Innovation vs. Invention: The Untapped Power of Scaling What We Know
"I believe in the discipline of mastering the best of what other people have figured out." -Charlie Munger
“The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed.” -William Gibson
What if the key to progress isn't creating something entirely new, but mastering and expanding what we already know?
Consider the internet. It began as a specialized tool for scientists and the military, created by the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1960s. It was complex, hard to use, and inaccessible to most people. Then, in 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, working at a research lab in Switzerland, saw its potential for wider use. He didn't invent a new system. Instead, he created user-friendly tools – HTML for creating web pages, HTTP for computer communication, and URLs for web addresses. By making these tools free for everyone, Berners-Lee transformed the internet from a specialized network into the World Wide Web we know today, accessible to billions worldwide.
We often use "innovation" and "invention" interchangeably, as if they both describe brand-new ideas that push society forward. However, after reading Vaclav Smil's book, "Innovation and Invention", I learned there's an important difference between the two. This difference isn't just about words, it is a crucial difference that could change how we approach solving problems. In this post, I want to:
Explain the difference between "innovation" and "invention"
Show you real-world examples of why this difference matters
Get you thinking about how we can use stuff we already know to solve some of our biggest problems
Invention vs. Innovation: What's the Difference?
Invention: Creating the New
Invention is all about bringing something entirely new into existence. It's the "eureka!" moment that gives us:
New tools (hammer)
Machines that change how we work/live (computers)
Materials we've never seen before (plastic)
Fresh ways to produce, operate, and manage (Ford’s assembly line)
Innovation: Spreading & Mastering the Known
Innovation, on the other hand, is the art of spreading, improving, and implementing existing ideas. It's about:
Making inventions accessible to everyone
Improving existing ideas for better real-world use
Finding clever new applications for things we already have
A Real-World Example: China's Growth
To understand the power of innovation, let's look at China's remarkable growth since 1990.
China's economy grew 14 times larger
Average income per person grew 11 times higher
This growth wasn't due to new inventions. Instead, it came from adopting and mastering technologies and practices already used in other countries. Examples of innovation in actions are:
China became the "world's factory" by adopting and refining existing manufacturing techniques. They didn't invent smartphones or cars, but they became experts at producing them efficiently and affordably.
Alibaba and WeChat Pay didn't invent online shopping or digital payments. Instead, they innovated by adapting these technologies to uniquely suit the Chinese market, creating ecosystems that now lead the world.
China didn't invent solar panels, but they became the world's leading producer by perfecting and scaling up production, making clean energy more accessible globally.
Solving Global Challenges Through Innovation
Innovation isn't about starting from scratch—it's about making what we already know work better for more people. As science fiction author William Gibson noted, "The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed." Let's explore how we can address pressing global issues by implementing existing solutions more broadly.
1.Healthcare - Bridging the Gap
In many parts of the world, basic healthcare remains out of reach, and there exists a wide differences in life expectancy around the world. Yet, we already have solutions and technologies that could make medical care more accessible, and potentially closing the gap, such as:
Clinics on Wheels: Fully-equipped medical vans can bring doctors, nurses, and essential services to remote villages, offering vaccinations, prenatal care, and even minor surgeries without the need for permanent infrastructure.
Doctor Visits via Video Call: With the spread of smartphones and internet connectivity, people in rural areas can now consult with specialists hundreds of miles away. This technology is already saving lives in some regions.
AI-Powered Health Assistants: We now have AI systems that can analyze medical images and detect diseases with accuracy rivaling human experts. These tools could provide quick, accurate diagnoses in areas with few doctors, potentially catching health issues before they become critical.
2.Education - Learning for All
While most children worldwide get the opportunity to go to school, hundreds of millions still don't. As of 2023, approximately 244 million children across primary and secondary education are not in school. We can use existing technologies to make learning accessible globally:
Online Learning Platforms: Coursera has already shown how free, high-quality education can reach millions worldwide with just access to internet and a connected device.
AI-Personalized Learning: Adaptive learning platforms like Khan Academy use AI to tailor content to individual student needs, with the goal of giving every student a personalized tutor.
Low-Tech Multimedia for Education: In areas without internet, innovative approaches use basic technology to provide education, such as audio lessons on mobile phones, like Bangladesh's "English in Action," or in East Africa, "Ubongo Kids" uses TV to teach math and science to over 17 million households.
3. Food - A Meal for Everyone
Despite progress in reducing global hunger in recent decades, we are still far away from an end to hunger. Tragically, nearly one-in-ten people still do not get enough food to eat. Reducing waste and improving distribution can ensure everyone has food on the table.
Food Waste Reduction: Organizations like Food Rescue US have developed apps that connect food donors (restaurants, grocery stores, etc.) with local hunger relief agencies. These apps efficiently route excess food to where it's needed most, reducing waste and increasing accessibility.
Enhance Distribution of Food: Companies like IBM Food Trust use blockchain technology to track food products from farm to store. This system enhances food safety, reduces waste by quickly identifying and removing contaminated products, and improves overall supply chain efficiency.
Shipping Container Farms: Companies like Freight Farms have created shipping container-sized hydroponic farms that can grow large amounts of produce in small spaces, regardless of external climate conditions. These systems can be placed in food deserts or urban areas with limited access to fresh produce, making nutritious food more accessible year-round.
4.Clean Water - A Basic Human Need
Access to clean water is one of our most basic human needs. However, one in four people in the world does not have access to safe drinking water, which is a major health risk. Unsafe water is responsible for more than a million deaths each year. Existing water purification technologies can ensure universal access to safe drinking water:
Portable Water Filtration Systems: Technologies like LifeStraw provide personal water filters that can make contaminated water safe to drink instantly. These compact devices can remove 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and parasites.
Community Water Purifiers: Solar-powered machines like the SunSpring Hybrid can purify enough water for an entire village (about 750 people) every day. They work without electricity, last for years, and are easy for locals to maintain. This gives communities a long-term source of clean water without needing complex infrastructure.
The Innovation Mindset: Your Turn
Innovation isn't about starting from scratch—it's about making what we already know work better for more people. These examples demonstrate that we already have many of the tools needed to address critical global challenges. The key lies in finding ways to scale these solutions, make them more affordable, and adapt them to different contexts. By shifting our focus to implementing existing solutions on a broader scale, we can make significant strides in improving lives worldwide.
What do you think? What other problems can we tackle with things we already know how to do? Share your ideas and let's work together to make life better for everyone, starting today!