FT Innovate America: The Business of Innovation

FT Innovate America: The Business of Innovation 
Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Impact

Thursday, December 5, 2013 | Stanford University, Palo Alto

Digital disruption is challenging how America’s largest corporations operate and their existing business models. Those looking to innovate quickly must behave more like start-ups, and interaction with small innovative firms is often critical to bringing ideas into the marketplace. As economic pressures continue to increase and new opportunities to create value are sought, what can corporations learn from Silicon Valley and innovative start-ups? How and where can businesses seek innovation, and who with? How is innovation captured, financed and fostered? What metrics need to put into place to determine the success of innovation efforts? And how can innovation transform long-term performance? 

FT Innovate America: The Business of Innovation - Bridging the Gap Between Ideas and Impact, will be co-chaired by Richard Waters, West Coast Managing Editor and Andrew Hill, Management Editor at theFinancial Times. The day will bring together leaders in business, government and academic representatives, financiers and start-up entrepreneurs. They will share their experiences of innovation and new business models that are being created in the digital era. Also to be discussed is how innovation is being utilized to enable growth in the American economy, the industry collaborations and investments that will enable corporations to transform business-level innovation; and, the US governmental policies and firm-level strategies that will stimulate innovation.

Top issues to be addressed include:

• What are the innovations and key trends that are redefining the businesses of the future?
• How can large corporations drive innovation through internal strategies, talent development, collaborations with start-ups/entrepreneurial hubs and effective funding partnerships?
• How can investments in new technologies, innovative start-ups or individuals be translated into economic benefits?
• What role do leaders in government, non-profit organizations and universities play in developing, encouraging and supporting innovation within business? How is innovation encouraged while still protecting patents and intellectual property?
• How can corporations, investors and start-ups work together to drive future business-shaping innovations?

To view video footage from the 2012 conference, please click here.