Why?

We are multi-disciplinary learners and futurists who believe the time is right for a fresh and rigorous approach to create a better world through ethical applications of technology.

 

We are focussed on solving a costly problem: established firms don't always have the technology vision, understanding and strategic quality to thrive in era of high technological change. It doesn't have to be that way.

 

Let us help you survive and thrive technological disruption by finding and connecting you with the right R&D resources to create your future growth through technology innovation. Note that the top 6 stocks on the S&P500, representing more than 20% of the index have all had strong technology vision (AAPL, MSFT, AMZN, FB, GOOGL, GOOG).

New Kodak moment

Kodak is just one example of a firm that declared bankruptcy after failing to adapt to the era of digital photography  - despite having invented the first digital camera!

 

"The new Kodak moment is the moment when you realise customer behaviours and preferences have changed so dramatically from your assumptions that it is too late to change" @briansolis

Disruption

Breakthrough innovation has been notoriously difficult for established firms, because of the resourcing conflict between meeting current customer needs versus future or emerging customer needs ("Innovators Dilemma", Christensen 1997). Established firms suffer Schumpeter's "gale of creative destruction" when they don't anticipate and adapt to disruptive technology change.

Rapid change

Customer needs change, now more so than ever. We live in an era of disruptive and accelerating technological change. New technologies make disruption easier.

 

We help firms with the technological futurism to understand what customers could want and need in the future, and "jump the S-curve" (Nunes & Breene, 2011).

Get to the next iceberg

Incremental innovation is important but will only get you to the top of your iceberg. Like products industries and organisations, individual icebergs have a lifecycle and eventually melt. Firms need to continuously innovate to the next iceberg to survive.

 

Breakthrough innovation has been notoriously hard for most firms, because of the resourcing conflict between meeting current customer needs versus future or emerging customer needs ("Innovators Dilemma", Christensen 1997).

"Get there early"

There are many reasons to "get there early" (Bob Johansen - Silicon Valley's Institute for the Future). There is less competition early, or as Schumpeter put it - innovators enjoy higher returns until an innovation becomes diffuse.

 

It is relatively early for technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, sensors, internet of things, Industry 4.0, Big Data, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Drones, Automation, DNA synthesis and cloud computing. Many of these are adopted at a rate which is at least exponential, allowing for a rapid pace of disruption individually and in combination.

 

McKinsey's 'third horizon of growth' can be misleading as a timeline because breakthroughs can disrupt more rapidly than ever before.

What makes us different?

We bring a deep understanding of the science and technology rapidly changing our world, and an appreciation for other disciplines. Historically innovation consultants have tended to have a focus on marketing, accounting, psychology or business.

 

Our scientific discipline means we capture and test assumptions.

 

Our understanding of science and technology means we can build the right ecosystem of research and development suppliers for your technology innovation strategy. As technology innovators, we can 'red team' disruption for scenario planning.

 

We also bring a 21st century approach to ethical creation of customer value.

Ecosystem builders

We have experience than spans business, government and research sectors and we have an intimate understanding of the differences and how to bridge the chasm between organisations in different sectors.

Success Network

We build and oversee your ecosystem of research organisations so that they can advance your technology problems, and you can access a talent pipeline.

 

This is typically via managing agile R&D projects or supervising student projects.

 

This can be international. There are government incentives for eligible R&D activities in many countries with mature research ecosystems.

Who?

Hi and welcome. I'm a lifelong learner, futurist, teacher and father. I started programming at 10, earned a stack of degrees in Engineering, Science and Business, and worked as an engineer and scientist on several successful multi-billion dollar advanced technology projects.

 

My learning journey has always sought the hardest cognitive challenges I can find - including artificial intelligence, electrical and electronic engineering, physics, computer science, signal processing, mathematics, rocket science, advanced applications of technology, critical thinking, scientific thinking, futures thinking, organisational psychology, economics etc. etc. My experience spans business, government and research, and I have an intimate understanding of the differences between these sectors and how to build bridges.

 

I would prefer to see humanity thrive together as responsible custodians of life than fight over a polluted world, so I'm building a team of multi disciplinary futurists passionate about building a better world by helping organisations create strong ethical futures.

Dr Michael Southcott, Founder