Innovation ecology and entrepreneurship

Michael J. Cima

Great inventors and innovators• Curiosity

– Collecting solutions for problems that have not yet been encountered

– Tool box of orthogonal nonlinearities • Empathy

– Truly experience and understand the problems that others face

• Leadership– The path to a solution often requires skills that go beyond

any one individual– Confidence balanced by objectivity– Infectious enthusiasm

Attributes of innovative groups

• Small• They have a clear image of excellence• Able to reinvent their mission• Diversity of experience

– They have a perspective that gives them an “unfair advantage”

• Absence of a fear of failure

Environment for innovation

• Creative centers– Research centers, Universities, etc.

• Capital– VC, angel, credit cards, etc.

• People of the “start-up infrastructure”• Time

– Every new idea begins with a negative net present value

MIT Innovation Ecosystem & Pipeline

Basic+Applied Research

Commercial Promise &

Viability

UniversitySpin-Off

Emerging Growth

Established Company

Support / Alum Offices:

Academic / Research

Offices

Student / Informal

Organizations

Joost Bonsen © 2008 ~ jpbonsen@alum.mit.edu

2009 InvenTeams•Students teams discover the problem they want to work on

•~500 students, teachers and mentors working on 30 teams

•4:1 students : adults•20% rural, 13% urban, and 67% suburban

•80% of schools are public•Upperclassmen•28% Female

Invention Education: InvenTeams

MIT Glass Lab

•Only craft art where a team is required

•No credit, club activity•The most over subscribed class at MIT

•Students, staff, faculty from all parts of campus