Innovation in Response to Crisis
Innovation is situational; sometimes we choose to innovate proactively, and sometimes a crisis or situation catalyzes us to react with creative solutions never before imagined.
Over the past few weeks, most businesses have operated in the latter mode as the nation faces COVID-19. During this time, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has had the opportunity to assist companies from nearly every sector as they continue to adapt and find new ways to serve their customers and communities. From switching to remote working to adopting new protective processes in manufacturing facilities; malleability has been a key theme across all industries.
At the Georgia Centers of Innovation (COI), we are continuing to innovate our operations to serve our state and key industries throughout this crisis. When the Governor called on our team to help identify sources for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other critical supplies, COI partnered with our sister divisions within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) to connect with our large database of industry partners to identify companies that could provide supplies in the near-term, as well as those who could switchover to producing these items for future needs.
The response our team has received has been nothing short of impressive. Our strong partnerships with Georgia Tech, Emory University, the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Program (Georgia MEP), the Georgia Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI), Georgia Bio and many others, have proven their vitality over the past few weeks.
Our team has also supported companies in need of additional sanitation and precautionary products to help their employees stay safe. Alongside GDEcD’s Region 1 Project Manager, the Polk County Development Authority and Georgia MEP, COI Manufacturing was able to help Meggitt and GEO Specialty Chemicals manufacture hand sanitizer. Meggitt had all of the ingredients and equipment necessary to make approximately 20 gallons of hand sanitizer per day, following the recipe published by the World Health Organization. Their plan was to make it for their employees, and possibly ramp up production to supply the community and the state.
GEO Specialty Chemicals indicated that they could supply the necessary quantities of ingredients, and the Georgia MEP and COI team tracked down suppliers of plastic bottles. This collaborative effort resulted in enough material for 2,500 bottles of disinfectant - enough to supply both companies with hand sanitizer to help their employees stay safe.
Each company’s circumstances have proven unique. We know the need for innovation will not end with PPE and other critical medical supplies. As we emerge from the crisis, many businesses will need to adjust to a changed economic environment that continues to evolve daily. It’s possible that the processes businesses have adopted such as teleworking, curbside pick-up alternatives and fewer in-store interactions may become the new normal.
For some companies, the challenge might be to simply rebuild the customer connections lost during social distancing through new methods of interaction - both personal and virtual. As we continue to evolve to the new economic landscape, innovation will be critical to staying competitive. Innovation is not just a buzz word; it is a necessity in times like this. Georgia companies can count on the help of GDEcD’s Centers of Innovation and other resources throughout the state to help translate new ideas and technologies into products; and to invent better services to compete in the changed global marketplace.
Authors: R. Steven Justice, Executive Director, Georgia Centers of Innovation
David Nuckolls, Associate Director, Georgia Centers of Innovation
April 23, 2020