Innovation and the Limitation of Problem-Solving.
Innovation and the Limitation of Problem-Solving.
by Aidan Petrie, Co-Founder + Managing Partner at NEMIC
In the years that I have taught innovation and worked with many hundreds of companies, big and small, we hear over and over again that we have to go in search of problems to solve as a route to innovation. Healthcare is a tremendous example of enthusiastic problem-solving. Each problem gets solved like a band-aid on a cut but the result can often become a mass of bandaids that then become the 'problem' itself. The band-aid pile often constitutes more checks, more time, more cost, and so forth.
If we go to a higher level, we should think in terms of 'opportunity'. What opportunities can our research findings, our observations, and their implications and yes, problems uncovered be turned into? Opportunities are aspirational, positive, and forward-thinking.
In healthcare, we must stop fixing the past and start shaping the future. We are encumbered by existing constructs that while once positive are now impediments. There are great opportunities ahead for us.
The New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC) is a not-for-profit Med Tech Venture Studio located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. We support local, regional, and global Med Tech entrepreneurs and startups on their path to commercialization through education, advisory services, events, network, and a collaborative innovation center. Founded by Managing Partners, Aidan Petrie and Lydia Shin Schroter in late 2017, NEMIC has decades of combined medical device development and entrepreneurial experience. But what makes our work so impactful is our extensive network of local expert advisors and subject matter experts who simplify clinical access, regulatory (FDA) strategy/pathways, and ultimately facilitate connections between early stage startups and funding sources.
Navigating a regulated industry is hard. NEMIC can help.