HBR IdeaCast The Innovation System Behind Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine
Sep 23, 2021
Noubar Afeyan, cofounder of Moderna Therapeutics and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, shares insights into the innovative processes that led to the Covid-19 vaccine. He discusses the concept of 'emergent discovery,' emphasizing the importance of working back from future ideals and fostering unconventional ideas. Afeyan highlights how cultivating a supportive culture can transform daring thoughts into groundbreaking innovations. He also explores the integration of mRNA technology and AI, showcasing their potential to reshape various industries.
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Adjacency Problem
- Most innovation focuses on predictable advancements, or adjacencies, to existing technologies.
- This limits breakthroughs as funding and expert validation favor what's currently understood.
Discontinuity and Imagination
- Our cognitive skills excel at short-term extrapolation, but discontinuities require imagination.
- Scientists, though creative, are often discouraged from exploring speculative ideas that seem distant from current reality.
mRNA's Initial Struggle
- Scientists initially struggled to publish mRNA research, facing skepticism and rejection.
- This highlights the difficulty of gaining acceptance for groundbreaking ideas that challenge established norms.