Open Innovation is evolving!
You know how it is. Once you've got something on your mind, you see references to it everywhere. Hot on the heels of the Netflix prize I spotted reference to two further high profile innovation challenges. This week's Economist is carrying a feature about NASA's Centennial Challenge to citizen inventors to construct a lunar lander and also the Grand Challenge Exploration by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to encourage young inventors to come up with ideas that would benefit the health of those living in poor countries.
All three are demonstrations of the faith in the crowd. All are demonstrations of the belief that someone out there has (or at least can work out) the answer. And all three are demonstrations of the power of communication (and a little cash) to come up with a workable solution … once you stop insisting that you will only work within the confines of your own "box".
