In 2022, Prof. Tietze became Cambridge's first Professor of Innovation Engineering. But what is Innovation Engineering?
Innovation Engineering (IE) is considered an Engineering discipline focused on the study of processes and systems for developing novel technologies (e.g. additive manufacturing) and technical products (e.g. automation robots) and technology-based services (e.g. predictive maintenance, product-service systems). These processes can be internal to individual organisations (e.g. intra-firm innovation), collaboratively between organisations (e.g. inter-firm innovation, such as open innovation). Innovation processes tend to happen within innovation systems or ecosystems, but might cur across innovation system boundaries. The study of innovation processes and systems aims to make these more effective. With effective we mean that the outcomes of those processes and systems more widely are more societally relevant, i.e. deliver higher societal benefits. However, this could also entail more efficient processes and systems, i.e. accelerating them.
Innovation Engineering predominantly adopts the Engineering Management discipline’s research methodologies. We employ problem driven research approaches with an emphasis on developing solutions. For that we use research methods such as prototyping, design science research, simulation modelling, system dynamics but also borrow research methods from related disciplines, such as (innovation) management and social sciences.
Innovation Engineering research at the IIPM Laboratory prioritises “Responsible Innovation Engineering” (RIE). Hence, we focus primarily on processes and systems that are likely to engineer innovations that promise to have predominantly a positive social, economic and environmental impact. These include innovation processes and systems for green technologies more widely, but more specifically for developing climate change technologies (e.g. renewable energy transition), but also circular economy processes.