Skip to content

Humanity-Centric Innovation

What Contributes to Humanity-Centric Innovation?

When you have these three things together, you have a humanity-centric innovation. Dulcamera believes that the UN-17 Sustainable Development Goals gives a nice depiction for the greatest needs for humanity today. There is 17 parts to this list, which include:

  1. No poverty
  2. Zero hunger
  3. Good health and well-being
  4. Quality education
  5. Gender equality
  6. Clean water and sanitation
  7. Affordable and clean energy
  8. Decent work and economic growth
  9. Industry innovation and infrastructure
  10. Reduced inequalities
  11. Sustainable cities and communities
  12. Responsible consumption and production
  13. Climate action
  14. Life below water
  15. Life on land
  16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
  17. Partnerships for the goals

How to Drive Humanity-Centric Innovation for the Future

Dulcamara also points to the book, “The Future Is Faster Than You Think” by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler as a good example of business models in the 21st century. The book goes over different business models like the free data economy of Google and Facebook or the crowd economy of AirBnB and Uber. When he thinks of exponential technologies, he thinks of AI and quantum computing. Along with related things that bring us into the modern world.

The collision of these three areas together can bring about innovations to help solve these world-wide issues. Dulcamara shares that you have to have all three for the concept to work. He believes that we are in a time where businesses need to be created for a purpose. We as a society should be focused on creating businesses that can contribute and create humanity-centric innovations in the future.

Dulcamara goes on to explain that it is up to us to start driving humanity-centric innovation for the generations after us. We have to make sure that we are creating a sustainable future for not only our immediate future, but for the generations thousands of years from now. He is focused on creating a future where we use biodata and biomaterial more strategically. The parts might be worth more than the sum; biodata and biomaterials could be worth more than the products that are holding them. Used strategically, biomaterials could be utilized to innovate science and medicine to possibly cure cancer and Alzheimer’s. Looking towards 2023, Dulcamara believes it will be a challenge, but he believes in focusing on what we can control and influence now to make for a better future tomorrow.

Contributor

  • Seth Adler heads up All Things Insights & All Things Innovation. He has spent his career bringing people together around content. He has a dynamic background producing events, podcasts, video, and the written word.

    View all posts
 
 

Related Content

Windsurfing on a rogue wave.
innovation strategy

Bringing the Rogue Mindset to FEI25

Just how much of a Rogue Mindset do you and your team bring to the innovation table? What can we do to bring more of that unconventional thinking to t…

Coffee cup and plate filled with coffee beans.
product concept testing

Strengthening Product Concept Testing

Many product launches often fail, and it’s accepted as part of the nature of innovation. But does it really need to be that way? Cambri asserts that…

data science

The Data-Driven Race: Strategies for Success

FEI 2024’s AI, Data, Analytics & Insights track provided valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of business. By…

Like a star or comet shooting out rays of light beams.
transformational innovation

The First Steps to Transformational Innovation

All Things Innovation’s annual roundtable discussion, held at the Front End of Innovation (FEI 2024) conference, tackled the big question: “Is tra…

Graphic features a kind of lightspeed with flashes of colors in the center.
transformational innovation

Measuring the Human Element

The Front End of Innovation (FEI 2024) conference featured All Things Innovation’s annual roundtable discussion, which tackled the big question: “…

A mousetrap set with cheese ready and waiting.
artificial intelligence

Capturing Innovation Engagement

All Things Innovation had a chance to chat with Termeh Rassi, Chief Strategy Officer & Editorial Director at Leonardo, at this year’s FEI 2024 confe…

A background of rising laser beams, kind of like a sunrise on the horizon.
FEI 2024

Attaining Zero to N Innovation

A highlight at this year’s Front End of Innovation (FEI 2024) was All Things Innovation’s annual roundtable discussion, which tackled the big ques…

Creator or entrepreneur sitting with laptop, business graphics swirling around him like thought bubbles.
innovation culture

Creating a Venture Capital Mindset

Established corporate enterprises tend to struggle at times when they focus on innovation initiatives. Often, organizations are leery of throwing reso…

A colorful galaxy-like image with a lot of circles, stars and effects.
crisis innovation

Is Transformational Innovation Possible?

One of the most interesting activities at this year’s Front End of Innovation (FEI 2024) was All Things Innovation’s annual roundtable discussion,…

A large spinning wind turbine.
sustainable innovation

Energizing Sustainable Solutions

All Things Innovation spent some time at FEI 2024 with Serene Hamsho, President of American Offshore Wind Academy, which provides professional trainin…

A diamond and its facets.
innovation democratization

Finding the Value of Innovation

Gail Martino, VP Partnerships, 387Labs, was on hand at FEI 2024 as a moderator for the Brunch with the Bots presentation on the final day of the confe…

Fireworks exploding in the night sky.
stakeholders

Unleashing Innovation

All Things Innovation was on hand at the recent FEI 2024 conference to discuss innovation with corporate changemakers. We caught up with Liza Sanchez,…

A spiral seashell.
innovation mindset

Supporting Agile Innovation

Often, when we think about large corporations, rapid innovation and agile development may not be the first principles that come to mind. Large corpora…

The closeup of a jet engine.
customer centricity

Creating a Culture of Experimentation

Many in the community feel that fostering a culture of innovation is paramount. A key to this is building a culture of experimentation. This stems fro…

An Olympic swimmer in the pool racing.
innovation leadership

Is Your Company Innovation Ready?

The term innovation readiness is often used to refer to an organization’s ability to develop and launch new products, services or ideas. Some may poin…

A sphere in space, with data points of light
Front End of Innovation

Innovation in Action: Trends from FEI 2024

This past June, the vibrant city of Boston, known for its trailblazing spirit, became the epicenter of innovation as it hosted the Front End of Innova…

A lone tree in an open field under a cloudy sky.
sustainable innovation

The Path to a Sustainable Future

All Things Innovation recently caught up with Keith Crossland, CEO and Co-Founder of Carbon Negative Solutions. Crossland’s company was the grand pr…

Crumpled paper on top of idea/innovation sketch pad with drawing of light bulb.
Front End of Innovation

FEI 2024 Report: The Future of Innovation

A successful three-day event marked Front End of Innovation (FEI) 2024 in Boston, held June 10 to 12 at the Omni Hotel at the Seaport. A reenergized a…

Man shouting into a large megaphone.
crisis innovation

Leaning into Crisis Innovation

In times of crisis, conventional wisdom seems to indicate that companies tighten the reins on personnel and their budgets, and that innovation efforts…

A white empty picture frame leaning on a white brick wall.
innovation frameworks

Selecting an Innovation Framework

The science of innovation, especially as seen through frameworks, is an important aspect of the operational process. With innovation a sometimes spraw…

A variety of ingredients in spoons. Diversity.
innovation culture

Creating the Right Innovation Team

Innovation was often seen as the task of a lone inventor, but that mindset has changed over the years. Rather than the solitary genius approach to inn…

Yellow and black Caution hazard lines on pavement.
exploration

Avoiding Innovation Traps

The road to innovation can sometimes be straight and unencumbered. But more than likely, it can also be a long and winding route, with many obstacles…

A bridge centered between two buildings.
generational gap

Bridging Generational Divides in Innovation

Some may call it the generational gap, whether it be in the workplace or the marketplace, but that gap also signals opportunity. The sheer diversity o…

Red warning light, signaling hazard.
innovation culture

Moving Past Innovation Roadblocks

With the pace of change accelerating, fostering innovation in corporate enterprises can be a challenging task—a task that is very much dependent on…

A hand holding a glowing green globe.
innovation leadership

A Call for Sustainable Development

An MIT environmental engineering undergraduate from Jamaica, Runako Gentles uses his personal story to advocate for sustainable development to be inte…

Wind turbines going off into the distance.
net zero emissions

Innovation’s Role in the Race to Net Zero

As consumers, we are all living with climate change as a growing reality—and that reality is impacting our lives on a daily basis. We have heard of…

Futuristic city at night with data points of light rising from the bottom.
transformation

Mapping Out the Data-Innovation Journey

This year, in our latest Innovation Perspectives Report, the editors of All Things Innovation brought together a cross-section of innovation, insights…

Bulletin board with post it notes. One in center says Make Things Happen.
managing innovation

Managing Productive Innovation

Conservatively, I estimate that I’ve attended 20,000-plus meetings throughout my career. I’ll admit, many of them should have been replaced with email…

A blueprint with a pencil and ruler.
innovation team

Innovation Principles, 7/7

Once adequate competency, support, and size of a new team are secured, clear direction based on a purposeful vision, alignment with a winning game pla…

A smiling little robot
interdisciplinary collaboration

The Road to FEI24: Brunch with the Bots

Samantha Johnson, Founder & CEO at Tatum Robotics, will take part in FEI 2024 in several ways, including participating in the keynote sessions, “Bru…

football chalk game plan
innovation strategy

Innovation Principles, 6/7

Development strategy (i.e., Game Plan) is a set of choices within applicable constraints and trade-offs that defines our development approach and posi…

explorer in a cave
anthropology

Applying AI to Anthropological Research

Agile research and methodologies are of primary importance to the innovation discipline, as they promote a more versatile, rapid, adaptive approach to…

gross profit margin

Innovation Principles, 5/7

Gross Profit Margin and Net Present Value are two primary profitability indicators for evaluating an intended entrepreneurial offering. Even if suffic…

automation

Gaining an Innovation Edge with Automation

With the focus on how artificial intelligence, as well as digital transformation efforts, can help streamline operations, it’s worth another look at…

opportunity incubation

Innovation Principles, 4/7

The front end of innovation is a distinctly iterative endeavor based on human-centered, design-thinking principles. It could be represented by a spira…

innovation culture

Winning the Innovation Strategy Game

We know that having a creative mindset can fuel innovation, and that fostering a culture of innovation is also important to get the job done. Yet ther…

innovation culture

Taking Next Steps with Innovation Talent

As we head into the new year, taking the next steps with innovation talent remains an important question to explore. With the competitive landscape in…

innovation team

PIE: Get Your Slice of Success

How can someone really stand out and succeed as a corporate innovator, get the most exciting projects, or secure a promotion? This is a question I enc…

disruptive innovation

Shaping the Future with Disruptive Technology

As we head into 2024, innovation of all types, most especially in technology, will continue to disrupt, transform and impact our lives, from the workp…

innovation team

Keeping Your Innovation Career Resilient

With the rise of technology, such as AI, impacting workers and workplaces, it’s safe to say the future of work is evolving—in innovation and in ma…

product development

Innovation Principles, 3/7

The main premise behind an integrated end-to-end continuum of innovation and new product development is that a holistic understanding of sequential de…

consumer trends

Shaping the Next Generation of Innovation

Generation Z is in a unique position as they are often viewed as one of the first to be shaped and influenced by technology such as the Internet, soci…

human centered design

Innovation Principles, 2/7

Successful innovation endeavors are built on creative tension between key enabling entrepreneurial trade-offs associated with four must-have constitue…

insights

Measuring Innovation Performance

Innovation can be a key component to drive a company’s success and performance, in both short-term and long-term initiatives. Yet many executives gr…

innovation mindset

Unlocking Business Growth Through Innovation

The business world is changing quickly for innovators and there is a growing and ever-present imperative to keep up. Business model transformations an…

technology

Living in A Digital Transformation World

Digital transformation (DX) has been a hot topic in the innovation space for some time, but the term can be easily misunderstood as well. As we accele…

innovation principles

Innovation Principles, 1/7

Imagine a case where a company’s growth depends on an innovation involving complex cross-disciplinary technologies such as electro-mechanical hardwa…

innovation mindset

Sustaining the Self-Disruption Journey

The adage “disrupt or be disrupted” may not necessarily always mean the same thing to the same companies. Even the original architects of disrupti…

innovation culture

Playing the Game of Disruption

At FEI, Angelina Carvajal, Strategy & Innovation Partner, Sr. Dir. (Optum Advisory), UnitedHealth Group, had a chance to share her thoughts on disrupt…

innovation culture

Breaking Through Challenges to Problem Solve

While it’s important to learn from best practices from large and innovative enterprises, it’s also valuable to hear from the startup community. At…

sustainability

Powering Innovation’s Long-Term Play

Ishan Jaithwa, Manager, New Growth Areas, Cummins Inc., sat down with All Things Innovation’s Seth Adler at our studio at the FEI conference. Jaithw…

desirability

Design Thinking Faces the Pace of Change

Seth Adler of All Things Innovation recently caught up with Prapti Jha, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, at this year’s FEI co…

ideation

Opening the Doors of Innovation Perception

Seth Adler of All Things Innovation caught up with Cory Sorice, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer, Masonite International, during this year’s FEI con…

digital transformation

Beyond Innovation Theater

At FEI, All Things Innovation conducted a special roundtable, bringing cross industry, cross disciplinarians together to talk about transformation and…

technology

Supporting Data with Design Thinking

At FEI, All Things Innovation conducted a special roundtable, bringing cross industry, cross disciplinarians together to talk about transformation and…

technology

Achieving Transformational Innovation

At FEI, All Things Innovation conducted a special roundtable, bringing cross industry, cross disciplinarians together to talk about transformation and…

chief strategy officer

Setting the Strategic Direction

A chief strategy officer (CSO) is increasingly becoming a more relevant element to a research and development team in an organization. An innovation t…

innovation culture

Managing the Marketing of Innovation

Even some of the best new innovations might fail if there’s no effective marketing behind the product or service. With an emphasis on cross-collabor…

innovation culture

Playing Moneyball for the Win

In the popular baseball movie “Moneyball,” the character Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill) highlights the “epic failure” of MLB leadership in managin…

innovation mindset

Putting Together Your Innovation Team

As the community’s recent Innovation Spend & Trends Report indicated, innovation teams are not working in a bubble, or at least not as much as they…

6 D's framework

The Progress of Innovation

Technology is shaping our society, taking us in new directions and playing a key role in our lives every day. These forces can disrupt, or delight, co…

sustaining innovation

Leading with Product Innovation

At its core, in the consumer packaged goods world, an innovative product can make an impact in the marketplace and stand out with a focus on newness….

innovation strategy

Generating Innovation Through Ideation

Ideation is often confused with innovation, along with other related terms regarding the creative process, such as brainstorming or design thinking. W…

talent

Managing Talent to Drive Innovation

With the economy producing mixed signals, and companies often in a state of flux, managing innovation talent has never been a more challenging and imp…

adaptation

Balancing Innovation with Ambidexterity

Innovators have long been tasked with being a flexible part of an ambidextrous team, as part of an organizational cog that can easily pivot and manage…

breakthrough innovation

Defining Disruptive Innovation

Disruptive innovation is often a phrase used to make a splash in the business world. Some may debate that the label has been applied carelessly at tim…

gaining true value

Gaining True Value While Moving Forward

The All Things Innovation community came together in this Gathering on Innovation Strategy to drive immediate lessons learned through the first half o…

data analytics

Diving Into Humanity-Centric Innovation

With the continued emergence and evolving development of artificial intelligence, there rises a question of how humans and AI can work together more e…

lifestyle brands

Innovating With Purpose

Lifestyle brands with purpose are companies that use their products and services to promote a positive message or mission. They strive to make the wor…

human resources

Tapping Into the Innovation Talent Pipeline

In the last few years, the pandemic and a range of other economic factors have influenced the talent recruitment, development and retention practices…

human resources

Ignite a Culture of Innovation

From the successes to the failures, from the breakthroughs to the breaking points, the innovation community knows all too well that fostering a cultur…

business innovation

Innovation During A Downturn

Whether you believe the USA is headed toward or already in a recession, there are signs of a slowing or reversal of economic activity. Of the 15 metri…

successful innovation

Striving for Successful Innovation

In the quest for innovation, there is often a fine line between success and failure. The road to success is not always clear, easy or convenient. Howe…

advancing innovation

Innovating Through the Metaverse

The Metaverse is a shifting, undefined topic, which is currently the center of much speculation and hype. However, at its center, the concept of the M…

artificial intelligence

15 Second Workday

This morning I generated 40 new product ideas with concepts and ad copy to accompany each.  It took 15 seconds. This is just a small fraction of what…

inclusion

Innovation Diversity

Black, Indigenous and People of Color have always been leaders in innovation and it’s time for us to put that at the forefront. DEI, or Diversity Eq…

innovation talent

Fostering Innovation

When you start to talk that way and lead that way, people do feel more psychologically safe to support change and support innovation that’s happenin…

breakthrough innovation

Breakthrough Innovation

While the rest of the industry relies on iterative change, Alex Moyes explains the breakthrough innovation happening at Dominion Energy. “So Dominio…

innovation talent

Innovation Reality

When working remotely, the main challenge is bringing people into an office when they live across the country or around the world. The AES Corporation…

innovation talent

Control The Sails

Although the world was affected heavily with change in the last few years, not much in the business world has changed as far as topics and issues go….

innovation leadership

Innovation Culture

Innovation starts with the employees of an organization. As we know, the people that work for a business are some of its greatest assets. In today’s…

ideation

Interaction Innovation

We are at a time in history of incredible change and technological innovations, such as the rise of machine intelligence, and companies who keep doing…

insights

Measurable Innovation

Each company has their own KPIs that are important to their specific business in place to progress and be successful. Are people at the forefront of i…

innovation leadership

Certain Uncertainty

Life is uncertain in every way. It’s always interesting to meet new people and try new things. On the other hand, attackers may sometimes appear out o…

adaptation

Rolling Innovation

If you’ve done it once, you can do it again. Make sure to keep doing it, it’s rolling innovation. Amber Case sits down with us to discuss how impo…

advancing innovation

Strategic Innovation

Any new concept or technological advancement will continue to change and advance. Landlines were commonplace before smartphones. Remember those? What…

Innovation Spend & Trends Report

The Innovation Spend & Trends Report has just been released onsite at FEI: Front End of Innovation. Be among the first to gain from this benchmarking…

transformation

Innovation Intelligence

It seems that innovation is one of the biggest buzzwords in business now. To sustain growth and be competitive in the marketplace, companies in every…

constant change

Innovation As Constant Change

The key strategy to a successful business is to know when they are being innovative or are just transforming their status quo according to market tren…