Navigating the R&D Roadmap – Understanding the RDII jargon
In the dynamic world of corporate development, we often toss around terms like Research, Invention, and Innovation, assuming they all mean the same thing. However, these concepts are far from interchangeable. Each represents a distinct step in the intricate process of knowledge exploration and creation, contributing to the growth and success of businesses.
While navigating our journey through the realms of Research, Development, Invention, and Innovation, we shall attempt to decode the meaning attributed to each of these terms, the activities they encompass and how they interlink in the R & D road map.
Research: The Foundation of Knowledge
At its core, research is about delving into existing knowledge with an inquisitive mind, seeking answers to the fundamental questions about a specific subject. The journey begins with review of existing knowledge available as published literature in various books, journals, periodicals and reports. In academic institutions, this activity takes centre stage, where researchers explore and analyse available information and often publishing their findings as research papers or theses. These findings then pave the way for other researchers to explore further research.
Often as the literature is being reviewed, the process of Ideation kicks in the researcher’s mind raising a gamut of 5W1H questions (What, Who, Why, When, Where, and How) pertaining to application of this knowledge to address real world problems. These questions spark alternative hypotheses and “Could be?” ideas, setting the stage for validation and experimentation which is often termed as “Proof of Concept” stage, which involves crude/basic experimentation with a sole purpose to demonstrate practicability of the idea. Successful demonstration of the Proof of concept sets in the Development part of R & D wherein the research finding in the form of Proof of Concept is further developed in a Commercial Technology.
Technology Development – Validation of the Technical and Commercial Feasibility of Idea
Once it’s demonstrated that the knowledge can be applied effectively to address a desirable business objective, work begins towards technology development. Till this point what is known is that there is a finding which has a potential to be commercially exploited. However, there could be many ways to commercially exploit this finding. Technology development is all about devising the best potential way for its commercial exploitation. This part addresses the technical feasibility by answering the “How?” question and brings forth an invention. It’s a crucial juncture where patents may be granted if the approach is unique and offers substantial commercial and technical advantages over existing practices.
It’s important to note that while an invention showcases its feasibility, the path to commercialization is not yet certain. The question of commercial feasibility still remains.
Validating commercial feasibility addresses the challenges that would be faced when the process that is being carried out in a laboratory is scaled up to manufacturing scale. Validation of commercial feasibility primarily incorporates following activities: a) Design and Validation of Process Flow Diagram along with additional process loops to handle the byproducts, recyclable material, rejections, effluents etc.; b) Detailing of equipment and Plant lay outing; c) Identifying raw material supplies d) Scouting of vendors for plant and machinery e) Specification of Final product and its approvals from potential customers along with LoI for purchases. f) Financers for manufacturing set up.
Commercial Feasibility assessment is also termed as piloting where trials at scales comparable to commercial or may be couple of orders lower are conducted to test the ruggedness of the process in terms of product delivery conforming the desired specification. The specifications if vouched by the customer instil confidence in the technology. Since the trials are at semi-commercial scale, the CAPEX and OPEX assumptions made at this stage are much more realistic and the technology is all set to wait a call for its commercialization.
Final Stage of Commercialization
This is the time when strategy and business teams pour over their thoughts to come up with best possible business case/s. Now is the time when interactions with the external world see a huge spurt. Potential customers are invited to visit and witness the demonstration runs; samples are provided to them for evaluation. Win – win business models are reworked and fine-tuned to individual customer needs. If necessary, process is fine-tuned to meet any special and specific customer needs. Finally, with everything in place to the satisfaction of all stakeholders a Letter of Intent or MoU sets the ball rolling to commercial manufacturing and the technology becomes live. A close watch is maintained on the ruggedness, operating expenses, supply chain, revenues generated and most importantly market feedback. Encouraging observations on each of these fronts qualifies the technology as an Innovation.
