Accelerating Innovation Through a Network of Ecosystems

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) may not appear to be the most likely place where companies can learn new techniques for accelerating innovation, but appearances can be deceiving. In fact, UNDP is a global organization of 17,000 employees spanning 170 countries with a US$5B annual budget focused on solving the world’s most complex problems through local, regional, and global initiatives. At its headquarters and in the field, its teams are deploying some of the most forward-thinking innovation approaches as they build the world’s largest network of accelerator labs. In this article, we explore UNDP’s innovation efforts highlighting what its teams are learning from previous missteps as they create 60 accelerator labs in 60 countries. We identify best practices from which companies can learn and recognize that a key to UNDP’s system is that they are building a network of ecosystems that are individually effective and collectively even more valuable. We present examples from multi-national companies deploying their own networks of ecosystems, emphasize what businesses can learn from them, and offer guidance for companies as they progress along their innovation journeys. We do the following:• Highlight the network of ecosystems approach that the organization is taking and explain associated challenges and opportunities. • Categorize learnings into four types providing examples of how the organization is implementing actions to overcome earlier challenges. • Provide insights and guidance derived from UNDP research and example businesses that leaders can apply as they manage their own innovation efforts