplify insight, reduce burnout, and preserve the empathy at the heart of healthcare.   Here’s the lens I encourage my students, colleagues, and collaborators to adopt: -AI should augment, not automate, clinical thinking -Design should be human-first, not backend-first -Clinicians should be at the table, not just in the training module   The future of medicine isn't just algorithmic; it's collaborative. The clinician’s role is not disappearing; it’s evolving. And we have the opportunity and responsibility to shape what that evolution looks like. I'm honored to lead through the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences to spark meaningful conversations about the future of care, the role of clinicians in digital transformation, and the ethical deployment of AI in practice.   Let’s not be passive recipients of change. Let’s be purposeful designers of it. If you’re building, leading, teaching, or innovating in this space, I’d love to connect. Because I think when clinicians lead, AI doesn’t replace us. It reveals the best of us.  

Yesterday, the UK Government released its Modern Industrial Strategy and Digital and Technologies Sector Plan. The strategy is ambitious, including a £4 billion capital injection via the British Business Bank to unlock £12 billion in private investment; £670 million for development and adoption of quantum computers, and £54 million for a new Global Talent Taskforce. But beyond the numbers, what matters is this: the government is designing industrial policy with scaling tech companies in mind. At Tech Nation and Founders Forum, we’ve been listening to our community of tech founders across the UK and actively relaying their feedback to No 10, DSIT, and HM Treasury over the last few months, calling for practical changes to unlock growth for UK tech scaleups. It’s clear from this plan that the government have been listening attentively to our founder feedback, and are prioritising tech innovation as a key gateway to growth for our country. What stands out: – Growth capital: Deepening the pool of scaleup capital available to UK founders with increased firepower from the British Business Bank, and a long-overdue move to unlock pension capital now underway. – Talent: Doubling down on how we attract the world’s top talent to choose the UK as home base; the TechFirst programme and AI scholarships show a serious commitment to building the UK’s tech workforce, from school leavers to PhDs to global fellows. – Infrastructure: From regional AI Growth Zones to faster data centre connections, this is the first strategy that sees physical and digital infrastructure as core to scaling startups and focuses on unblocking grid connections so founders from all across the country can scale brilliant ideas. – Regulation and procurement: With the Regulatory Innovation Office, AI sandboxes, and Defence-led R&D pathways, there’s now more room for founders to take the right risks. – Regional innovation: Significant cluster funding with guaranteed local allocations, so that we can turbocharge game-changing tech companies from all corners of the UK. The direction of travel is clear: The UK is committed to cementing its place as a global innovation hub and technology leader, but it takes all of us – founders, investors, enterprise corporations, Big Tech, policymakers, and startup operators – to put this plan into action and deliver its results. This plan is just the beginning, but we’re looking forward to working with the government and our broader Tech Nation community to make it a reality. #IndustrialStrategy #Digital #Tech #UK #ScaleUps #TechPolicy #FoundersForum #TechNation #FoundersPulse #Startups #Founders #Entrepreneurs #ItTakesaTechNation

In September, decision-makers from all over Europe eagerly awaited Mario Draghi's report on the future of European competitiveness. 👉 One striking statistic: only 4 of the world's top 50 tech companies are European. The issue isn’t a lack of ideas or ambition; rather, we are struggling to commercialize our innovations. Innovative companies looking to scale up in Europe are hindered by a lack of sufficiently large funds that supply the necessary growth capital and restrictive regulations. As a result, many European entrepreneurs turn to US venture capitalists for financing and scale up in the US market. This means that valuable innovation potential – and profits – are flowing out of Europe. In fact, there is no EU company valued at over €100 billion that was founded from scratch in the last 50 years. To bridge the innovation gap between Europe and its global competitors, we need comprehensive reforms that reduce regulatory burdens, deepen the capital market, support state-of-the-art infrastructure for digital and green transformation, and foster stronger collaboration across Europe. Data source: European Commission

As I meet more people, especially budding tech founders, a recurring question is about leveraging partnerships as a revenue channel. One key aspect that often stands out in these discussions is identifying the right partner. The right partnership can provide up to 80% leverage in your ROI by aligning perfectly with your goals and capabilities. Consider the example of a health tech startup partnering with a large hospital chain. By integrating their cutting-edge telemedicine platform with the hospital's extensive network, the startup was able to provide virtual health services to a vast number of patients. This partnership enabled the startup to scale rapidly and gain credibility in the healthcare market, while the hospital chain could offer innovative services to their patients without developing the technology in-house. To help identify the right partner, I recommend using a simple framework like the "PARTNER" scoring model: - 'P'urpose Alignment: Do your missions and goals align? - 'A'ccess to Market: Can they help you reach new or larger markets? - 'R'esource Complementarity: Do they offer resources you lack and vice versa? - 'T'rust and Reliability: Can you trust them to deliver consistently? - 'N'etwork Synergy: Do their connections and networks benefit you? - 'E'conomic Benefit: Is the partnership financially advantageous? - 'R'eputation: Does partnering with them enhance your brand image? By scoring potential partners on these criteria, you can identify the one that offers the best strategic fit and highest potential for ROI. #B2BPartnerships #TechFounders #BusinessGrowth #StrategicAlliances image - courtesy to Freepik