Tec^Edge’s IDEA Lab Spurs Innovation
April 02, 2010 Filed in: Business-government
Thursday, April 1, 2010
But their first breakthrough idea – controlling a machine in flight by warping its wings – came from idly twisting the ends of a cardboard box.
Wilbur and Orville used a box to help them think outside the box. Today, an organization named for them offers much more than a twisty box to help Air Force researchers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base find solutions to complex problems.
The IDEA Lab
(Innovate-Demonstrate-Explore-Apply Laboratory) is a
new capability at the Wright Brothers Institute’s
(WBI’s)
new Tec^Edge Innovation and Collaboration Center.
(MAP) WBI celebrated its
grand opening today with an open house and
reception attended by Air Force, university and
economic development leaders from around the
Dayton region.
The IDEA Lab uses a formal process WBI calls Collaborative Innovation to help Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) researchers and program managers find breakthrough solutions to difficult problems – breakthroughs that might already exist in some area where they would never look on their own, or that might require the help of collaborators in unrelated fields.
The IDEA Lab supports the process with a dedicated facility, staff, and software tools including large technical databases. “We reach out worldwide” to find possible solutions or potential collaborators, says Robert Barthelemy, co-creator of IDEA Lab.
The process begins by giving the problem itself a fresh look, because the true problem may not always be what the researcher thinks it is. “We take their problem and break it into many pieces to analyze and reconstruct it,” Barthelemy says.
“In essence, the IDEA Lab provides an ‘innovation engine’ that drives creative approaches, innovative solutions and powerful collaborations and partnerships,” he says.
A researcher or team may pursue a solution through the IDEA Lab on different levels, from a relatively simple search to a “deep dive” with more in-depth exploration, and possibly forums and workshops.
The IDEA Lab is particularly valuable to AFRL researchers because it’s operated by a non-government entity. In many cases, WBI has easier access to commercial databases and more flexibility in setting up research collaborations between government and non-government researchers. WBI receives funding from, and supports AFRL through, a public-private partnership agreement.
“Collaborative Innovation” is a variation of a problem solving process known in the commercial world as “open innovation.” A few major companies have set up open innovation facilities, but they are mainly players in highly competitive consumer product markets.
“I think we’re a pioneer in the aerospace world,” Barthelemy said.
The Wright Brothers Institute helps the Air Force Research Laboratory accelerate technology development by facilitating intense collaborations among researchers from government, industry, and academia.
WBI operates two unique facilities close to the AFRL workforce at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Tec^Edge Innovation and Collaboration Center provides creative spaces for discussions, problem solving and exploratory research. Tec^Edge Works provides space and tools for rapid prototyping and experimentation.
WBI also supports the Dayton region by leveraging this work to foster technology transfer and commercialization, aid business growth, and enhance science and math educational opportunities. For more information, visit www.wbi-icc.com.
The IDEA Lab uses a formal process WBI calls Collaborative Innovation to help Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) researchers and program managers find breakthrough solutions to difficult problems – breakthroughs that might already exist in some area where they would never look on their own, or that might require the help of collaborators in unrelated fields.
The IDEA Lab supports the process with a dedicated facility, staff, and software tools including large technical databases. “We reach out worldwide” to find possible solutions or potential collaborators, says Robert Barthelemy, co-creator of IDEA Lab.
The process begins by giving the problem itself a fresh look, because the true problem may not always be what the researcher thinks it is. “We take their problem and break it into many pieces to analyze and reconstruct it,” Barthelemy says.
“In essence, the IDEA Lab provides an ‘innovation engine’ that drives creative approaches, innovative solutions and powerful collaborations and partnerships,” he says.
A researcher or team may pursue a solution through the IDEA Lab on different levels, from a relatively simple search to a “deep dive” with more in-depth exploration, and possibly forums and workshops.
The IDEA Lab is particularly valuable to AFRL researchers because it’s operated by a non-government entity. In many cases, WBI has easier access to commercial databases and more flexibility in setting up research collaborations between government and non-government researchers. WBI receives funding from, and supports AFRL through, a public-private partnership agreement.
“Collaborative Innovation” is a variation of a problem solving process known in the commercial world as “open innovation.” A few major companies have set up open innovation facilities, but they are mainly players in highly competitive consumer product markets.
“I think we’re a pioneer in the aerospace world,” Barthelemy said.
The Wright Brothers Institute helps the Air Force Research Laboratory accelerate technology development by facilitating intense collaborations among researchers from government, industry, and academia.
WBI operates two unique facilities close to the AFRL workforce at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Tec^Edge Innovation and Collaboration Center provides creative spaces for discussions, problem solving and exploratory research. Tec^Edge Works provides space and tools for rapid prototyping and experimentation.
WBI also supports the Dayton region by leveraging this work to foster technology transfer and commercialization, aid business growth, and enhance science and math educational opportunities. For more information, visit www.wbi-icc.com.
