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The Akademia programme by the Bankinter Innovation Foundation is a leading educational initiative designed to prepare future leaders for a rapidly evolving world. It adopts a multidisciplinary approach covering key areas such as energy, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, and sensor technology, emphasizing innovation as the core theme. Innovation is defined not just as research and development but as the transformation of original ideas into sustainable products and services that generate economic and social value. The programme distinguishes between disruptive innovation, which creates new paradigms, and incremental innovation, which improves existing solutions, using examples like the evolution of the phone to illustrate this distinction.
In today’s competitive global market, innovation is essential for organizational survival and success. Akademia equips students with methodologies to differentiate their projects through creative problem-solving and innovative thinking. A significant part of the learning process involves analyzing both successes and failures, exemplified by the failed Apple-Motorola collaboration that eventually led to the groundbreaking iPhone. The programme also brings industry experts into the learning environment, providing practical insights and fostering teamwork. Ultimately, Akademia is a continuous journey that prepares students to lead future innovation across various industries, with upcoming articles promising to explore other transformative topics shaping tomorrow’s world.
The Bankinter Innovation Foundation's Akademia Programme trains future leaders in innovation, teaching them to transform ideas into solutions that generate real impact.
The Akademia programme of the Bankinter Innovation Foundation stands as a benchmark in the training of future generations, preparing them to lead in a world in constant evolution. Through its multidisciplinary approach, the programme covers a wide range of crucial topics that are, from the point of view of the Foundation and the experts who collaborate, the levers that allow innovation to occur in all sectors: including from energy and telecommunications to artificial intelligence and sensorisation. In this series of articles, we will explore each of these topics, starting with innovation, the central axis around which all of Akademia’s content is articulated.
The concept of Innovation: beyond R+D
In the context of the Akademia Programme, innovation is defined as the ability to transform original ideas into products and services that generate value, both economic and social, in a sustainable way over time. This concept, based on the theories of the economist Joseph Schumpeter and enriched by the reflections of experts such as Larry Keely, is presented to students as a key element not only in the business field, but also in industrial and social processes.
Akademia highlights the distinction between disruptive innovation, which introduces new paradigms and radically changes existing structures, and incremental innovation, which significantly improves what already exists. A clear example of this distinction is the evolution of the phone from its invention to the modern smartphones we use today.
Innovation as a pillar of competitiveness in the 21st century
Today, innovation has become an essential driver for industrial and financial structures, especially in a globalized market where competitiveness is increasingly fierce. Today’s consumers demand products and services that are not only fast and efficient, but also deliver personalized, high-quality experiences. In this context, innovation is not an option, it is a necessity for any organization that aspires to stay relevant in the market.
The Akademia Program teaches students to identify and apply innovation methodologies that allow them to differentiate their projects in an environment saturated with competitors. Through case studies and discussions, students learn to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to the challenges they face in their respective fields of study.
Reflections and case studies: learning from mistakes and successes
One of the most valuable lessons learned from the program is the importance of learning from both successes and failures in innovation. A prominent case study is the collaboration between Apple and Motorola to develop a mobile phone that integrates iTunes. Despite initial expectations, the project failed miserably, prompting Apple to reevaluate its strategy and eventually develop the iPhone, a product that would redefine the mobile phone market.
This type of analysis allows students to understand that innovation does not always guarantee immediate success, but that it is a continuous process of learning and adaptation. In addition, it is emphasized that innovation is not exclusive to large companies or developed countries; It can arise in any context, as long as there is creativity and a focus on continuous improvement.
The Future of Innovation: Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders
The Akademia Program prepares students to apply this knowledge in practice. Through the participation of renowned experts, such as Manuel Martínez, Director of Open Innovation at Ferrovial and Javier Foncillas from Dolby, students have the opportunity to learn first-hand how innovation is promoted in different industrial sectors.
This hands-on approach, combined with a strong theoretical framework, ensures that programme participants are equipped with the necessary tools to lead the next wave of innovation in their respective careers. In addition, the program fosters a collaborative learning environment where students can exchange ideas and work on joint projects, thus strengthening their ability to innovate as a team.
A continuous journey into the future
The study of innovation in the Akademia Programme of the Bankinter Innovation Foundation is just the beginning of a continuous journey into the future. Throughout this series of articles, we will explore other crucial topics that are addressed in the program, such as energy, telecommunications, data and artificial intelligence , and quantum computing. Each of these topics is essential to understanding the trends that are shaping the world in which we live and will work.
Keep an eye on upcoming articles to find out how these trends will influence your future and how you can prepare to lead change.
If you are interested in learning more about the Akademia Program, we invite you to visit the Foundation’s website.
