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Sunday, July 06, 2008

Unilever Technology Ventures

I was reminded by a recent reference of Unilever Technology Ventures, an effort by a consumer package goods company to " .. provide a world-wide window on new technologies that will influence the development of next generation products ... ". Compare its approach to that of Procter & Gamble's Connect & Develop program. Unilever does not appear to be doing anything that is equivalent.

In Jonathan Zittrain's insightful recent book: The Future of the Internet ..., he explores the concept of how generative systems (systems that are flexible enough to help generate new ideas, such as the computer or Internet) can be positioned as test-beds for this kind of innovation. So which is more generative, a corporate venture fund, corporate connect & develop? or focused internal R&D? And what are the risks of each?

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