Dear Colleague Changing Times – Changing Needs From the Desk of Dr. Scott Edgett As we all try to move forward through what will likely be a long and bumpy economic recovery, two key imperatives are emerging for those of us with an eye on creating future value for our companies. We cannot manage the past, and Innovation, in each industry, is moving forward whether or not our companies are moving with it. So, given the need to keep innovating despite continuing resource crunches, what are other companies doing to keep moving ahead? What does it mean for new product development efforts? We see eight common themes that are preparing themselves for this “new economy”? Perhaps you will recognize some of them in yours.

Key Topics Reinvigorate Your Product Innovation Process Drive Profits, Productivity and Speed Improve Your Innovation Results Develop Your Product Innovation Strategy

November 16-17, 2010 · Clearwater Beach, FL

Driving Product Innovation Results: Profits, Productivity and Speed

The Stage-Gate Innovation Summit is a powerful exchange and collaboration of cutting-edge ideas, solutions, experiences and free-flowing discussions with industry’s best and brightest innovation leaders. Learn from case presentations by innovation champions from these leading companies
• ITT Corporation • Rust-Oleum Corporation • McNeil Nutritionals (a Johnson & Johnson Company) • Medtronic • Hydro-Quebéc • Kellogg Company • Masco Corporation • Mars Chocolate.

Day One of the Summit focuses on the impact of leadership on product innovation success. Key topics include innovative leadership characteristics, leadership development and training, change management, optimizing organizational structure and resources. Dr. Cooper will lead Day One with his Keynote ‘Creating and Sustaining the Innovative Organization – Leaders Needed’.

Day Two focuses on new benchmarks and practices that drive product innovation performance. Key topics include internal idea generation, open innovation, accelerating idea-to-launch, high impact product launches and optimizing project selection. Dr. Edgett will lead Day Two with his Keynote ‘Raising the Bar: New Benchmarks and Practices in Product Innovation’.

In the business of product innovation, a high quality network is crucial. The right network can help accelerate a number of important activities such as discovering your next breakthrough new product, sourcing talent, finding the right development partners, discovering beta clients, benchmarking your performance, solving tough challenges and so on. Stage-Gate Summit 2010 attracts one of the highest caliber audiences in the field of Product Innovation. Meeting and connecting with speakers, best practice companies, delegates and vendors enables you to expand your product innovation network— your most valuable source of ideas and advice. Numerous networking opportunities are designed into the event including:

• Meet + Greet Breakfasts
• Evening Networking Reception
• “Meet You at the Summit” Facilitators
• Sponsor Introductions

Connect with a specific speaker or delegate at the Summit. The Stage-Gate On-Site Team will be pleased to facilitate an introduction to help you optimize your Summit 2010 experience!

Thank You to our Gold Sponsors

Are your company’s innovation efforts achieving the best results?  “Smart companies streamline their new product development process, removing waste and inefficiency at every opportunity”. - Dr. Robert Cooper

Assess your company’s innovation program; learn what areas to target and how to streamline them to get optimal performance results.

To learn more about our Innovation Performance Assessment, please call +1-905-304-8797.

Is an Executive’s time better spent creating strategy or screening ideas?

If your company relies on consistent and profitable success through product innovation and your company generates more than just a handful of ideas a year – the answer is – strategy.

Even a modest Product Innovation and Technology Strategy is much more effective than nothing at all. It is no wonder that the best performing innovators not only take time to develop their Product Innovation and Technology Strategy but they also go to lengths to ensure it is of high quality.

In fact, when executives take time to develop a Product Innovation and Technology Strategy, several benefits immediately come into effect. These include:

• The quantity and quality of new product ideas increases because more people throughout your organization understand the goals you are trying to achieve
• Ideas will receive better screening and evaluation because it is clear what is important
• The value of your pipeline increases because it becomes easier to prioritize
• Your portfolio becomes more strategically aligned.

What to learn more?

Reserve your place at our upcoming Seminar - Deciding Your New Product Portfolio: Making Strategic Choices and Picking Winners - September 14-15, 2010 - Charleston, SC

Only 2 Seats Left