The Power of Open Networks

The concept of open networks is a fairly new business model however open networks is transforming how companies develop new product and service ideas. Companies utilizing open networks use external ideas as well as internal ideas to advance technologies. P&G claims that more than 35 percent of its new product ideas now come from outside the company. Companies can no longer rely entirely on their own resources to stay competitive in today’s global economy. The successes come from better ideas and innovative thinking developed from collaboration that transcends the boundaries of the company itself. This same concept can be used to transcend our region into a place where people want to live, companies want to locate and from which globally relevant ideas spring. 

The benefits of open networks can be used to create significant improvements in our entrepreneurial ecosystem. As we look to other cities that have a culture of innovation within their community, key words such as collaboration, networks (both dense and open), and inclusive mindsets continue to be a mantra expressed by all cities with a thriving innovative culture.

As our region looks to create and implement collaborative spaces that will provide an inclusive environment to share ideas and concepts, everyone has the potential to benefit.  Establishing a network that is inclusive, open and welcoming enables individuals interested in developing a new concept the opportunity to connect with others in the community willing to make linkages and open doors. By having an open network environment and creating valuable connections for start-ups will reduce the amount of time an individual can go from idea to product launch.

The old saying “It’s all about who you know” still rings true in some form. The goal is to allow everyone an easy-to-navigate roadmap to the right people willing to collaborate and connect.

“Innovation is not a building. It’s a mentality.”

Our current work with The Chamber in relation to a physical building, but we have come to understand, and deeply believe, that the real heart of an innovation center is made up of the human building blocks that connect to form a thriving community of innovative thinkers and doers, and is not made of glass and steel.  The physical innovation center best serves that human community as its physical town square.

While facilities are an important part of The Chamber’s initiative to build a ‘culture of innovation’, it is not the defining issue--though to this point it has mistakenly been the primarily focus of our attention.

Our region, catalyzed by massive flood, now faces a perfect storm of opportunity, a once-in-a-generation opportunity that if capitalized on, could lead to true transformation to keep our community both competitive in the ever connected global world, while keeping itself rooted in our values of hard work, honesty and neighborliness.

The census number revealed our community’s resilience in the midst one of the deepest economic recessions in history, on the back of a natural disaster of epic proportions. We’ve endured this period and are now looking at the opportunity to form a new vision for our community to harness the powers of our people as innovators, creatives and entrepreneurs. Building upon the spirit of our agricultural entrepreneurial past, we must fully embrace the latest in science, technology and business to prosper in this new era.  This is now possible, because the flood has literally and figuratively left us a blank canvas on which to paint our new vision.

Since January we’ve engaged in conversations throughout the community to learn more about the real needs of our entrepreneurs.  It has become apparent to Chamber staff that we can’t contain this growth, but we must establish a grassroots effort to really understand the needs of the community.  

We have also traveled to learn the best practices of others. In these early conversations, one of the major take always has been to understand a culture of innovation is a must have at its core, a culture of collaboration.

Omaha is a community that has very purposefully and successfully built a culture of innovation around entrepreneurial ecosystems.  Tom Chapman, Director of Entrepreneurism and Innovation for the Omaha Chamber, described their process by saying “We can’t control it. The best thing we can do is get people engaged in it.”

Mike Malone, an entrepreneur who has operated a successful media business in Omaha since the mid-1990s, was asked what had changed in the past two decades leading to the recent growth in the area’s entrepreneurial and creative communities. Mike shared, “While the old way of business was to keep each business in respective silos, the newest generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders realize that collaboration (even with seeming direct competitors was key).”

“Collaboration is the new competition,” one entrepreneur told us.

In crafting our community’s vision for creating this ‘culture of innovation’ collaboration must be our central theme.  It is less important who owns this culture, because for it to truly succeed the answer is “all of us.”

Your Chamber is in a position to facilitate this conversation, but we need you to join in this conversation for our community to truly recognize the full potential of our future and to truly make the best of our blank canvas. To participate contact Scott Swenson at Swenson@cedarrapids.org

Innovation happens not in buildings, but in people.

Igniting Innovation in Communities Today

This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

As we re-imagine economic development, government, health care, education and community life in the age of invention, we can all use new tools and techniques to enhance our ability to innovate.

The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Corridor Business Alliance will host a regional event – Igniting Innovation in Communities Today, presented by Sarah Miller Caldicott on Tuesday, February 22^nd at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center.


The great grandniece of Thomas Edison, Sarah Miller Caldicott, has been engaged in creativity and innovation throughout her life. An award-winning speaker, Caldicott will excite with her combination of substantive content and dynamic audience interaction. The audience will learn how they can use Edison’s time-tested methods to create innovation literacy in their organizations and community to develop innovation success.

Caldicott shares her unique legacy of innovation in her book, Innovate Like Edison: The Success System of America’s Greatest Inventor. Based on years of research, Caldicott offers an in-depth view of Edison’s comprehensive innovation approach – an analysis which has never before been documented.
Igniting Innovation in Communities Today is a luncheon event from Noon-1:30 p.m., on February 22.  Tickets are $40 per person or $400 for a table of 10. Those interested in attending can get more information or register on-line at www.cedarrapids.org. More information on Sarah Caldicott can be found at www.powerpatterns.com

Chamber Visits Steelcase Headquarters

On October 19, Chamber and Priority One representatives visited Steelcase's headquarters located in Grand Rapids, MI to experience their working showroom and laboratory for studying how people work in various settings. The space was designed to support greater collaboration, faster decision-making and improved business results.

Click here to enjoy all the photos from the Steelcase visit.