Indra´s "think Innovation" initiative receives so far 800 ideas and 400 debates remain open

Indra's “Think innovation” (http://www.indracompany.com), which identifies and offers support to enterprising ideas based on technology, has received in over a month 800 initiatives which in turn have generated 400 debates still open. This contest has a global nature, without limits, and is intended for people over 18 years of age and those new entrepreneurs with a business concept in mind based on technology.

The contest started on December 15th and closes on February 1st though votes and comments will remain open until the 15th of the same month. Proposals cover all sorts of technologies and features, although the most popular category with 55% of proposals is “Internet of Things” which enables objects to connect and exchange information. Next comes smart technologies for cities and infrastructures, green solutions committed to the environment, or accessible technologies which facilitate integration of people with impairments.

We should enphasize the open and public nature of this initiative as the ideas are shared via Indra's website (http://www.indracompany.com/sostenibilidad-e-innovacion/piensa-en-innovar), where proposals can be commented in order to generate synergies among them. This is possible thanks to the i-Participa tool developed by Indra for digital participation processes. Visits exceed 78,000 and nearly 3,000 users have registered. Ideas received have received support 4,500 times and comments reach 600. Besides this, the activity shows exponential growth and the initiative has received a great aceptance in social networks (facebook, twitter, etc.)

Indra's Direction of Innovation is already assessing ideas, separating state-of-the-art from less innovative proposals. That is why 50% of the ideas received have been published, out of which one hundred scored above 8 over 10.

Once the contest period closes, a jury of experts will choose the winners who will be offered the design of a business plan. Indra will contribute its human and intellectual capital and a work methodology to study how to promote the idea and make it possible, besides studying the possibility of collaboration with the author. On the other hand, most popular ideas will receive an iPad and the opportunity to try a helicopter simulator developed by Indra.

Commitment to innovation

“Think innovation” is in line with Indra's open innovation model where the multinational seeks and promotes in-house innovation and talent and in its clients, partners, suppliers, universities, knowledge institutions and society in general. 

For Indra innovation is a pillar of its business and the core of its sustainability as a company and what makes its solutions and services different. Indra's commitment to  innovation translates into an investment of 184 million Euros and over 280 R&D+i projects in 2010 which represents an effort of 7% over the revenue figure in comparison to average Spanish companies-a little higher than 1%- and the mean developed countries (USA, Japan, etc.) –around 3%.

Indra maintains 140 alliances and relations with around 150 universities and research centres mainly through Chairs, agreements and R&D+i projects in order to become an international benchmark in terms of enterprise-university technology transfer. For the IT multinational, universities are a source of knowledge critical for its commitment to innovation.

Indra

Indra is the premier Information Technology company in Spain and a leading IT multinational in Europe and Latin America. It is ranked as the second European company in its sector according to investment in R&D with over € 500 M during the last three years. In 2010 revenues reached € 2,557 M and the international market already accounts for a 44%. The company employs more than 35,000 professionals and has clients in more than 110 countries.