Knowledge Hub

Low-Technical Readiness Levels at BAE Systems

BAE Systems explores R&D processes to encourage innovation at Low-Technical Readiness Levels

Working on R&D projects in the Weapon Systems UK business at BAE Systems means developing solutions at Low-Technical Readiness Levels (TRLs). In this environment, uncertainty isn’t simply another entry in a risk register, it’s the defining challenge of the work says Martin Currie, Project Engineering Manager.

He is conducting research to discover how different types of uncertainty are perceived and which project management practices are most effective in reducing them.

Digitalizing R&D – learnings from Unilever

How would you digitalize the R&D department of Unilever, a company that was founded over 138 years ago? Innovation continues to be a driving force in the company, so to ensure the sustainability and profitability of the organisation, it created the fully automated Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) on the University of Liverpool campus, to enable it to digitalize its R&D function.

crowdsourcing innovation acoustic vibration solution inspired by violinists

Crowdsourcing innovation at NASA – solving grand challenges

Crowdsourcing innovation doesn’t require a world expert, just someone who can connect the dots. Research from MIT found 70% of the time the successful challengers came from somewhere not in the domain of the challenge owner and in 75% of cases the solution already existed.

Crowdsourcing innovation and IP – what potential contributors should consider

The crowdsourcing paradox – Individuals that act as providers of knowledge need to exchange (codified and tacit) solution information to attract seekers and develop a solution, while they need to protect their knowledge base from unwanted knowledge leakages and spillovers.

How to access people beyond your payroll – Open Innovation Challenges unlock global genius

Open innovation challenges are a way to solve the hardest problems on Earth (and beyond) by bringing together people from around the world, explains Trisha Epp, Director of Innovation for NASA Tournament Lab at Freelancer.com

We talked to Trisha about crowdsourcing for innovation.

Transformational leadership: Redefining what it means to lead at NASA 2/4

In the years following Columbia, JSC invested heavily in its leadership. The goal was to shift from directive, hierarchical management to transformational leadership, an approach that emphasizes inspiration, empowerment, and mutual growth between leaders and followers.

Sony Mobile gaining value from future focused investment

Sony Mobile emerged when Sony acquired Ericsson’s share of its joint venture. Against a difficult market it gained value from its future focussed investment and successfully regained its reputation for groundbreaking innovation. The role of innovation management in facilitating these transitions is discussed.

Why cyber-physical integration needs two playbooks, not one

Many cyber-physical programmes stall because teams assume “integration” is a single pathway. In reality, there are two distinct playbooks with different implications for architecture, data, and governance.

How entrepreneurial language can influence academic decision making

Engaging with universities offers a cost-effective, and risk-sharing proposition for resource contrained start-ups. However there are often culture differences around motivations. Research reveals that entrepreneurial language can accelerate speed to decision.

US policies on federal science will drive the biomedical ecosystem to restructure R&D on a global scale.

Firms have restructured R&D in response to US science policy and AI, but will it damage long-term innovation capacity?

In 2025 there was a significant increase in global organisations looking to restructure R&D operations. Research by Steve Bone has revealed that measures directed at improving operational efficiency may infact pose a ‘significant risk of slowing innovation’ unless it has a clear strategic direction.

Impact of end consumer on innovation culture – a Japanese perspective

Customer insights can help international R&D programmes adapt their approach to new product development. Dr Hajime Endo, an Executive Consultant for TouGas Oilfield Solutions, explains the end consumer impact on innovation culture.

Keynote speakers for #RND2026 announced

Hosts for the R&D Management Conference 2026 are delighted to announce some of the keynote speakers for #RND2026. Peter Gallagher, who led technology strategy for part of Unilever is the first industry practitioner to be named.