Innovating Innovation - Best Practices for Improving Your Return on Innovation | Technological Leadership Institute

Dr. Andrew Ouderkirk is a Corporate Scientist at 3M, an inventor of 191 issued US patents, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a Sr. Fellow at the UMN Technological Leadership Institute.  He led the team responsible for 3M’s Multilayer Optical Film (MOF) technology platform that has wide-ranging applications such as light-polarizing products, ultra-high efficiency light reflectors, and wavelength-selective products. MOF products are widely used in LCD in applications ranging from mobile phones to large displays. Other major applications of MOF include window films, Smart Cards, and solar lighting.  Additionally, Andy is one of the lead developers of a framework, called New Business Platform Architecture, for managing market-disruptive products. 

Danny Gelfman leads and advises advanced concept development of new healthcare solutions in his role as Principal Solutions Designer on the Healthcare Innovation Team at Medtronic. With a background in industrial design and human factors, he employs user centered design methodologies in the early stages of development to round out the opportunity assessment beyond technical feasibility and market viability. Currently focusing on digital health solutions, Danny has spent 14 years in product development of medical products and devices as a consultant and in-house R&D. His role allows him to spend considerable time with patients, caregivers and clinicians, understanding who they are as people and how they interact with the diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases. The empathic sensibility gained from these interactions provides the foundation for ideation, prototyping and testing of concepts in an iterative process.

Kunjorn Chambundabongse (KC) is a Vice President of Innovation, Research & Development for UnitedHealth Group where he is responsible for managing a strategic portfolio and corporate intrapreneurship programs focused on disruptive innovation and growth. His organization uses Customer Development, Lean Startup and Lean VC approaches to new product ideation and development. In this role, KC works to increase the throughput by which UnitedHealth Group incubates and invests in game-changing new products, services and businesses, with the goal to improve the efficiency at which they are de-risked in-market and the value by which they are measured (both strategically and financially).