New innovation program: Accelerating Innovation
Stavanger is now getting a new innovation program that will help companies go from good intentions to concrete implementation. The program, Accelerating Innovation, has been developed in collaboration between professionals associated with the University of Stavanger, the Chamber of Commerce in the Stavanger region and Nordic Edge. Participants are now being sought.
Through five sessions, participants from the private and public sectors will work on real challenges from their own organization, closely followed up by professional environments and a group of experienced lecturers. The ambition is clear: less talk about innovation - more actual change.
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- Is your organization in shape for innovation?
- Innovation. You can't avoid the word, it's everywhere these days. Of course we need it, but are we able to deliver it? Can we move from a slogan to a strategy?
The question is posed by Professor John Bessant, one of the lecturers in the program. He challenges participants to assess their own innovation readiness: Do you have the structures, culture and scope for action that are actually required in your company?
Instead of theory alone, active work with your own organization is encouraged, with concrete tools and committed progress between sessions.
Photo: Professor John Bessant at Innoasis, when the prototype of Accelerating Innovation was tested.
Users as the driving force
Another key part of the program is led by Professor Tatiana Iakovleva at UiS. She is clear that innovation must be based on real needs, not assumptions.
- The aim of this program is to create a real, hands-on learning experience in a safe and stimulating environment.
Users are highlighted as co-creators, not recipients. The goal is solutions that actually work, and last. Professor Ali Turkyilmaz from UiS adds that it's also important to look at the effectiveness of innovation work - most companies have a lot to gain here.
Sustainability is also an important part of the program. Andra Riandita, with a PhD from UiS, points out that complex sustainability challenges are not just a requirement, but also an opportunity.
- Sustainability challenges are complex, but they can also be powerful drivers of innovation. The key is knowing how to translate them into structured decisions and meaningful collaboration.
The point is to move from overarching ambitions to concrete problem solving, and to understand that collaboration across businesses is often critical to success.
Elin Oftedal is a professor of change management and innovation. She has the following encouragement for those considering taking part.
- Anyone with projects or ideas with potential who needs a little help to get started should apply.
Bjarne Uldal from Nordic Edge agrees, pointing out the importance of variety among participants.
- We want to recruit from both the public and private sectors, as well as large and small companies. We let you bring your company's own challenges, and seek new angles and new solutions to this together.
Photo: UiS, Nordic Edge and Næringsforeningen i Stavanger collaborate on Accelerating Innovation
A joint boost for the region
The program can accommodate up to 30 participants from different industries and sectors. Over five sessions spread over 8 months, they work on their own innovation challenges, test new approaches and get feedback from both professionals and each other. The classroom will be at the Innoasis innovation hub in Stavanger.
For many, innovation stops at the idea stage. Accelerating Innovation is designed to break that pattern. The question for the region's businesses is therefore simple:
Are you ready to move from talking about innovation to actually accelerating it?
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Interessert i å vite mer om dette? Kontakt oss:
Bjarne Uldal
Chief Innovation Officer
+47 915 47 653
bjarne@nordicedge.org