Could innovation be inspired by nature?

After a walk in the forest, the Swiss inventor George de Mestral noticed that many of the fruits of the burdock plant clung to his dog’s hair. He had the idea of observing them under a microscope, which is how he noticed that the fruit had flexible hooks. He used this ingenious natural system to invent the Velcro. This type of invention, born from the observation of nature, is called biomimicry.

Today, we observe the forms and mechanical properties of nature, but also the functioning of living beings and their communication systems, in order to innovate differently.

© Pjt56, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

© Natural Philo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Is innovation always connected to technology?

Remember those diving masks that were turned into medical respirators at the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis? Behind this invention, it did not take teams of highly-qualified engineers to come up with this invention, all people needed was the urgency to find a quick and functional solution for a respirator. This is what is known as frugal innovation, the art of designing ingenious solutions by seeking to do more with less. In these innovation processes, efficiency takes precedence over technology.

© Fabfactory

Can innovation be social?

Over the last ten years, the concept of the “hackathon” has become increasingly widespread. Its aim is to produce innovative content using creativity and collective intelligence, a “hack” that meets a predefined challenge in record time (“marathon”). The original purpose of a hackathon was to test and improve the security of a computer system. However, this primary objective has now evolved to make room for a range of diverse themes, such as biology, climate, mobility or health.

Photo taken during the “chantier des possibles” organised at the Maison Folie de Mons. Citizens were invited to design and build collective furniture that met their needs. © Mons Arts de la Scène

Is innovation always linked to big companies?

When we think of innovation, we think of big technology companies. However, outside the traditional patented, standardised, closed and expensive innovation systems, there are treasures to be found. Open innovation refers to the research and development of innovation modes based on the free sharing of knowledge and know-how and collaboration.

The Arduino is a project invented in 2005 by an Italian team from the Institute of Interaction and Design in Ivrea who wanted to allow art and design students to create all kinds of projects thanks to a small electronic board. This board is open source. The name “Arduino” comes from a pub where the team used to meet.

© Omic quellovero, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Is using concrete in construction still the solution?

In our collective imagination, when we think of concrete, we think of functionality, efficiency and reliability. This is not surprising, as most of the so-called modernist architecture was based on the use of this miracle material. Nowadays, concrete no longer seems to be the most appropriate solution for architectural innovation, as the production of cement contributes greatly to global warming and sand has become a rare and precious resource.

© Romancito77, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Is innovation always the solution to our issues?

What was commonly called progress two hundred years ago is now called “innovation”, “startup” or “BigData”. Innovation is only one solution in a model that takes into account the environment, whether economic, natural or social, and above all where the consumer becomes a responsible citizen and remains integrated in the production process from start to finish.

Today, it seems legitimate to work together to create a space where debate among citizens has regained its full place and allows the assimilation of technological developments in a creative and cooperative approach.

© Tim.Reckmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Can innovation be small, local or personal?

With the development of custom manufacturing technologies such as 3D printers, objects that had to be designed in a standard way yesterday can now be manufactured and adapted locally. It becomes possible to take into account the very special needs of the user. In the medical field, personalised technologies are of great interest, whether to monitor a patient’s vital functions or to provide tailor-made care.

Can digitalization improve healthcare?

Nowadays, with the development of connected objects, it is possible to monitor a patient’s health on a daily basis and to control their vital parameters in real-time. These innovations make it possible to collect more accurate data. By measuring the vital health statistics anywhere and anytime, the chances of generating more data is higher. As a result, with broader data, healthcare professionals get a more accurate picture.

© Sistema d’Emergències Mèdiques (SEM), CC BY-SA IGO 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Does innovation only cover new construction?

When we talk about eco-transition, and in particular in relation to the construction sector, we imagine roofs filled with solar panels, high-tech home automation, new buildings designed for energy performance and an electric car parked out in front. But the challenges of the energy transition also apply to existing buildings. They could even become laboratories for innovation without increasing land use. The thermal insulation of old buildings, for example, is a very interesting challenge that can be carried out at a reasonable price. Moreover, it allows financial savings and improves living comfort. Isn’t that a real luxury?

© RachelW1, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Can innovation have multiple uses?

History shows that the success of an innovation is not only linked to its technical qualities but also to its use. Today, some technologies are successful because they are designed to be integrated into other systems. WIFI, the wireless communication system invented in 1997, is a good example, as it is now integrated not only in our computers but also in buildings and everyday objects such as toys, washing machines and cameras.

Wifi adapter for video game © Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons