Why is it that we in Sweden (and perhaps in other countries) have a government agency for innovation that sinks a lot of money (over SEK 2 bn) into developing what we already have? Of course they are trying to support projects that come up with new products and services that make things better for us – and increase growth.
But these projects are created within the existing paradigm and mental models. Mental models that increasingly seem to become obsolete.
Here are my top three areas to have explored and put some real money into:
• new economic models and metrics that don't favor consumption of physical goods and resource depletion
• alternatives to the hierarchical, power-centric, organizational model
• local and regional sustainable lifestyles – modelling and sharing
Any breakthroughs in areas like these I would consider true innovations.