Preparing for the Next Wave of Innovation? Think Beyond Technology

More than ever, industry giants are applying what we call “non-incremental” innovation, to shake up their established businesses. Our research shows that, during the next five years, many companies plan to double down on non-incremental innovation. To get the most out of their efforts, incumbents will need to rethink how they invest and who they partner with.

At big multinationals, recent decades proved to be a golden age for the pursuit of incremental innovation. Cautious improvements in products, services and operating processes, the thinking went, would allow industry giants to strengthen their dominance.

Those days are over, our research shows, as technology-fuelled disruption is forcing the world’s largest firms to change how they innovate. More than ever, incumbents are applying what we call “non-incremental” innovation,