Borderless innovation, collaborative innovation, open innovation — all are terms that could resolve the lack of effective innovation and entrepreneurship models in the Middle East.
Think about it. What do we do here?
- We import talent that works for a few years, but the high turnover rate makes it difficult to implement lasting change.
- We hire consultants who do a few quick projects, and then leave with little knowledge transfer.
- We invest millions in massive projects that take years and years to see a return.
- We build educational institutions with the latest infrastructure and technologies, but only a few hundred students.
All of this contributes to a culture that relies on the innovation of others. What we need instead is a more simple and collaborative environment that learns from the rest of the world (without relying on them) to solve our own problems, improve our economies and advance our societies.
What we need is borderless innovation.
I’m not talking about looking beyond our geographical borders for solutions (although that can be a successful method for generating ideas if it’s managed correctly). What I mean is looking beyond physical borders — the four walls that enclose your office, your department or your company. I’m also talking about social borders — the gap between public and private organizations, between big businesses and entrepreneurs.
Borderless innovation doesn’t mean just outsourcing all your problems for someone else to solve. It means that the person (or organization) with the problem takes ownership of it; they take an active role in understanding the problem and developing innovative solutions. In addition to their internal problem-solving efforts, they also leverage the experience and expertise of people outside their borders to bring to light existing solutions or ideate new ones.
This is the logic behind borderless innovation — working collaboratively to find innovative solutions to complex business, economic, social and environmental problems, and create new value.
By way of example, one of my partners, NineSigma, has recently been contracted by the Piedmont region in Italy to develop an economic stimulus plan using borderless innovation. NineSigma is helping the region develop a list of strategic projects, and set up an open innovation network to solicit ideas and solutions from both local and global innovators to help stimulate innovation and growth in the region.
So, while the region is sponsoring the effort, the network brings together entrepreneurs, small, medium and large enterprises, universities and research labs as participants in finding the best solution for each project. All this is being done at a fraction of the cost of what it would take to build a fancy R&D lab. It’s mainly done on the internet.
Would something like this work in the Middle East? I believe it could if given the chance. Our youth are very motivated and creative; they can do magic if they have the means and opportunity. They don’t necessarily need an expensive R&D infrastructure to collaborate and innovate. Many are already taking the entrepreneurial path, using their own talents and innovative ideas.
Our governments and universities have innovation and economic stimulus as high priorities, although they are struggling to successfully execute in some cases. Using borderless innovation and collaboratively developing solutions might be the answer to move us beyond innovation apathy. One thing is for sure — we’ll never know if we don’t try.
About Kamal Hassan
This suggestion is a big name with little effect. Who can erase borders in this part of the world? They have been stamped on us and our governments believe in them as the most sacred thing to preserve, after of couse the chairs.
To initiate borderless innovation you need to allow the movement of innovators and free exchange or resources. Ideas can cross borders but not common work. One can see the problems created to free commerce and the regularly created execuses for boycots. There is an upper brain which has convinced people that borders in every aspect are sacred and untouchable. This is helping to keep this rich area in the hands of those who want to cultivate it and steal its resources. Enemies always do things like that, but we are supposed to do exactly against their aims and cntradict their advice. We are obeying those enemies.
I really like your blog on “Borderless Inovation.” It touches on activity that we are starting to see in geographies all around the globe. The Piedmont project you mentioned is just one example, as we are engaged in open innovation work on every continent except for Antarctica. Open innovation really does break down barriers to innovation, and allows an open flow of ideas, concepts, processes and intellectual property to those who need it, when they need it.
I was surprised to see the first reply to your blog. There is a big difference between restrictions that impact innovation and those that impact trade. With trade, there are restrictive laws, etc., but this is typically not the case with innovation. In fact, any borders, restrictions or barriers to innovation exist only in one’s inability to think openly, creatively and collaboratively.
Congratulations on a brilliant well-thought article. You bring a good understanding of Middle east environment to think of a solution that could be effective for this region. What comes clear is that Middle east needs to tap into the knowledge and experience of their people to build a lasting solution for their problems. It is about building an environment for the local think-tanks to collaborate and arrive at solutions applicable for their local problems.
Consultants do help visualize probable solutions but it is the people who would finally be affected by solution that need to get involved in developing and implementing the solution. I think the Middle east countries have taken the right step in building some world-class universities. But the issues with low number local students in these universities need solutions at grass root levels. In the meanwhile these universities should attract students from world over and this will give the local students truly global exposure but with local connect.
Borderless innovation is certainly worth considering in this environment but in a framework that helps government, universities, entrepreneurs and organizations to openly work together keeping inmind the political and religious sensitiveness in mind.