Let’s Get Combinatorial!
Wayne Chia
Is it possible to create innovation without breakthrough discoveries? We believe so. Often, the real innovation is looking at how we can combine existing component technologies, methods and solutions in new ways. We call this combinatorial innovation
We often cite the jet engine as our classic example of combinatorial innovation. Invented in the 1930s, it was a cutting-edge innovation: none of its component technologies (compressor, combustion chamber and turbine) were new at that point in time. The magic was in the combination.
Not convinced? Here’s more evidence:
· Research conducted on 8.3 million US patent data over 2 centuries reveals that research productivity in any one field declines over time if new elements for combination of new information about underlying parameters are not discovered. On the flip side, patenting increases were correlated to new combinations made before the patent was granted[1].
· Of the top 20 scientific discoveries ever made, 15 of them were made by polymaths — people who made notable contributions to multiple domains of studies[2].
In the coming weeks, we will be sharing more tangible examples of combinatorial innovations at work.
[1] https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1004&context=econ_las_workingpapers
[2] Human Accomplishment — The Pursuit of Excellence in The Arts and Sciences, 800 B.C. to 1950, Charles Murray, pg 130
Interested to find out more? Join the IFC Asia Conference on 18–20 June and watch Wayne present Combinatorial Innovation in further details and depth. Use discount code “WAYNE” for a $100 discount.
This article was written by Asia P3 Hub’s Lead for Innovative Programmes, Wayne Chia.
Wayne has more than a decade of experience in innovation, product development and digital business modelling, acquired through running start-up businesses in the digital space across US, China and Southeast Asia. After his last venture Techsailor was acquired by TO THE NEW, Wayne was determined that his next steps would be to solve bigger global issues.
Today, he leads Innovative Programme at Asia P3 Hub, Asia’s first multi-sector partnership incubator. Asia P3 Hub, hosted by World Vision aims to bring governments, companies, NGOs and academia together to solve poverty issues. The model is currently being piloted in the area of water, sanitation and hygiene.
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