Innovation Processes

Promoting Innovation. The innovation process involves the search for changes or the causes of changes, and then the analysis and exploitation of the opportunities that are made possible by these changes (34). 

Answers to the first question can be illustrated by giving some examples (see Table 1). Eastman Chemical reengineered its innovation process and doubled the value of its R D portfoho (71—74). A team at Eastman was asked to provide (/) an assessment of the then-current innovation process, (2) a vision of the ideal process, (J) a flow chart of the modified process, (4) measures of the process, and (5) key roles and responsibihties. The team identified four main subprocesses needs identification, concept development, implementation, and market development. 

The detailed analysis, involving many respondents inside and outside the company, led to changes in the overall innovation process, ie, a company-wide priority system for innovation projects, measures of innovation for each functional and business area, training and supportive management systems for project managers, informal multifunctional teams in concept development and market development, a stmctured needs identification process, and appointment of a process steward to monitor the innovation process, measure how it functions, and coordinate innovation projects. 

The R D function itself will be organized from company to company in very different ways. In some firms, the responsibiUty for innovation will be broadly shared and a distinct R D unit may cease to exist. In others, technical developments from an R D lab will be the principal source of innovation for the business. In still others, the primary task of the R D or technology group will be to obtain technology from outside the firm. Those involved in R D will need to make certain that their knowledge and talents impact the business irrespective of their precise function. The innovation process will become less linear (Fig. 8) as more feedback loops, technology transfer, and cooperative efforts are involved. 

Fig. 8. The innovation process model seen as a series of feedback loops involving technology transfer and the merging of cooperative efforts on a global...

Enei y. In recent years the concern for energy conservation has resulted in many innovative process improvements to make the manufacture of citric acid more efficient. Eor example, heat produced by the exotherm of the neutralization of citric acid with lime is used in another part of the process where heat is requited, such as the evaporation/crystallization step. 

Kao can best be described as a product champion various studies of the innovation process in industry have demonstrated the central importance of the product champion in driving a difficult innovation to the point of success. Many years ago (Cahn 1970) I published an analysis of the kinds of case history of innovations from which this conclusion eventually emerged in the 1970s. Kao would have been the perfect exemplar in this analysis, but he was still striving to convince the doubters when I wrote that paper. 

The term process intensification is used synonymously with minimization. Process intensification is also often used more specifically to describe new technologies which reduce the size of unit operations equipment, particularly reactors. Innovative process intensification techniques are receiving more and more attention. Interesting possibilities for a range of unit operations, including reaction, gas-liq-... 

Choukrallah R (2009) Practices for wastewater treatment and re-use in the mediterranean case of Morocco. INNOVA-MED innovative processes and practices for wastewater treatment and re-use in the Mediterranean region. FP 6... 

In all these innovative processes, monoliths and monoUth-based filters are used. As temperature runaways can occur special materials are used. SiC appears to be the best choice because of its excellent heat conductivity. 

In summation, both DAF and IAF are good innovative processes for more efficient and more cost-effective groundwater decontamination. 

Krofta, M., Wang, L.K., Barns, D., and Janas, J., Treatment of Pittsfield Raw Water for Drinking Water Production by Innovative Process Systems, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA, Report No. P1382118795, 87pp., February 1981. 

The appropriate period for which an invention should be protected is that which allows the recovery of the costs of the innovative activity adjusting for the risk incurred. But this can only be considered in an ideal situation with a single isolated innovation that does not affect other possible innovations and in which the innovation process cannot be speeded up with additional resources. If a shorter period of protection were given instead of this ideal period in ideal conditions, the innovation would not be developed. And if the period were longer, there would be an unnecessary delay in the supply of innovations that would effectively create a welfare loss. 

De Bertoldi M, Civilini M (2006) High rate composting with innovative process control. Compost Sci Util 14 290-295... 

Innovation particularly in small volume chemicals often depends on a quick reaction to market opportunities and low costs. Six major characteristics of the chemical innovation process for small volume chemicals lead to this conclusion. 

Well-to-wheel analysis needs to be applied for all relevant time steps to understand the evolution of environmental effects and possibly costs in the short to long term. This is of specific importance when innovative processes are considered, as these are characterised by technology development and cost curves with high gradients. 

With regard to innovation processes the significance and the direct effectiveness of individual committed promoters or blockers with their individual motives such as profit or occupational health and safety, consumer protection or environmental protection should, however, not be overestimated. Although committed promoters do play an important part in most substitution processes, a closer look at the individual case samples very quickly reveals their structural futility. Complex innovative processes cannot be moved by a limited number of actors or even by individuals alone. Many substitution processes simply do not progress, despite the fact that we cannot observe any definite opponents . These innovations are not impeded, they only become stuck, as the inertia of the system is simply too high. In order to gain an appropriate comprehension of the ability (and not just the... 

Substitution of hazardous substances is an innovation process like many others... 

The substitution of hazardous substances in products and processes by lower-risk alternatives is generally an innovation process just like others too. The substitution of hazardous substances shares most features of any innovation, such as uncertainty about its success, overcoming inertia, favourable or unfavourable time frames (dependence on investment cycles) or dependence on the commitment of individual persons. 

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