This blog post will show a
R&D concept which in my point of view allows you a better categorization of
your research approaches. For making it easier for companies to bring structure
into the R&D departments, science has investigated the patterns of
innovation processes. The results can be graphically displayed in the so called
Pasteur’s Quadrant (Figure 1).
The Pasteur's Quadrant is a
way of combining the basic and applied research approaches in the shape of a
quadrant. The quadrants can be separated by a horizontal (=consideration of
use) and a vertical line (=focus on fundamental understanding). In my point of
view, in the last decade, the right side of the quadrant started melting
together resulting in this particular expression of Edi-Pasteuring (Figure 2).
Figure 1: Schematic presentation of the Stokes Pasteurs quadrant
adapted from [1].
Let’s jump one step back and
lose some words about two of the quadrants: What is a Pasteur-type of research
approach?
Put in simple words: it is a
use-inspired research approach. It has a scientific basis (understanding of the
physics behind the product) and considers the boundary conditions (physical
limits) of the practical application as a result of the scientifically
findings and developments. This quadrant was named after Louis Pasteur, who got
famous with his foundations in microbiology. His approach of reducing death by
preventing diseases is a good example of this category.
And what is an Edison-type of
research approach? Thomas A. Edison,
the founder of General Electric and first industrial R&D scientist, is
famous for his 2 quotes:
“Genius
is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."
And by this saying:
“I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have
succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have
eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”
This quote explains already his
way of research: you need to have a try & error approach in your research
activities to succeed.
And what is Edi-Pasteuring?
It is the melting of those two
quadrants for providing a way in the new economy of plastics industry to keep
on the top. Important is therefore to
ask:
In my point of view it is
already used and represented by e.g. rapid prototyping, which always uses a proof
of concept on a small scale with evaluation. This allows you to showcase your
product. In this phase it is important to consider the physics behind which
allows it to work in a proper way and estimate the boundaries. Once this is done,
a scale-up to real application development is the next phase. Both phases will
have some try & error elements. The proof of concept phase is more oriented
in the Pasteurs approach, where else the application and scale up phase is will
be dominated by Edison approach. It has much more try & error elements,
because you want to improve your product. You want to try out different
polymeric materials and different insert configurations when you use injection
or extrusion moulds.
In the Figure 2 you
can find a graphical representation of my interpretation of the research
approaches for plastics industry. The Figure 3 shows the same adaption but
presented in a more technical way. The melting of the two quadrants lead to a
bell distribution with overlapping phases. It reminds me also somehow of a bi-modal
distribution of e.g. a HDPE.
Figure 2: My
interpretation of the research approaches for plastics industry using the
Pasteurs quadrant from [1].
Figure 3: Edi-pasteuring as a
technical representation: proof of concept phase (blue line) and scale up phase
(orange).
How does it fit into the new
economy?
To be valid in the new
economy, it needs to be aligned with the zero to one way of creating products
(see Peter Thiel) together with 3 significant words: TEMPO, TEMPO, and TEMPO. The
right timing of your idea to be placed in the market is crucial. When Edi-Pasteuring
is supporting this idea and allows your product to become an exponential
exploding product which can create a monopoly (short: 0 to 1), then it will
stand definitely a chance.
If not, it will be only a
concept working from the second row and getting a load of “me-too” type of
products. The management of big data and its use will influence this kind of
approaches as well.
Maybe those quadrants will be
replaced in the future through an Elon Musk type and Peter Thiel type of
quadrant? We will see!
Hope you found this post interesting
and should encourage you to check up on your current R&D environment. Maybe
it needs a bit more of Edi-Pasteuring.
Greetings and till next time
Herwig
Literature:
[1] Ward Ooms, et.al: Research orientation and agglomeration: Can every
region become a Silicon Valley? (2015)
