The author will be part of the agenda at our June 8-10 Impact conference in Cambridge, Mass.
In an era defined by increasingly complex global challenges — and burgeoning opportunities for solutions — the traditional approach to research and development, often confined within the walls of corporate labs, is proving insufficient.
We need a new paradigm for corporate innovation. One that actively builds and scales new businesses and ecosystems, creating self-sustaining cycles of innovation.
This shift isn’t merely a theoretical ideal. It’s a strategic imperative, and one that’s already well underway. As PwC research highlights, the top 20 percent of high-performing companies are 2.3 times more likely to generate 60 percent or more of their revenue from ecosystems. These collaborative networks also empower companies to reach the market 70 percent faster than their competitors. This data underscores a fundamental truth: the future of innovation lies in collaboration, co-creation, and the cultivation of vibrant, interconnected ecosystems.
Our mission is to create AI-first ventures that not only drive significant impact, but also serve as blueprints for how large corporations can foster true innovation.
Ecosystem-Driven Change Where It Matters Most
At LG NOVA, LG Electronics’ North America Innovation Center, we are committed to moving beyond conventional research. Our mission is to create AI-first ventures that not only drive significant impact, but also serve as blueprints for how large corporations can foster true innovation. We believe in a hands-on approach — actively finding, developing, and launching ventures focused on building AI applications that genuinely make a difference in people’s lives and address critical societal needs.
Consider, for example, how this collaborative model enabled the rapid deployment of one recent high-impact venture: PADO AI Orchestration. The rise of AI-generated content is driving unprecedented energy demands, placing immense pressure on data centers and other commercial and industrial facilities. This challenge is not just about cost; it’s about sustainability and the very infrastructure of our digital future. PADO is an AI-powered platform designed to address these critical needs head-on. It provides efficient analysis, optimization and planning tools to dramatically improve power efficiency, ensuring that the engine of our digital economy runs as cleanly and effectively as possible. This venture exemplifies how targeted innovation can tackle a global challenge with a tangible, impactful solution.
Another recent venture in a high-impact space is Primefocus Health, our answer to supporting remote care for rural and underserved patients. It’s a provider-focused, patient-centric platform that leverages innovative technology to transform healthcare delivery. The platform incorporates customized speciality-specific continuous care workflows across chronic and acute conditions to help guide recovery and prevent complications. It’s designed for seamless integration with existing Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, and harnesses the power of AI and machine learning capabilities to offer deeper insights and predictive analytics. Primefocus Health is a testament to how technology can foster a more proactive, personalized, and more humane approach to healthcare.
Mental healthcare presents another critical challenge where AI can drive meaningful change. ReliefAI Health, launched in October 2025, tackles the alarming statistic that 44 percent of psychotherapy clients discontinue therapy within the first four weeks. This new AI-driven, digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) platform takes the form of a mobile app that mental healthcare practitioners can provide to their clients, enabling continuous progress tracking, and strengthening the connection between therapist and client beyond traditional sessions. What makes ReliefAI Health particularly compelling is that it emerged from collaborations with multiple startups in the LG NOVA Innovation program, demonstrating that bringing together diverse innovators can create comprehensive solutions that address complex healthcare challenges more effectively than a single entity could alone.
The power of AI to drive innovation extends beyond healthcare into the digital economy itself. OnVibe, launched in February 2026, addresses a critical challenge facing the 33 million small businesses in the U.S., namely content saturation and creative burnout in social media marketing. Unlike generic AI tools that respond to prompts, OnVibe is a creative ally that proactively learns a brand’s identity, understands its goals, and delivers personalized, actionable social media strategies. Features like the “Daily Drop” for curated content inspiration, the “Idea Stash” for saving insights, and the “Idea Studio” for collaborative creation empower small businesses and creators to produce higher-quality, more engaging content. In a landscape where content volume has dramatically increased, OnVibe demonstrates how AI can elevate creativity rather than simply automate it, bringing world-class marketing capabilities within reach of every entrepreneur.
Fueling Economic Development
We also recognize that the collaborative ecosystem model has the power to transform entire regions. Beyond established tech hubs, innovation can, and should, flourish everywhere. This belief underpins our commitment to regional economic development, and our initiative with West Virginia serves as a compelling case study for building tech ecosystems outside traditional centers.
LG NOVA is actively collaborating with the state to nurture the growth of an innovation hub centered around new, AI-first businesses. We work collectively with local leaders, businesses, corporations, and the investment community to drive change and foster economic development. This isn’t about simply transplanting existing models; it’s about understanding the unique strengths and needs of communities and building an ecosystem that is truly organic and sustainable.
West Virginia and the broader Appalachian Region have the potential for an economic transformation. Our long-term goal is to foster and grow an innovation ecosystem focused on the development of cleantech, healthtech, and transformational businesses. LG NOVA has an established office in the heart of Morgantown and plans to expand to Huntington, strategically located near universities and innovation centers, to foster crucial collaborations with startups and local businesses. We aim to create a vibrant environment for idea exchange and growth.
This regional approach extends beyond West Virginia through NovaWave Capital, an LG NOVA-supported venture capital firm focused on scaling AI companies across multiple innovation corridors. In early 2026, NovaWave launched the WaveX AI venture studio in Arizona, partnering with the Arizona Commerce Authority to accelerate innovation in healthcare, energy, sports, and media. By bridging Silicon Valley expertise with fast-growing regional ecosystems, NovaWave creates a cross-regional network that helps identify, support, and scale impactful AI-first ventures across the American West and Appalachia.
…The future demands a shift from isolated internal efforts to a more expansive, collaborative, and ecosystem-driven approach.
For example, LG NOVA has established technology solutions, such as PADO AI Orchestration and Primefocus Health, within West Virginia as a start to the continual effort to bring new technologies, businesses, and jobs to the region in key areas. In addition, Primefocus Health is already working with West Virginia-based academic health system Marshall Health Network to offer a customized healthcare service solution to address key regional healthcare issues, such as rural healthcare access, obesity, healthy aging and substance abuse, and more recently, cancer.
For corporate leaders in innovation, R&D, and strategy, the message is clear: the future demands a shift from isolated internal efforts to a more expansive, collaborative, and ecosystem-driven approach. By actively building new businesses and fostering robust partnerships, we can not only address complex global challenges but also unlock unprecedented opportunities for growth and positive societal impact. At LG NOVA, we are proud to be at the forefront of building this next generation of AI-first businesses, and we invite others to join us in this transformative journey.
Sokwoo Rhee is Corporate Executive Vice President for Innovation at LG Electronics and Head of LG NOVA, a new Silicon Valley-based innovation center. He leads LG Electronics’ global innovation projects, new business creation, strategic partnerships, and ecosystem development.
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