Innovation Thinking in Action

This workshop helps SMEs move from insight to action by applying structured innovation thinking in a practical, hands-on environment.

Building on the momentum of the Pathway to Innovate, Innovation Clinic, this workshop helps SMEs move from insight to action by applying structured innovation thinking in a practical, hands-on environment. Grounded in the Diagnose – Connect – Evolve approach, participants will deepen their understanding of key challenges, collaborate to develop solutions, and define clear pathways to implementation.

Each session is designed as an interactive innovation sprint where participants work in groups to analyse and reframe a selected challenge, challenge assumptions, and uncover root causes. Through facilitated collaboration, they will generate and prioritise solution ideas, develop a prototype concept, and test and evaluate it through structured peer feedback.

The focus is on moving beyond ideas to action. Participants will identify the timeline, resources, budget, and supports required to bring strong concepts to life over the coming months, creating a clear 180-day pathway to implementation and growth.

The session is practical, structured, and outcome-focused, ensuring that learning is immediately applicable to real SME contexts.

Intended Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will have:

· A clearer understanding of innovation thinking in practice

· Experience applying a structured problem-solving approach

· A collaboratively developed and evaluated solution concept

· Greater confidence in testing and refining ideas

· Clarity on what is required to implement and scale viable solutions

The result: a workshop that strengthens innovation capability while delivering tangible, actionable outputs aligned to real business needs.

Duration: 3 Hours Format: Facilitated Group Innovation Sprint Delivered by: Maria Cosgrove, Anu Innovation