Innovation Insights from Evolution

The Conventional Wisdom

Many people believe that the process for achieving breakthrough innovations is chaotic, random, and unmanageable.

The Reality

Breakthroughs can be systematically generated using a process modeled on the principles that drive evolution in nature: variance generation, which creates a variety of life-forms; and selection pressure to select those that can best survive in a given environment.

The Process

Emergent Discovery

Flagship Pioneering, the venture-creation firm behind Moderna Therapeutics, uses such an approach, which it calls emergent discovery. It involves:

• Prospecting for ideas in novel spaces;
• Developing speculative conjectures;
• Relentlessly questioning hypotheses.

Conclusion

Breakthrough innovations are not the result of chance, but rather the result of a systematic process that leverages the principles of evolution to generate and select innovative ideas. By adopting an emergent discovery approach, organizations can increase their chances of achieving groundbreaking results.

FAQs

Q: What is emergence in the context of innovation?

A: In the context of innovation, emergence refers to the process of generating a wide range of ideas and possibilities, and then selecting the most promising ones through a process of iteration and refinement.

Q: How does Flagship Pioneering’s emergent discovery approach differ from traditional approaches to innovation?

A: Traditional approaches to innovation often focus on improving existing ideas or technologies, whereas Flagship Pioneering’s emergent discovery approach involves creating new possibilities through prospecting, conjecturing, and questioning.

Q: What are some potential benefits of using an emergent discovery approach to innovation?

A: This approach can lead to the development of more innovative and groundbreaking solutions, as well as increased efficiency and reduced risk in the innovation process.