open here

Opening Innovation: We unlock the innovation potential of life science, technology & engineering based organizations.

  • We enable team success in cost & risk-constrained environments and know what it means to be scrappy – doing much more with much less.
  • We continue to develop and refine our innovation tools by operating a research organization for socially conscious new product ventures.
  • We have earned our stripes and the repeat business of multiple Fortune 500 companies as well as significant research support from the National Institutes of Health & the National Science Foundation.
Innovation

Opening minds, hearts and doors since 1996

In MumbaiIn MichiganSuburban OhioNorth of DetroitIn the HimalayasLeading an off-site strategy sessionIn the Gulf CoastConducting ethnographic researchVisualizing the futureVisiting Alzheimer’s patients
In Mumbai Understanding patient access to medicines in various cultures
In Michigan Looking ahead 20 years to the future of commercial transportation
Suburban Ohio Shopping along with patients to better understand how they make decisions
North of Detroit Getting direct input to the future heavy equipment drivetrain
In the Himalayas Understanding various monastic approaches to conflict resolution
Leading an off-site strategy session Working with our client to rationalize product concepts according to strategic priorities
In the Gulf Coast Developing solutions to remediate oil spills in sensitive estuaries & marshes
Conducting ethnographic research Working with a major pharmacy to improve the patient experience
Visualizing the future Using visual maps to highlight factors that will influence future market trends
Visiting Alzheimer’s patients Helping a major pharmaceutical unlock behavioral aspects of neuro-degeneration

open approach

We drive 3 key areas of innovation:

Find opportunities others miss Find opportunities others miss Find opportunities others miss Find opportunities others miss Find opportunities others miss Find opportunities others miss Find opportunities others miss

Find opportunities
others miss

See the world through the eyes of individual people and gain the perspective needed to illuminate new answers in existing research. Develop empathy to gain confidence in unfamiliar growth areas.
Create higher value concepts for less money Create higher value concepts for less money Create higher value concepts for less money Create higher value concepts for less money Create higher value concepts for less money

Create higher value
concepts for less money

Start with brainstorming, but don’t stop there. Radically reduce the costs of experimentation so that concepts come to life and risks are proactively mitigated.
Evaluate, communicate and champion Evaluate, communicate and champion Evaluate, communicate and champion Evaluate, communicate and champion Evaluate, communicate and champion Evaluate, communicate and champion

Evaluate, communicate
and champion

Filter concepts through strategic review. Top ideas require a strong pitch and a team to bring them forward We help scientists & engineers develop the champion behaviors needed to garner organizational support.

open minds

Mark RoserSheryl Torr-Brown, PhDEric SpencerTed NunesNed O'DonovanColt StanderMark RoserEric SpencerSheryl Torr-BrownEric Spencer
Mark Roser It's no longer about being the biggest fish in the sea, but the fastest. If he only had castanets, we would all be dancing
Sheryl Torr-Brown, PhD Shedding light on even the most tangled and complex problems
Eric Spencer If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Eric speaks volumes without saying a word
Ted Nunes Knocking out obstacles, clearing the path and back again for a victory fist-bump
Ned O'Donovan Whipping up the crowd as he orchestrates team members through concept reviews
Colt Stander Just as talented at organizational strategy as he is at holding up drawings without tape
Mark Roser
Eric Spencer
Sheryl Torr-Brown
Eric Spencer
Open Minds

Mark Roser

  • Inside the mind of the customer
  • Fearless in the face of ambiguity
  • Visualizer of new opportunities
  • Founded OI in 1996
>> Contact Mark

Sheryl Torr-Brown, PhD

  • Chief medical innovator
  • The bridge between patients and science and vice-versa
  • Clarifier of all things complex
>> Contact Sheryl

Patricia Beaton

  • Ring leader
  • Crosser of T’s, dotter of I’s
  • The inspirational leader
>> Contact Patricia

Kevin Harper

  • Stimulating thought
  • Simulating reality
  • Bringing ideas to life
>> Contact Kevin

Ted Nunes

  • Ted creates the "2" in both B2B and B2C
  • Mobile web magician
  • App happy
>> Contact Ted

Eric Spencer

  • Quick draw
  • Reshaper of problems
  • Allows thought to gain identity
>> Contact Eric

Bob Moore

  • Master of team alignment
  • The lighthouse
  • Chief program architect
>> Contact Bob

Colt Sander

  • Master of paradox
  • At home in the boardroom workshop and design studio
  • Hands-on strategist
>> Contact Colt

open for business

How we are different: Open Innovators focuses on scientific and technology innovation challenges.

  • Each of our facilitators has a deep background within a technology or life-sciences field as well as experience in product or team leadership.
  • We foster projects within companies as well as open-innovation collaborations
  • We enable team success in cost & risk-constrained environments, producing more results with fewer resources
Engineering & Technology

From clean diesel technology and hybrid vehicles to aerospace and biomechanical products – we know the needs of engineers and product managers. We design innovation processes and activities that harvest deep customer insights and then use those as a springboard to develop new-to-world concepts.

Life Sciences

From ophthalmology to Alzheimer’s to diabetes and more, we help you cross the bridge between patient needs and scientific fact – allowing therapeutics to more closely reflect the factors that determine well-being. We have developed tools that enable clinical teams to go beyond facts in a case report form to better understand the patient behind the data.

ScoutingCustomer visitsScenario planningScenario planningIdea generationConcept refinementHaving funStrategic alignment10:30 PMConcept wall
Scouting Meeting with medical historians to understand the evolution of doctor prescribing habits
Customer visits Working alongside heavy equipment operators, gaining direct customer insight
Scenario planning Using rapid visualization to bring future environmental scenarios to life
Scenario planning Using rapid visualization to bring future environmental scenarios to life
Idea generation Working together to create new concepts across a variety of domains
Concept refinement Guiding participants through stages of concept development
Having fun Getting outside the box
Strategic alignment Prioritizing concepts, providing input necessary for investment decisions
10:30 PM Making final adjustments after a full day of planning
Concept wall Annual concept investment review

open R&D

Unlocking the factors that impact vision lossThe BP oil spillStudying retinal functionEarly resultsAt a retirement communityIn IndiaThe Gulf coastOutside a refineryAt Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Unlocking the factors that impact vision loss Meeting with individuals with retinal disease to understand help-seeking behavior
The BP oil spill In the gulf coast developing new tools to remediate oiled marshs
Meeting with eye doctors to understand & improve their patient education practices
Studying retinal function Developing new tools to address enable improved functional home vision tests
Early results Results from an early study, showing our patented tool’s excellent performance
At a retirement community Interacting with seniors to better understand factors that influence self-care behavior
In India Meeting with eye doctors to understand factors that lead to preventable vision loss
The Gulf coast Working to establish low-impact means to remediate spill damage
Outside a refinery Testing prototype devices in marshes along the Gulf Coast
At Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Conducting laboratory simulated spills & remediation of light sweet crude
Open R&D

Our Internal R&D Projects

We manage an internal portfolio of socially conscious research & commercialization ventures in collaboration with universities, government and research institutes. This provides us with a living laboratory to develop our innovation technique and to ensure that our consulting approach stays true to the real-world.

Current programs:

  • Ophthalmic diagnostics for the leading causes of adult blindness
  • Oil spill remediation in sensitive marsh & marine environments
  • Injury prevention for the leading causes of soft-tissue injuries
  • Conflict reduction across cultural and national boundaries

Our R&D Organization:

Our R&D organization is fully recognized by the government as a women-owned small business. Results Group LLC has been in business since 1996, and has performed research through the support of the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. We are fully eligible to assist on all federally sponsored research programs.

open access

Free materials for you

Please attribute to: www.openinnovators.com. © Copyrighted and available through CC license.
Innovation Processes

Innovation Processes:

Innovation Cycle, Rhythm & Cadence

How to establish a regular cycle that perpetuates novel solutions

>> White Paper

Value Dimension Mapping

A graphical approach to foster cross-company collaboration.

>> White Paper

Innovation Stages Map

A simplified list of innovation stages, comparing various open-source & proprietary innovation process listings.

>> Map
Innovation People

Innovation People

The Expert's Dilemma

Why upstart organizations with little money outinnovate the Fortune 500

>> White Paper

Innovation Governance Ownership

"How" innovation is owned is more important than "who" owns the innovation title.

>> Blog Post

Marketing & Engineering

Oil and water, Yankees and Red Sox; some things never get along that easily

>> White Paper
Innovation Philosophy

Innovation Philosophy

The Paradox of Seeds

What can we learn from nature in how species vie for 'market share'.

>> White Paper

Forgiveness

A critical element of innovation team success

>> Contact Page

open to talk

Start a conversation
Start a conversation We look forward to working on your challenge
Open to talk
You have successfully contacted the Open Innovators. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Name is required.

Company is required.

Email is required.
Invalid email format.

Question is required.
Submit

Our Contact Info:

Hello@OpenInnovators.com
860-578-8399 - phone

860-812-2211 - fax