Innovation isn't a place, it's a state of mind.
Rainforest Alberta is an informal organization of people working together to improve Alberta's innovation ecosystem. We are an inclusive, silo-busting, sector-agnostic, all-industry, open-source, ego-shrinking, ecosystem-building, entrepreneur-focused, wide-open, social-barrier-smashing community.
We want Albertans to invent, prosper, and move their ideas forward. Our goal is to grow the invisible infrastructure that underlies successful innovation communities right here in Alberta. Community members join by signing the Social Contract - a set of 10 values that guide and support our mission.
With weekly meetups in both Calgary and Edmonton, our community connects regularly to strengthen relationships and ensure momentum.
We want Albertans to invent, prosper, and move their ideas forward. Our goal is to grow the invisible infrastructure that underlies successful innovation communities right here in Alberta. Community members join by signing the Social Contract - a set of 10 values that guide and support our mission.
With weekly meetups in both Calgary and Edmonton, our community connects regularly to strengthen relationships and ensure momentum.
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The Inspiration
The framework of Rainforest Alberta is rooted in the book "The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley" by Victor W. Hwang and Greg Horowitt. The authors explore the question "what is it about Silicon Valley that led to it being one of the most innovative cultures in the world?"
The authors determined that the unique characteristic about innovation hubs like Silicon Valley is the culture. Using an anology, that of farm versus rainforest as representations of the culture within innovative places, is the perfect summary of what Rainforest Alberta, and other innovation ecosystems worldwide, seek to accomplish. Culture is from the Latin word cultus, which means 'to care'.
The authors determined that the unique characteristic about innovation hubs like Silicon Valley is the culture. Using an anology, that of farm versus rainforest as representations of the culture within innovative places, is the perfect summary of what Rainforest Alberta, and other innovation ecosystems worldwide, seek to accomplish. Culture is from the Latin word cultus, which means 'to care'.
An Ecosystem FrameworkEcosystems are complex. We use six pillars to guide our conversations and actions. Like any natural ecosystem, having a balance is crucial. The six areas of an innovation ecosystem are Culture, Leadership, Activities and Engagement, Policies and Infrastructure, Role Models, and Resources.
A Rainforest is a human ecosystem in which human creativity, business acument, scientific discovery, investment capital, and other elements have come together in a special recipe that nurtures budding ideas so they can grow into flourishing and sustainable enterprises. Rainforest: The Secret to Building Silicon Valley, p. 28, Hwang & Horrowit, 2013 |
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The Analogy
The analogy of the Rainforest is best described by comparing Production Systems (Farms) to Innovation Systems (Rainforests).
In a farm, there are clear objectives: control, precision, and production. The desired outcomes are well-established and the process of achieving those results is more-or-less understood. The farm analogy thrives under traditional cost, command, and control leadership. This is the system that has been prevalent since the industrial revolution.
This is not an ideal situation for innovation, creativity, or ideation to thrive. A Rainforest viewpoint sees the benefit of serendipity, randomness, and the unexpected. Innovation and human interactions are inherently more organic and subject to variance and unpredictability. Rainforests supports the birth of new ideas, and untold random interactions that produce wonderful things. Where usually disparate entities, who might not otherwise interact, find the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and build trust may find themselves on paths to commercialize inventions.
The Rainforest does not seek to eliminate the farm, but to create a co-existing ecosystem that can support the input of ideas and creativity to innovate.
In a farm, there are clear objectives: control, precision, and production. The desired outcomes are well-established and the process of achieving those results is more-or-less understood. The farm analogy thrives under traditional cost, command, and control leadership. This is the system that has been prevalent since the industrial revolution.
This is not an ideal situation for innovation, creativity, or ideation to thrive. A Rainforest viewpoint sees the benefit of serendipity, randomness, and the unexpected. Innovation and human interactions are inherently more organic and subject to variance and unpredictability. Rainforests supports the birth of new ideas, and untold random interactions that produce wonderful things. Where usually disparate entities, who might not otherwise interact, find the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and build trust may find themselves on paths to commercialize inventions.
The Rainforest does not seek to eliminate the farm, but to create a co-existing ecosystem that can support the input of ideas and creativity to innovate.
Why Innovate?
According to Hwang and Horowitt, there are five reasons why innovation is important to any economy.
- Human Potential: Innovation cultivates the full potential for ood in every person and organization.
- Prosperity: Innovation improves prosperity in families, organizations, and communities.
- Capacity: Innovation capacity enables people to solve more problems and achienve more dreams.
- Velocity: Innovation drives the accelerations of these improvements.
- Sustainability: Innovation, when coupled with focused effort, drives economic, social, and environmental sustainability.
