Maximizing return on innovation investment

How does the level of business innovation investment really impact company growth and performance? This question was put to an Industrial Research Institute panel for discussion at its annual meeting, May 2006. The panelists were also asked to comment on an initial hypothesis presented in strategy + business by Alexander Kandybin and Martin Kihn, of Booz Allen Hamilton, that there is no broad correlation between innovation investment and growth. In their responses, panelists from Air Products and Chemicals, Procter & Gamble and The Monitor Group suggest ways to move forward.