Dean Kamen: A Dealer in Hope

Dean Kamen, world-renowned inventor, was the keynote speaker at Cleveland-based CAMP Inc's “2020 Vision” program yesterday. I was there and thoroughly enjoyed his message on innovation, his low-key demeanor and his entry into the room on one of his Segway Human Transporter.

Kamen shared his philosophy on innovation and its importance to technology and manufacturing companies, highlighting his personal experiences with product innovation and his thoughts on the role of innovation in remaining competitive.

Kamen, known for inventing such innovative products as a the iBot Mobility System and a two-wheeled, gyroscope-based electronic device called the Segway Human Transporter, is a tireless advocate for science and technology. As an inventor, he holds more than 150 U.S. and foreign patents, many of them for innovative medical devices that have expanded the frontiers of health care worldwide. In 1982, Kamen founded DEKA Research & Development Corporation, which develops internally generated inventions as well as provides research and development for major corporate clients.

In addition, Kamen is the founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a program to encourage young scientists and inventors. See FIRST.

Here is the essence of his comments:

1. Great technology alone does not bring about innovation.

2. Innovation is not a straight line with a predictable path.

3. Don't let the bumps in the road stop you. Quoting Churchill: "If you're going through hell, keep going."

4. Quoting Einstein: "If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research."

5. Risk, failure and unpredictability are unavoidable in innovation.

6. His advice on how long things take: "make sure you fall behind early in your schedule--the sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.

7. Solving solutions is not innovation. (Kamen finds that most of his clients want him to fix problems with their products, which are solutions to some problem. To stop there is not innovation.)

8. It's not what we don't know that inhibits innovation, rather it's what we do know that just ain't so.

9. Innovation is not a spectator sport. Leadership must be engaged fully.

10. Management is about doing things right, and leadership is about doing the right things.

11. Great quote: "To err is human...unfortunately it is not our company policy."

12. Usually the punishment for failure is much larger than the reward for success.

13. An innovator asks this question: "Is this the best way to solve the problem facing my client or customer?"