Today’s globalized world is filled with complex problems to which there are no obvious solutions. Problems such as securing access to food in an era of climate change, providing protective gear during a pandemic, providing universal housing amidst rapid urbanization, and determining ways to provide consumers with low-carbon energy sources all require innovative thinking and action if progress is to be made.

As social entrepreneur Paul Polak argued over 90% of the world’s design efforts are aimed at 10% of the population. The people who need game-changing solutions are not engaged with the innovation process while significant resources are being spent on solving the wrong problems, or more precisely, developing products and processes that make money but improve the world for only a small number of people.