Introduction
Summary of the book How Innovation Works by Matt Ridley. Before we start, let’s delve into a short overview of the book. Innovation is all around us, shaping the world in ways we rarely notice. It’s in the devices that brighten our homes at night, in the methods doctors use to prevent deadly diseases, and even in how we communicate with each other across continents. Yet, how often do we pause to think about where these breakthroughs really come from? Too often, we imagine a lone genius having a sudden brilliant idea. But in truth, innovation is a long journey with many travelers. It blends old ideas with fresh approaches and thrives in places where people freely share knowledge. As you turn these pages, you’ll find stories that go far beyond simple inventions. You’ll explore how risks are taken, how people overcome resistance, and how entire societies can influence new creations. If you’re curious about how great ideas grow and change, this book will guide you onward with excitement.
Chapter 1: Understanding How Multiple Minds and Messy Processes Spark Groundbreaking Innovations.
Imagine the creation of something as world-changing as the steam engine, a device that powered the early stages of the Industrial Revolution. Many might ask: who deserves the credit for this incredible invention? The truth is that it wasn’t a single, all-knowing hero who brought it into existence. Instead, it was a tangle of influences and experiments involving multiple individuals. In the early 1700s, people like Denis Papin, Thomas Savery, and Thomas Newcomen all played roles in developing engines that used steam to move pistons and pump water. Each of them improved on earlier ideas, borrowed concepts from others, and worked with tools and techniques shared across scientific communities. This overlapping web of creativity reminds us that breakthroughs rarely appear out of thin air. They emerge from a messy, collective effort that builds on what came before, combining talents and discoveries in unexpected ways.
Think of innovation like a giant puzzle laid out on a table, with each person holding a piece. Alone, a single piece might look strange and meaningless. Only when many people place their pieces together does a clear picture emerge. This was true for the atmospheric steam engine. Without the growing knowledge of pressure, metalworking techniques, and workable designs shared through letters, lectures, and discussions, no single individual could have made it all happen. Sometimes, inventors worked in parallel, not even aware of each other. At other times, they learned from each other’s failures. Each contribution, big or small, helped push the idea forward.
Throughout history, nearly every important invention you can name resulted from this collective process. Think about the light bulb. Thomas Edison is often celebrated as its inventor, but many people were experimenting with electric lighting before him. Over 20 other inventors had patented similar devices in earlier decades. Edison’s lasting success came from refining existing solutions, organizing a team of specialists, and applying the right materials and methods at the right time. Thus, what we call Edison’s light bulb stands as the final product of many earlier attempts, trials, and discussions that he combined effectively.
This pattern reminds us that innovation usually isn’t born in complete isolation. Ideas tend to blossom in environments that encourage open discussions, curiosity, and shared expertise. When we understand this, we begin to see why certain places or times in history burst with new discoveries. Busy ports, bustling universities, and vibrant cities often spark the most advances because different people, cultures, and knowledge streams come together. Innovations, like threads woven into a grand tapestry, depend on everyone’s input. If we celebrate a single great inventor alone, we miss the bigger story. Real breakthroughs grow from layers of cooperative creativity, unexpected inspirations, and borrowed insights.
Chapter 2: Exploring How Medical Breakthroughs Arise From Risky and Odd Experiments.
Imagine a time when doctors didn’t understand germs, viruses, or how diseases spread. In the 1700s, smallpox ravaged communities, leaving death and suffering behind. People desperately needed a solution. The practice called engraftment offered a risky but effective answer. Doctors took infected material from someone recovering from smallpox and deliberately scratched it into the skin of a healthy person. It sounds horrifying by modern standards, but often this small exposure led to immunity. While the process seemed terrifying, people noticed results: fewer deaths and milder symptoms. This approach eventually paved the way for safer and more scientific vaccine development, showing that not all early medical innovations followed a neat or safe path.
Medical innovation, as uncomfortable as it can sometimes appear, often involves trial, error, and bravery. Physicians and healers throughout history didn’t always have textbooks of established facts. Instead, they learned by experimenting, observing, and refining their methods. For example, the idea of chemically treating water supplies emerged out of urgency. In early 1900s Jersey City, dirty industrial water carried deadly diseases like cholera. When a doctor named John Leal added a disinfectant to the water, people were outraged. It sounded unnatural, even dangerous. But the disease rates plummeted, and soon other cities embraced chemical water treatment. These health-saving improvements often arose from bold decisions where the outcome was uncertain.
The path to medical progress can be uneven and unpredictable. Consider modern debates around electronic cigarettes. Some public health experts believe that vaping could help smokers quit their dangerous tobacco habit, potentially saving countless lives. Others worry that inhaling unfamiliar vapors might cause new, unforeseen problems. Different countries have reacted differently: some encourage vaping as a tool to reduce smoking-related deaths, while others ban it entirely due to unknown risks. This ongoing debate shows that even in our advanced age, innovation in medicine can cause confusion and disagreement before the facts become clear.
These examples illustrate that advancing medicine isn’t always a smooth ride. New ideas might seem scary or unsanitary when first introduced. The process of understanding how the human body works, discovering treatments, and developing protective measures like vaccines involves courageous leaps into the unknown. Over time, as people exchange knowledge, gather more data, and refine their methods, what once seemed risky becomes a trusted norm. Medical innovation flourishes in an environment that allows trial and error, encourages curiosity, and tolerates initial skepticism. Without these daring early steps, we would never reach today’s safer, more effective healthcare systems.
Chapter 3: Discovering How Travel Technologies Evolve Through Endless Tiny Engineering Improvements.
Transportation didn’t jump directly from horse-drawn carts to high-speed bullet trains overnight. Instead, it advanced through many small improvements. In the early 1800s, inventors tried to use steam power to replace the horse. They tinkered with different engines, boilers, and wheel designs. Machines like the Salamanca, the Puffing Billy, and the Son Paré might sound amusing today, but each represented a valuable experiment. Some attempts failed, others barely improved speed, and a few brought safety concerns. Yet, step by step, inventors learned how to make engines stronger, cheaper, and more reliable. By 1829, a locomotive called the Rocket could haul heavy loads at faster speeds, setting the stage for a railway revolution that changed how people and goods moved across countries and continents.
This pattern of slow, steady, incremental progress isn’t unique to early steam engines. Look at the evolution of the automobile. Today’s sleek cars owe their existence to countless inventors who, over two centuries, refined the internal combustion engine. Early prototypes were clumsy, prone to breaking down, and sometimes dangerous. Engineers had to figure out fuel types, ignition methods, and ways to prevent explosions. Step by painstaking step, as one inventor built on the ideas of another, cars became safer, quieter, and more efficient. Eventually, mass production techniques like Henry Ford’s assembly line turned cars from luxury items into everyday tools.
The same slow-building pattern can be found in aviation. Early airplanes were fragile and barely stayed in the air. Over time, designers learned how to balance wings, shape fuselages, and choose the right materials. Engines were improved to provide more power and consume less fuel. Inventors and engineers swapped ideas, studied each other’s patents, and formed communities of specialists dedicated to making flight more practical. As each small improvement piled up, air travel transformed from a daredevil’s pastime into a dependable means of getting around the world.
These stories show that transportation innovation doesn’t occur in one dramatic leap. Instead, it’s a long chain of minor upgrades, tweaks, and adaptations. Inventors rely on previously discovered principles, adapt designs to new conditions, and share their findings widely. Over time, this process creates revolutionary changes in how we move. Understanding that travel innovation arises from accumulating tiny steps helps us appreciate the complexity behind every modern vehicle we see today. Whether it’s a car, train, plane, or spaceship, each is the result of countless minds working over decades to perfect the art of getting from one place to another.
Chapter 4: Recognizing That Great Innovations Can Be Simple Ideas, Not Just Objects.
When we think of innovation, we often picture spectacular machines or electronic gadgets. Yet, sometimes the most important innovations aren’t physical inventions at all. Consider the potato. This hearty, nutritious tuber is commonplace in most of Europe’s kitchens today, forming the base of beloved dishes like fries and mashed potatoes. But for a long time, Europeans didn’t trust it. They thought it caused diseases or considered it strange and unholy. Over time, as farmers experimented and shared recipes, the idea of the potato as a staple food spread. This was an innovation in people’s eating habits and agricultural practices, not a shiny new device. The acceptance of a simple crop transformed entire food systems, improving nutrition and supporting population growth across the continent.
Another example of a non-physical innovation is the development of widely shared numeric systems. For centuries, people relied on clumsy methods of counting and measuring, like Roman numerals. Although Roman numerals worked, they made complex calculations and record-keeping very difficult. Then came a new system from the Arab world, which originally took shape in India. This numeric system introduced digits that changed value based on their position, making multiplication, division, and other calculations far easier. Suddenly, merchants could keep better financial records, scientists could make more precise calculations, and architects could design more stable buildings. A simple change in how we write and think about numbers unlocked entire worlds of progress.
These idea innovations show that progress isn’t limited to building fancy tools. Sometimes, it’s about shifting mindsets, improving methods, or introducing more flexible systems of communication. In some cases, a new approach, belief, or concept can be as transformative as a groundbreaking device. When people embrace a new idea—like a safer way to store food, a more effective way to teach reading and writing, or a fairer approach to trading goods—innovation quietly reshapes societies from the inside out. This kind of innovation might not catch headlines the way a flashy robot does, but its influence can be just as great, if not greater.
Recognizing that intangible ideas can be innovative broadens our understanding of progress. It reminds us that innovation isn’t just about technology. It’s also about imagination, knowledge-sharing, and cultural shifts. When we understand that even a humble crop or a clever counting system can spark vast changes, we begin to see innovation everywhere. This perspective encourages us to look beyond gadgets and machines, to seek inspiration in social customs, educational reforms, or new ways of organizing information. By embracing both material and immaterial innovations, we appreciate the full spectrum of creativity that has driven humanity forward for centuries.
Chapter 5: Witnessing How Human Urges to Connect Fuel Communication-Based Innovations.
Throughout history, people have sought faster and more reliable ways to communicate. At first, we shared messages face-to-face or sent letters carried by horses or ships. This took a great deal of time and effort. But in the mid-1800s, the telegraph dramatically sped up communication. Suddenly, news traveled at the speed of electricity rather than the pace of a galloping horse. When the Whig Party nominated Henry Clay for president in 1843, news that would normally take hours by train reached another city in moments via telegraph. This breakthrough not only astonished observers but paved the way for even more rapid communication technologies in the decades that followed.
Within a short time, people witnessed the arrival of the telephone, allowing voices to cross continents through wires. Then the radio brought wireless broadcasts, filling the airwaves with music, news, and entertainment, connecting distant listeners as if they were neighbors. The speed and reach of these technologies brought communities, nations, and cultures closer together. Information flowed freely, and ideas spread at a pace never seen before. Each improvement inspired the next, and soon, innovators explored other electronic means of sharing knowledge, leading eventually to television, the internet, and social media platforms that connect billions of people worldwide today.
This rapid growth in communication technology shows a pattern: once we find a faster way to share ideas, we immediately look for the next improvement. Faster, cheaper, and more reliable methods follow one another in a never-ending race. More importantly, as these methods spread, they shape societies. Suddenly, political movements can organize more efficiently, businesses can tap into global markets, scientists can collaborate internationally, and families can stay in touch across oceans. Communication technologies don’t just make life more convenient; they transform the world’s social, economic, and cultural landscapes, often before we fully understand their impact.
Moreover, as devices get smaller and more powerful, they open new doors for creativity. Transistors, the building blocks of modern electronics, have shrunk in size while growing in capability. With billions of them packed into tiny chips, computers and smartphones now fit in our pockets. This miniaturization didn’t happen overnight; it followed years of steady refinements. The internet, connecting all these devices, created a global brain where information flows freely. Though these changes give us remarkable power, they also challenge us. Controlling the flow of information becomes both a prize and a responsibility. The story of communication technology teaches us that human longing to connect can push innovation forward at breathtaking speeds, reshaping our world in the process.
Chapter 6: Learning How Chance Discoveries, Team Efforts, and Reused Ideas Drive Innovation.
Many groundbreaking innovations begin unexpectedly. Take polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the substance behind non-stick pans and certain durable clothing materials. In 1938, a researcher tried to create a new refrigerant gas. When he cooled the gas, he discovered a slippery, heat-resistant solid that didn’t perform as he intended but turned out to have all sorts of other uses. This happy accident shows that sometimes discoveries arise from experiments aimed at entirely different goals. Over time, other scientists and companies took PTFE and applied it to cookware, protective gear, and even parts of rockets. Each new application built on the initial surprise finding.
This pattern appears throughout history. Alec Jeffries, a scientist working in the late 20th century, tried to understand genetic differences to diagnose diseases. By chance, he noticed that every individual’s DNA was as unique as a fingerprint. This random insight later became the foundation of DNA testing in criminal investigations. Local police, facing a mysterious murder case, teamed up with Jeffries to apply his discovery. Together, they collected DNA samples, compared them, and eventually caught the culprit. In this case, a chance scientific discovery met a practical need, and innovation took shape through teamwork and blending fields.
Innovation often relies on mixing existing ideas rather than starting from scratch. The smartphone is an example. Its creators didn’t invent touchscreens, wireless networks, or microprocessors from nothing. Instead, they combined previously developed technologies into a single device that changed how we live. The secret was recombination: taking pieces that already existed and rearranging them to form something new and incredibly useful. This approach allows innovators to stand on the shoulders of giants, moving forward more quickly than if they had to rediscover everything themselves.
To encourage these chance encounters and fruitful collaborations, societies benefit from openness and free exchange of information. When researchers from different fields meet, when students learn from experts abroad, when businesspeople hear new ideas from unexpected corners, possibilities multiply. Universities, trading ports, global conferences, and online platforms bring people and their ideas together, creating fertile ground for new breakthroughs. In this environment, accidental findings can be identified, tested, refined, and applied in new ways. The story of PTFE, DNA analysis, and countless other innovations teaches us that randomness, cooperation, and recombination are essential ingredients in the recipe for progress.
Chapter 7: Seeing Why Innovations Don’t Usually Flow Smoothly From Powerful Central Authorities.
History shows that directing innovation from the top down often falls short. Consider the British government’s experiment in the 1920s to build long-distance airships. They hired both a government-controlled team and a private company, Vickers, to design competing prototypes. The private firm created the R-100, a lighter, more efficient craft that safely flew to Canada and back. The government team built the R-101, a heavier, costlier machine. On its first major trip, the R-101 crashed in France, killing dozens. This tragedy highlighted a crucial lesson: centralized control and official oversight do not guarantee better results. Market-driven creativity and independent experimentation often produce more successful outcomes.
Some might assume that government guidance and funding are essential because big projects are too risky or expensive for private businesses to handle alone. While government labs and agencies have made great discoveries, it often takes private firms to transform these insights into something practical. Consider the internet. The basic technology started with a government project in the United States (ARPANET), but it was private companies that turned this into a global communication network used by everyday people. Without businesses innovating on top of government research, the internet might have remained a limited tool rather than the common platform we know today.
Even large, successful companies can fail at fostering innovation if they become too focused on protecting what they already have. Kodak, once the leading name in photography, invented a digital camera in the 1970s but shelved it because it threatened their profitable film business. Smaller, more adaptable firms seized the opportunity and developed digital cameras that would eventually replace film entirely. Stubborn adherence to old ways prevents established giants from adapting, proving that top-down thinking—whether from government or big business—often overlooks great opportunities.
Real innovation thrives where people are free to experiment and respond to changing conditions. Smaller groups, private companies, or even independent inventors can often adapt more quickly. They don’t have endless layers of bureaucracy and can spot niche markets or unaddressed problems. This flexibility is crucial. While governments can set broad goals, fund basic research, or create helpful regulations, they rarely excel at the nitty-gritty, creative problem-solving that sparks true breakthroughs. Similarly, giant corporations risk becoming too slow and cautious. If we want to see more dynamic growth, we need an environment that encourages experimentation from the bottom up, blending various contributions rather than relying solely on big players at the top.
Chapter 8: Understanding Why New Creations Often Face Relentless Resistance and Fierce Opposition.
Every new idea or invention eventually faces pushback. Sometimes this opposition comes from established industries that fear losing customers. Other times, people resist simply because they feel uncomfortable with change. Margarine, now a common product in any grocery store, faced fierce hostility after its invention in 1869. Butter producers tried to scare the public with claims that margarine was unsafe. Governments even passed laws banning it in many areas. Over time, these fears faded as more people tried margarine and found it both affordable and useful. Eventually, the fuss died down, and now we barely remember the controversy.
This pattern of resistance pops up repeatedly. Whenever a new technology threatens an old way of doing things, the defenders of the old system try to delay or block it. Horse breeders resisted early tractors; ice harvesters saw refrigeration as a dangerous competitor; some music producers tried to prevent radio stations from playing recorded music. By spreading doubt, creating legal obstacles, or appealing to tradition, those threatened by innovation attempt to hold back progress. This is partly human nature: people often fear what they do not understand.
Another form of resistance involves claims about safety and health. For example, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could make crops more nutritious and easier to grow. Yet some groups, strongly opposed to altering nature, fight to restrict or ban these products. They argue that GMOs are risky, even when scientific evidence suggests they are safe. This doesn’t mean caution is always bad. Reasonable skepticism can prevent harmful decisions. However, when fear becomes irrational, it can smother valuable advances.
Resistance isn’t always pointless. Sometimes it forces innovators to test their creations more thoroughly or communicate their benefits more clearly. Healthy debate helps weed out terrible ideas and refine good ones. Yet too much resistance, based on misinformation or protectionism, can slow humanity’s overall progress. It can trap us in outdated methods and discourage inventors from trying new things. Understanding that opposition is a natural part of the innovation process can help us navigate these conflicts. By recognizing the pattern, we can work toward balanced solutions that allow beneficial ideas to flourish while addressing legitimate concerns.
Chapter 9: Realizing That New Inventions Struggle Against Lawmakers, Rivals, and Fearful Societies.
One particularly tricky challenge innovators face involves the complex web of laws and regulations that govern intellectual property, such as patents and copyrights. Intended to reward inventors and authors by giving them exclusive rights, these laws can encourage initial creativity. After all, knowing that you can profit from your idea provides motivation. But when these protections become too restrictive or last too long, they can slow down progress. Other inventors, researchers, and entrepreneurs find it hard to build upon protected ideas, trapping valuable knowledge behind legal fences.
Over time, laws have become increasingly strict. In the early years of the United States, patents and copyrights lasted only a short period, after which ideas passed into the public domain for everyone to use and improve. Today, copyrights last decades beyond an author’s death. This means some of our greatest cultural and scientific works remain locked up, unavailable for remixing or repurposing. In a field that thrives on adaptation and combination, these legal barriers form serious roadblocks.
When we consider today’s innovation landscape, we see that restrictive intellectual property laws can hinder the spread of useful knowledge. Imagine a world where scientists couldn’t build on previous research because old patents blocked them. Imagine entrepreneurs unable to create cheaper, better products because certain designs were off-limits. In this scenario, progress slows down dramatically. Society misses out on potential cures, cleaner energy sources, or more efficient devices, all because of drawn-out legal controls.
This doesn’t mean we should eliminate all protections. Inventors deserve recognition, payment, and the chance to benefit from their hard work. But finding a balance is vital. A fair system would protect creators enough to spark originality without creating permanent barriers to the next wave of ideas. Lawmakers, inventors, and the public must understand this delicate balance. By carefully adjusting our rules and encouraging more open exchange of knowledge, we can maintain a healthy environment where fresh innovations constantly emerge. The challenge lies in learning when to defend, when to share, and how to ensure that today’s breakthroughs lead to even greater ones tomorrow.
Chapter 10: Uncovering How Intellectual Property and Regulations Can Either Guide or Restrict Progress.
Beyond intellectual property, other forms of regulation also shape the landscape of innovation. Governments often introduce safety standards, environmental rules, and quality checks. These regulations can prevent harmful products from reaching the market or ensure that new drugs don’t cause unexpected side effects. Ideally, well-crafted regulations create a stable environment in which honest inventors can thrive. People feel safer trying new ideas if they trust that dangerous fakes won’t slip through.
Yet, too much regulation can smother creativity. Complex, ever-changing rules can burden small start-ups that lack the money and time to navigate legal hurdles. In these cases, only large, established companies can afford the lawyers and paperwork needed to comply, effectively blocking newer, possibly more innovative entrants. Instead of a level playing field, we end up with stagnant markets dominated by the old guard. This limits choices for consumers, dampens competition, and discourages risk-taking.
Some innovators find clever ways around restrictive rules by relocating to more open environments. For example, if one country’s strict guidelines make testing a new energy technology too expensive, a creative team might move to a different country with friendlier policies. The global nature of innovation means that regions with fewer barriers can attract talent and investments. Over time, this can shift the world’s centers of innovation, allowing places that encourage freedom of thought and exchange to surge ahead in certain fields.
Balancing regulation is a delicate art. We need enough oversight to protect the public and the environment from harm but not so much that we strangle the flow of new ideas. Striking this balance is an ongoing conversation. As technology evolves—think of gene editing, artificial intelligence, or autonomous vehicles—governments must keep updating their approach. Good policy should be flexible, informed by evidence, and open to change. If we find smart ways to guide innovators rather than control them tightly, we can enjoy the benefits of progress while minimizing the risks. The health of innovation depends not just on inventors but also on wise, balanced governance.
Chapter 11: Imagining a Future Where Boldness, Openness, and Global Collaboration Spark New Revolutions.
Looking to the future, we might ask whether innovation is slowing down or simply shifting its focus. Some argue that the pace of groundbreaking change in certain Western industries has stagnated. Airplanes, for example, have not gotten much faster in decades. Many big companies seem more interested in protecting profits than taking big leaps forward. Meanwhile, new businesses form at a slower rate, and it can feel like the golden age of rapid invention is behind us. But this view doesn’t tell the whole story. In other parts of the world, especially in places like China, innovation thrives. Expanding cities, emerging technologies, and ambitious scientific projects push the boundaries of what is possible.
As some regions slow down, others pick up the pace. Chinese companies like Tencent and Alibaba tackle social media and financial services with fresh thinking. Researchers in gene editing, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy find ample support and opportunities to experiment. This global shift suggests that innovation is not tied to one nation or culture; it seeks out places where ideas can flourish. If Western countries want to keep up, they may need to rekindle their adventurous spirit, invest in research, and loosen barriers that slow progress.
The future might bring gene therapies that correct inherited diseases before they take root, artificial intelligence that drives cars safely, or cheap and clean energy from nuclear fusion. But achieving these visions requires conditions where innovations can be discovered, tested, and improved. This means encouraging openness—fewer restrictions on sharing knowledge, flexible regulations that adjust to new realities, and intellectual property rules that protect but don’t suffocate. It also means allowing innovators to fail without shame, because failures teach us valuable lessons that pave the way for future success.
Ultimately, innovation is a delicate dance between freedom and structure, individual genius and collective effort, skepticism and trust. By understanding how innovation truly works—through messy collaboration, gradual improvement, risk-taking, debate, and global exchange—we prepare ourselves to tackle the big challenges of tomorrow. If we nurture environments where different minds can meet, exchange ideas, and combine insights, humanity will continue to innovate. We’ll shape a future filled with astonishing breakthroughs that improve health, comfort, knowledge, and opportunity for everyone, no matter where they live.
All about the Book
Explore the fascinating mechanics of innovation in Matt Ridley’s ‘How Innovation Works.’ Delve into its pivotal role in societal progress, economic growth, and technological advancement, unlocking the secrets to transforming ideas into groundbreaking inventions.
Matt Ridley is a renowned writer and journalist, known for his insightful analyses on science, technology, and economics, making complex ideas accessible and engaging for readers worldwide.
Entrepreneurs, Scientists, Policy Makers, Business Leaders, Educators
Reading about technology, Following scientific advancements, Engaging in discussions about economics, Experimenting with innovations, Attending lectures on creativity
Barriers to innovation, Understanding the innovation process, The role of government in fostering innovation, Misconceptions about inventorship and creativity
Innovation is the engine of progress; without it, society stagnates.
Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Richard Branson
Royal Society of Literature Award, The Hayek Prize, The William Allen White Children’s Book Award
1. Recognize the unpredictable nature of innovation processes. #2. Understand innovation’s reliance on collaborative efforts globally. #3. Learn how innovation is often a gradual evolution. #4. See the role of trial and error in innovation. #5. Appreciate the impact of historical accidents on progress. #6. Grasp why incentives drive technological advancements forward. #7. Realize innovations thrive in free-market environments. #8. Discover how failures contribute to eventual success. #9. Comprehend the importance of openness in idea sharing. #10. Identify connections between diverse innovations over time. #11. Understand why regulation can stifle innovative efforts. #12. See how necessity fuels inventive solutions continually. #13. Recognize innovation’s dependence on existing technologies. #14. Learn about the synergy between science and engineering. #15. Understand how luck influences innovative breakthroughs. #16. Acknowledge the unpredictable benefits of cross-industry collaboration. #17. Consider social attitudes’ influence on technological acceptance. #18. Realize creativity’s importance in solving complex problems. #19. Recognize that innovations often solve multiple problems. #20. Grasp the long-term impacts of incremental changes.
innovation, Matt Ridley, how innovation works, creativity and invention, economic growth, historical innovations, science of innovation, technology advancements, business innovation, innovation processes, modern inventions, impact of innovation
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