Research & Development World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

R&D 100 Conference Day 2: Innovate the Way You Innovate!

By Anna Spiewak | November 4, 2016

Hall-of-fame speaker Stephen Shapiro delivered the second keynote on Day 2 of the second annual R&D 100 Conference in Washington, D.C.

Forget everything you’ve ever learned about innovation and invention. According to Stephen Shapiro, the brain is not created for innovation, but rather for survival.

“Don’t think outside the box, find a better box,” said the hall-of-fame speaker while delivering the second keynote on Thursday, Day 2 of the second annual R&D 100 Conference in Washington, D.C.

Shapiro said that we’re predictable as human beings and therefore we think of things we’ve done before, which prevents us from innovating. One of the secrets to improvements in invention is phrasing a question in a way that gives solutions to a problem.

“Don’t look in the wrong place for the solutions, change the solutions,” he added.

He used the example of passengers complaining that airport luggage takes too long to arrive post-flight. But no matter how much the time was decreased, the passengers were still not satisfied. Then airport management came up with the idea that instead of speeding up luggage arrival, make walking distance from the flight to baggage claim longer. Problem solved.

“Instead of focusing on speeding up bags, how do you reduce wait time at airports (is the right question to ask),” he concluded.

The keynote speech was followed by two general sessions, and nine regular presentation sessions, including Bradford Goldense’s speech on “10 Techniques to Achieve Breakthroughs through Innovation,” Amy Belton’s “The Impact of STEM and Diversity in the 21 century and Beyond,” and Joy Goswani’s “University-Industry Relations: Nurturing a Culture of Partnerships.”

The conference activities of the day were followed by the 54th Annual R&D 100 Awards Ceremony, a black-tie event that honored 100 most innovative technologies and services in the past year. The evening also recognized 16 winners in four Special Recognition categories—Market Disruptor Services, Market Disruptor Products, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Green Tech.

The formal event additionally recognized the 2016 R&D 100 Scientist of the Year—IBM Chief Scientist Dharmendra Modha, Ph.D., and Innovator of the Year Anthony Atala, M.D., a practicing surgeon and researcher in regenerative medicine.

 

The 54th Annual R&D 100 Awards Ceremony, Washington, D.C.

Related Articles Read More >

2024’s R&D 100 Researcher of the Year on the drive that inspired him to create digital twins of 141 million buildings
R&D 100 Awards
The 2025 R&D 100 Awards are now open for nominations
R&D 100 Awards
Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
R&D 100 winner of the day: Berelex Green eco-friendly, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial paint
rd newsletter
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, trends, and strategies in Research & Development.
RD 25 Power Index

R&D World Digital Issues

Fall 2024 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R&D magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • R&D World Home
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Careers
    • Chemistry
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Software
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
    • Semiconductors
  • R&D Market Pulse
  • R&D 100
    • Call for Nominations: The 2025 R&D 100 Awards
    • R&D 100 Awards Event
    • R&D 100 Submissions
    • Winner Archive
    • Explore the 2024 R&D 100 award winners and finalists
  • Resources
    • Research Reports
    • Digital Issues
    • R&D Index
    • Subscribe
    • Video
    • Webinars
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Top Labs
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE