Innovation is often spoken about as a process, but at its heart is about value. At the University of Bath, we define innovation as “the creation and application of knowledge to generate solutions that deliver societal, economic, or environmental value.”
That definition feels particularly relevant today. As highlighted in a recent leadership discussion, “we face multiple and overlapping challenges globally, but also rapid progress and new opportunities to find social, environmental, and technological solutions.” Yet there is a warning too: “we cannot assume past strategies for achievement will continue to be successful or sustainable in the future.”
Innovation, therefore, sits at the point where need meets possibility; the discipline of aligning what’s needed with what’s possible.
Success is not about doing more. It is about focusing our efforts where they can have the greatest impact. As the presentation notes, organisations must “focus on fewer priorities to a high degree of excellence and impact.”
In an increasingly complex world, innovation is no longer optional. It is how universities, businesses, and communities turn knowledge into practical solutions, create meaningful partnerships, and shape better futures for people and places.
Please share your thoughts with us at innovation-enterprise@bath.ac.uk.