Author: Jen

We covered a lot of engaging topics, but the following really stood out for me (in my own words);

Failing often spurs on innovation.

Australian culture can in some cases hold back innovation as the fear of failure is too overwhelming. Australia would do well to embrace the UK’s attitude to failure.

The definition of innovation.

Sally-Ann Williams, CEO of Cicada Innovation came from the view point that true innovation needed to be radical innovation, not incremental as often seen here in Australia, playing it too safe.   Pat Symonds, Chief Technical Officer from Formula 1 agreed there was a place for radical information and he came from the school of three types of innovation:

• Incremental Innovation. Existing Technology, Existing Market.
• Disruptive Innovation. New Technology, Existing Market.
• Radical Innovation. New Technology, New Market.

Innovation and Diversity.

Pat Symonds, also raised that at one point in his career as a leader he realised his engineering team, albeit extremely capable – they team had similar experiences and backgrounds, with a lack of diversity in thinking, they got a lot done but,  because they agreed on most things, no one was being challenged with different perspectives. This is where Pat raised the excellent point “Unless we get cognitive diversity, we won’t get innovation”.

Diversity and collaboration.

This insight will certainly shift the perception that Formula 1 is nothing more than a gas guzzling sport. Pat provided two scenarios where they collaborated with other sectors to solve issues beyond the track to hospitals and supermarket isles.
A technology developed in Formula One racing could revolutionise refrigeration in the UK’s supermarkets and convenience stores by drastically reducing the energy needed for cooling.

The design of a new breathing aid developed by engineers at the Mercedes F1 team, University College London (UCL), and clinicians at UCL Hospital have been made freely available to support the global response to Covid-19.