Why the CampX Innovation Model?

The mobility industry is currently looking at several impactful technologies that will change the industry as we know it: The development of electric and autonomous vehicles are critical trends. EVs represent a move towards sustainability and reduced environmental impact, while autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionize transportation, improving safety and efficiency.

The mobility industry is changing faster than the speed of light

But that is not the only way the industry will change. It will also go through a transformation from product-based to service-based: Mobility or Logistics as a Service is transforming the way companies access and use logistics services. MaaS platforms can offer integrated, multi-modal transportation solutions through a single app. These trends are shaping the industry by addressing sustainability, safety and efficiency and creating growth opportunities at the same time. 

However, both electrification and autonomous technologies are showing exponential growth behavior, and this behavior means that it is hard to select the “right” technology early on AND by selecting the “wrong” technology can have large consequences for a company. Combining this with the move from product to service is a lot to handle!

Startup collaboration one way to handle transformation 
Capturing as many business opportunities as possible, while spreading the risk and investment over several technologies and business models can be a solution for this predicament. One of the ways Volvo Group is doing this is by collaborating with startups through the CampX startup innovation hub. With its Innovation Model it is a great complement to the “normal” R&D and innovation in the company. 

Doing innovation projects with startups can be quite complex and not one project will be like the previous. This is why we have formalized the CampX Innovation Model and share our experiences with you. Think of this model as a set of beliefs, a shared goal, or a north star to use in startup corporate collaborations. 

An innovation model is not a GPS, more like a compass,  
guiding you in the right direction.

CampX innovation model

The CampX Innovation Model is imparted by building blocks, and we expect these blocks will persist over time. The foundation is a strong culture of trust, which reinforces and benefits from the four supporting pillars: sponsor-driven innovation, lean validation, shared learnings, and collaborative networks. Our engagement programs tie all the other elements together to enhance value to us & the ecosystem.

 

The complexity of Innovation  
Complex systems are all around us, just think of forests, coral reefs, deserts, traffic, human cells etc. Complicated problems can be challenging, they are often series of different equations, but you know how to solve them step by step and that’s why you can teach them to others and learn about them in a book. 
 

This is why we think a model can help in corporate startup collaboration. It is useful to use models to talk about complex systems and to create a common language and understanding of the innovation ecosystem. Models provide a structured and visual way to comprehend the complexity of innovation ecosystems, allowing stakeholders to analyze, strategize, and make informed decisions. They help clarify the roles of various actors and their interactions, making it easier to foster a healthy startup – corporate relationship.
 

The innovation context is always complex, and success depends on how driven our talented people are. It is therefore tempting to think that every innovation project stands on its own, but there is structure to be found in startup-corporate collaboration! The mobility industry needs to change fast, and we need the change on an unprecedented scale. We believe that our innovation model can provide the support and the structure for scaling our innovation approach. 
 

We use the CampX Innovation Model as a simplification of the world. Therefore, do not expect the same outcomes as we have, and be cautious with copy-pasting efforts. However, the structure can be adopted by any corporation and tweaked to its respective environments. Please use our structure, comment on it, add pieces of the puzzle to it; it is by no means finished. 
 

We hope this gives you a north star on your journey towards a sustainable mobility ecosystem. 
 

Read more about CampX and the Innovation model in the article series found at CampX webpage.

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