As a brief history of R & D, since the mid-1960s the “Research and Development – R&D” viewpoint has become the main approach for technology development and investments in the scientific setting. Meanwhile, the mid-1990s deficiencies and limitations of this linear model have increased attention. Up till now, the linear R&D has been able to continue to act like a default model for innovation due to lack of alternative models for innovation.
Four viewpoints of R&D:
1) R&D as a Set of Activities
2) R&D as a Paradigm of Innovation
3) R&D as a Counterpart for Design
4) R&D as a Source of Idea
1. R&D as a Set of Activities
The R&D model makes a linear and one-way viewpoint between three following stages:
Basic Research, Applied Research and Development Research.
R&D is a method of investigation where it is assumed new scientific knowledge is discovered due to a series of linear and in order to steps that consists of Basic Research, Applied Research and development. The R&D model accepts that science has a control over knowledge, technology and is an outcome of science, and economic development due to technology development. The R&D model limits innovation to technology and then technology to R&D.
2. R&D as a Paradigm of Innovation
Paradigms of Innovation are NOT mutually exclusive. During the same time span, different types of industries may follow different paradigms of innovation. There are five main paradigms of innovation; 1. Trial and Error (Semi-Systematic) Invention: Represented by the steam engine, 2. systematic invention: Represented by the light bulb and electricity, 3. Research and Development – R&D: Represented by the A-bomb, rockets and main-frame computers, 4. Technology and Market Development – T&C: Represented by personal computers, 5. User-Created Contents: Represented by Linux, Wikipedia, You-Tube and Face-book.
3. R&D as a Counterpart for Design and Development (D+D)
To have a better understanding of Design it is better to have look at Science. Science is systematic investigation to have a better understanding of an existing phenomenon, it is about systematic thinking about, before or as part of, an action to make a new phenomenon it also follows synthetic (non-analytic) and integrative approaches, as the goal is to integrate a new thing.
The combined model of D+D plus R&D is more practical and comprehensive than the R&D model for some reasons such as; • The combined model already includes the R&D model, but the other way is not applicable. • The D+D model provides a non-linear outlook that cover both Forward Design and Reverse Design. While the R&D model is linear model that goes from Research to Development and • The D+D model embraces an integrative methodology, which is nonlinear but it already includes linear methods which is consistent with the R&D.
4. R&D as a Source of Idea
Each new business ideas have a distinctive patterns of development form its inception (origin). New business ideas may originate from many sources, which can be classified into 12 overlapping groups:
- Research and Development (R&D)
- Invention and Patent
- Design and Development (D+D) – Forward Design
- Reverse Design: Reverse Engineering and Benchmarking (Copying, Imitation and Adaptation)
- Extensive Market Research to explore business opportunities: Societal changes, Demographic changes, etc.
- Feedbacks: from customers, employees, suppliers, etc. to uncover unarticulated needs
- Previous Experience: Work, Education and Hobby of the Entrepreneurs.
- Creativity (Individual, Group and Organizational): such as lateral thinking, mind mapping, metaphors, and brain storming.
- Symbiotic Ideas: Combining two or more existing ideas for a new application
- Innovation Inspired by Nature (Biomimetic, Biomimicry): new business ideas based on observing natural phenomena. Example: Kook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro).
- New regulations: Example Child safety regulations and Child’s Car Seat
- Eureka and Serendipity: New business ideas due to unexpended events!