Innovation Labs & Spaces

Five Snacking Trends that Guide Innovation at Hostess

How The Washington Post Created Tools to Cover Elections in 2020

How Are Innovation Labs in Silicon Valley Changing?

Do Companies Still Need a Headquarters?

How Ocean Spray Launched Three New Brands During a Pandemic

Five Snacking Trends that Guide Innovation at Hostess
How The Washington Post Created Tools to Cover Elections in 2020
How Are Innovation Labs in Silicon Valley Changing?
Do Companies Still Need a Headquarters?
How Ocean Spray Launched Three New Brands During a Pandemic

We increasingly see large companies creating an innovation lab or center as a way to cultivate and test new ideas, separate from the demands and pressures of the business units. When set up with clear goals, innovation labs can help to keep the business looking ahead, exploring new tech, defending markets, building skills among employees, and sustaining a company’s competitive advantage.

A good starting place in this section is our research report, “Innovation Labs: Getting Started. Measuring Them. Delivering Results.”

Articles & Case Studies

Why COVID-19 Is Accelerating the Adoption of 5G Technology

Christian Guirnalda, Director of 5G Labs and Innovation Centers, explains how Verizon is finding new use cases for their emerging 5G technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mercedes Lays Off Staff at Innovation Centers, Seeks Outside Partners

Daimler AG, the German company that makes Mercedes-Benz vehicles and Daimler trucks, has laid off more than 100 staffers at its Lab1886 innovation centers around the world…

Panasonic on Entertainment’s Immersive & More Personalized Future

Two leaders of the Panasonic Hollywood Lab predict how entertainment will become even more personalized in a post-COVID world. They also discuss environments that promote healing and relaxation.

How Hain Celestial Keeps Innovation On Track

Hain Celestial Group, known for teas and pantry staples, has pivoted down a new path in response to COVID-19: hand sanitizer. The company is also conducting remote product tasting with its senior leaders. SVP of R&D Jeff George explains…

Former LEGO Exec: 5 Habits of Successful Corporate Intrapreneurs

David Gram, formerly a leader at LEGO Ventures and LEGO Creative Play Lab, outlines five habits that set corporate intrapreneurs up for success. The first one: Accept that people will hate your project.

Innovation Hub Utopias and Dystopias: What Can Go Right (And Wrong) in Setting One Up

Gensler Innovation Director Amanda Ramos worked with colleagues to capture all of the things that make innovation hubs thrive — or flop. Includes a large-format graphic.

Research Report

Innovation Labs: Getting Started & Delivering Results

What exactly is an innovation lab? For our report on innovation labs, we talked to more than 20 executives at companies like Walmart, Home Depot, IKEA, and others.

Audio & Video Resources

How AARP is Pivoting Innovation in 2020 and Investing in Startups

At Innovation Leader’s recent online event for nonprofit organizations, Andy Miller of AARP discussed how his team helps build an innovative culture that permeates the organization — and how they’re making new investments in startups.

Pulling Back the Curtain on Disney’s Storied Imagineering Department

What can you learn from the creative cultures of Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar? Leslie Iwerks, a documentary filmmaker, has made films about both organizations. She shares what she observed in this replay of “One Quick Thing.” Iwerks is joined on the show by two unnanounced guests: her father, Don Iwerks, who worked directly with Walt Disney, and a former Disney Imagineer, Josh Wachman.

How AARP Keeps the 50+ Market at the Center of Innovation

How does AARP use innovation to empower people as they age? Vice President of Product and Startup Engagement Rick Robinson explains…

Running High-Performance Innovation Labs

How have innovation labs shifted during this period of remote work? What sets labs up for success? Linda Elkins, Chief Technical Officer of W.L. Gore’s Silicon Valley Innovation Center, shares.

What's BANCA? Fidelity Investments on Their Criteria for Assessing Ideas

Sean Belka discusses how the financial services firm assesses new ideas and scales them when the time is right, along with more best practices for running an innovation lab. Belka is a Managing Director in Fidelity’s Corporate Business Development group.