In these times when technology and entrepreneurship seem to be in fashion, many companies and professionals are filled with the word 'innovation' in their mouths, however, this component is not present in all companies. How exactly can technological innovation be defined and identified?
A technological innovation is generally a product, tool or service that has a new functionality or use compared to those that already existed. It can also refer to a disruptive process or to the implementation of an emerging technology in the business to improve a process or add new functionalities. The Austro-American economist Joseph Schumpeter pioneered his vision of the entrepreneur as an entrepreneur and innovator. According to his approach, when there is a situation of balance, this can be broken thanks to innovation, which generates benefits above normal, until the situation is rebalanced. Paradoxically, there are companies that present great innovations that have not yet come to fruition in the market or are barely becoming popular and there are others that replicate existing services, without innovating, but that are beginning to be widely used in the general public. In this sense, Schumpeter speaks of three phases within the innovation process. The first would be the invention, when a new product or a totally new production process is created or discovered for a process that already existed. Then there would be innovation as usual, which involves putting existing inventions into practice or applying that invention to commercial or industrial uses. Finally, as a final phase, and referring to that tendency to copy each other, there is imitation. This is when the generalization of innovation becomes widespread and other companies appropriate it, with very similar replacement products. Another rather revealing definition is the one attributed to Fernández Machado. In his opinion, technological innovation is “the frequently repeated act of applying new technical changes to the company, to achieve greater benefits, growth, sustainability and competitiveness”.
How to know if my company is carrying out technological innovation
Perhaps with this explanation you have already been able to reflect and think about whether your company has an innovative DNA or not. If you answered in the affirmative, you are in luck because you can access very interesting public aid. The CDTI (Center for Industrial Technological Development), which depends on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, has its Direct Line to Innovation (CLICK). The program is focused on projects that invest or spend on innovative techniques or technologies or have made a substantial improvement in services, products or tools. To find out if companies are telling the truth and are not left with a mere intention for the gallery, it is requested that at least an investment of more than 175,000 euros be allocated for equipment and expenses in personnel costs, materials, external industrial collaborations and R&D. However, these expenses should not have been carried out before asking for help. To the LIC program there is also the CLICK TO which seeks to promote innovation, but in a more localized area. That is, within the framework of each autonomous community. In This article you can take a look at the differences between the two grants and their particular conditions.
