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UTILITY WEEK | 18TH - 24TH SEPTEMBER 2015 | 29 Community Brought to you in association with GET INVOLVED If you like your view included in fu- ture Innovation Barometer surveys, let us know, and we can add your name to the list of survey partici- pants. To register an interest in provid- ing input for future surveys, contact: Jane Gray, assistant editor at Utility Week (janegray@fav-house.com). Two heads are better than one Collaboration is fast becoming a watchword for utilities innovation. As well as running this magazine's Innovation Barometer for example, Utility Week and Wipro launched a Technology and Innovation Council in May to bring together chief information officers, chief technology officers and innovation leaders from across the utilities sector to share their experi- ences and knowledge, with a view to streamlining innovation processes and disseminating tips for building strong innovation cultures. Collaboration is also a particular focus for the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC), which is working with communities in the gas and power sectors to identify areas where mutual benefits can be realised through collaboration on common challenges. EIC chief executive Denise Massey calls the concept "co-opetition". Reassuringly, our survey shows that innovation leaders in industry recognise the need to pick up the pace and scope of collaboration, with 46 per cent of respondents saying there is "insufficient" collaboration between their organisation and other utility companies when it comes to innovation on common challenges. Another 30 per cent say that collabo- ration is good but has room for improvement. DOES YOU ORGANISATION HAVE A POLICY FOR INCENTIVISING IDEAS/INNOVATION? DO YOU BELIEVE SUCH A POLICY CAN HELP IN FOSTERING INNOVATION? don't know what measures their organisation uses to measure innovation activity or success How successful would you say your organisation is at ensuring valuable innovations are adopted quickly as business as usual or have a rapid time to market? 64% HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF SKILLS FOR INNOVATION IN YOUR ORGANISATION? DO YOU FEEL THAT COLLABORATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS FOR INNOVATION IN YOUR ORGANISATION IS: DO YOU FEEL THAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOUR ORGANISATION AND OTHER COMPANIES IN THE UTILITY INDUSTRY TO INNOVATE ON COMMON CHALLENGES IS: Yes, we have a policy. I believe such a policy helps. Yes, we have a policy. I don't believe it helps. No, we don't have a policy. I believe such a policy would help. No, we don't have a policy. I don't believe such a policy would help. Extremely concerned Somewhat concerned Neither concerned nor unconcerned Unconcerned Sufficient Good but leaves room for improvement Insufficient Non-existent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Sufficient Good but leaves room for improvement Insufficient Non-existent 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Extremely successful Somewhat successful Unsuccessful Very unsuccessful 15% 46% 46% 0%