HP innovation – open to nurturing academic entrepreneurship

From BPI Nituv

HP promotes innovation in several ways. The open innovation program is designed to create opportunities for breakthrough collaborative research with universities around the world. HP also invests in nurturing entrepreneurs to support research efforts. The management idea campaign, run by the software division for example, has produced some novel technological solutions and innovative ideas. A few selected executives have had the opportunity to manage independent enterprises within the company with an R&D fund and have enjoyed professional development.

Open innovation with universities

HP open innovation is designed to create opportunities at universities and institutes around the world. Through a biennial request for proposals (RFP), HP solicits ideas on a range of topics with the goal of establishing new research for the company's R&D. An example concerns sharing experiences and feelings via digital photos for creating happier messages or broadcasting any other feeling. The selected proposal will receive the financial support for further development. The program has achieved two goals by providing the academy an opportunity to accelerate and improve their research and by creating an innovative culture at HP.

The Technion based facility of HP laboratories includes a team of researchers directed by Doron Shaked. The facility is one of 7 laboratories around the world. HP Israel laboratories' geographical location has certain advantages: it allows the laboratories to maintain a close relationship with academic research, to work in cooperation with university laboratories and to involve students in HP research.

HP is a company that believes in organic growth (internal) in terms of technology ventures. Accordingly, HP supports innovative projects and activities in a wide range of areas based on original ideas of the company's best employees. Employees from around the world confront business dilemmas presented on the intranet and attempt to offer suitable solutions. Oren Ariel , director of HP Printing Automation Lab described one example of the management ideas project that relates to energy-efficient technology. Proposals were requested from 9000 company software division employees for this research topic. 150 ideas were received per month, 40 of which were found to be serious ones with convincing solutions. The best and final 6 ideas were recognized as the best solutions. The solutions were presented to a senior board that was able to provide project funding. This phase ended with entrepreneur initiation. Within 6-12 months they will complete the initial development of a prototype and perhaps even be able to evaluate the product proof of concept at a number of beta sites.

The challenge to challenge the HP creative innovators

Managing innovation, as presented, can challenge capital human assets. Creative innovators are characterized by curiosity and the desire to explore new ideas, as well as identify new initiatives to improve solutions. Innovators striving for achievements follow their ability to conduct independent research, with an open mind, in depth expertise and skills that can be applied to a variety of research topics and innovative solutions. Entrepreneurship and creativity require a daydreaming head, freedom of imagination, drive and desire to create, even if success is doubtable.

Lake of Kinneret – inspiration for innovation

Another way HP promotes innovation and entrepreneurship is a project named kinner-net: a two day event attended by 60-70 elite teams of engineers. The workshop provides an opportunity to develop new thinking patterns. Moreover, the workshop's purpose is to motivate professionals to be more curious and to develop their imagination, allowing them to achieve maximum development. This event arouses enthusiasm among employees. Engineers from various disciplines work together as a team. The workshop enhances and promotes an organizational climate which supports and encourages entrepreneurship, creativity, invention, freedom of imagination and curiosity. In two days, participants, inspired by the activities that are accompanied by artists' presentations, develop inspiration, passion, and new thinking.