GROUNDED INNOVATION

Portfolio of services

Grounded Innovation has developed a portfolio of bespoke services to assist businesses develop and manage innovation. It is also part of a wider UK and European network of trusted professional partners.

Because all businesses, and of course innovation itself, are characterised by being unique, Grounded Innovation only offers bespoke services designed to meet a business’s exact requirements.

This bespoke service draws upon a palette of cross-disciplinary experience:

Innovation facilitation and coaching

Creative thinking itself needs the correct environment in which to thrive. Whilst certain aspects of innovation require flexibility, there needs to be a plan in place designed to maximise the potential rewards. Initiating an innovation process can be a careful mix of team building, stimulation, and new skill development – while keeping the “end goal” in sight all the time. Because Grounded Innovation is unbiased and not politically aligned within a business, our clear-thinking, “outsider’s” view is often used to ignite change or innovative development.

Technology scouting, transfer and brokering

Grounded Innovation can get to grips with a technical business opportunity very quickly and identify areas that require development to achieve financial targets. As part of that process, we can match suitable technology with the client’s requirements ensuring that costs are minimised and quality is maintained. Where transfer of new technology is required, we work with both sides of the transfer (or sharing) process, and across different disciplines (e.g. hardware, software and intellectual property). Grounded Innovation works to ensure a smooth transition from idea to product, with all appropriate documentation in place as required.

Initial technical and market due diligence

External investors or internal stakeholders want to know they’re going to get their money back. This can be hard to assess if the complexities of an innovative investment opportunity are difficult to understand or quantify. Grounded Innovation can research, evaluate, and report on an investment opportunity in order that informed decisions can be taken. Equally, through a clear understanding of the funding and investment process, Grounded Innovation can assist fund-seekers maximise their inward investment value.

Intellectual Property protection and licensing advice

Regularly undertaken as part of a wider technical due diligence project, Grounded Innovation can analyse your IP portfolio. We can advise on the relevancy and quality of existing IP when entering a new market sector. Additionally, we can help you make informed decisions surrounding useful IP position when tackling a new, or existing, market.

New business model development

Grounded Innovation has particular expertise in identifying new markets for existing products as well as assisting in the development of new products for existing markets. We operate at a strategic level, working to ensure informed, early stage decision-making is in place for elements such as investment, technology acquisition and competence gaps. When required, we can then develop and manage market entry strategies and execute full product development plans.

Strategy and business plan development

Creating a coherent business strategy based on new technology is a multi-faceted challenge. Over the years, we have completed a range of sensitive and confidential projects, enabling many private sector clients create new business opportunities. Grounded Innovation has experience working with several regional and national public sector organisations. We have been engaged to advise upon innovation strategies as well as provide a technically informed vision from which strategy, plans and innovation development models were derived.

Business mentoring and coaching

Our unbiased approach ensures Grounded Innovation can offer sound advice to senior management, challenging assumptions where appropriate. Although often used as a sounding board for business leaders who require more than placid agreement, we are comfortable operating at all levels within business. For example, leading a bid proposal team from proposal development, submission and execution of the project; through to coaching newly recruited staff requiring additional support.

We can also offer leadership and advice where businesses are seeking inward investment.

Product development and engineering

The experience, network of alliances, and clear thinking of Grounded Innovation can help almost any business develop new products from a simple innovative idea. The majority of Grounded Innovation’s experience has been within technical and light engineering sectors, but this experience has been shown to be applicable to many other areas of engineering. We are adept at developing innovative ideas from proof-of-concepts to workable prototypes, and beyond, in many sectors.

Project management

Grounded Innovation’s portfolio of experience comes from many years of leading projects. Effective project management relies on balancing the wider picture with a keen focus on the detail required to reach the milestones and objectives agreed with the client. Whilst we can manage small, niche projects Grounded Innovation has also handled large scale, big budget projects, staffed by dispersed, multi-disciplinary teams, administered over many years. Our skills and experience are applicable to both!