Distributed Innovation

Innovation networks, solutions markets, incubators, and Creative Commons licenses tap experts, entreprenuers, and positive deviants who break rules in order to revitalize innovation in education.

Real World Application

Urban frontiers as innovation zones
An open economy empowers innovation at the periphery—it allows individuals with local, tacit expertise to effect change on the whole system through locally appropriate solutions. MIT’s FabLab does this by bringing personal fabrication tools to rural India or remote Norway and helping residents innovate in ways that fit their distinct needs. Lightweight infrastructures will provide modular, flexible systems for urban social entrepreneurs, cutting-edge thinkers, and expert users to customize meaningful solutions to local problems that could be sources of innovation for educational districts.



Knowledge collectives catalyze innovation
Look to new forms of innovation networks that support open aggregation and remixing of knowledge—idea markets like Innocentive that match problem solvers with solution seekers or design collectives like ThinkCycle that match the needs of NGOs with design schools around the world. Creative Commons licenses offer flexible means of managing copyright that protect creators but extend unfettered use of innovations. Government agencies can focus on removing barriers and encouraging innovation networks to form. Educational innovation zones will emerge that spark regional trade in pedagogical specialties.