Harness the potential

Innovation Positioning Framework

Unlock the full potential of your agri-innovations with VISTA’s comprehensive portfolio of analytical tools designed for the entire innovation value chain from discovery to adoption.

Agrifood field with a hand holding an empty frame over it.

Accelerate Agri-Innovation with our Evidence-Based Approach

VISTA's Innovation Positioning Framework (IPF) is a cutting-edge suite of tools and analytics designed to empower agrifood stakeholders in making informed decisions, identifying opportunities, and driving the successful implementation of agri-innovations. The IPF offers a comprehensive approach to assessing and optimizing research and commercialization strategies in the agrifood sector.

With a proven track record spanning over two decades, the IPF has been instrumental in accelerating the discovery, development, commercialization, acceptance and adoption of agri-innovations

The Innovation Value Chain (IVC)
Infographic of the Innovation Value Chain showing steps in the process.
The Innovation Positioning Framework is designed to drive innovation across the Innovation Value Chain.

With tools and analytics specifically targeting each stage of the IVC, you will accelerate the discovery, development, commercialization, acceptance, and adoption of your agri-innovations.

Experience the Benefits of the IPF for Agrifood Research and Innovation Success

Leveraging a unique blend of scientific expertise, market insights, and impact assessments, the IPF provides the necessary evidence and guidance for agrifood stakeholders to make strategic decisions, prioritize emerging research opportunities, and develop effective commercialization, knowledge mobilization and communication strategies, and assess impacts.

Empowering Informed Decision Making

Provides critical analyses and evidence-based insights that enable stakeholders to make strategic decisions in research, development, commercialization, and innovation. This leads to better investment choices and accelerates the discovery, acceptance, and adoption of agri-innovations.

Comprehensive Market and Technology Assessment

Offers a thorough understanding of market dynamics, technology trends, and potential impacts. This allows users to identify and prioritize emerging research opportunities, assess commercialization potential, and manage intellectual property portfolios effectively.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

Helps identify and profile relevant stakeholders, such as partners, collaborators, end-users, and receptors. This facilitates the development of strong networks and collaboration, fostering innovation and promoting the successful implementation of research findings and new technologies.

Risk Reduction and Strategic Planning

Reduces risks associated with investments in science, research, commercialization, and innovation. This supports the development of well-informed commercialization and knowledge mobilization strategies, ultimately driving agri-innovation.

The Innovation Positioning Framework

A suite of unique assessment tools serves as the platform for deploying our Innovation Positioning Framework, which delivers vital analyses and indispensable evidence for making strategic decisions that accelerate the discovery, development, commercialization, acceptance, and adoption of agri-innovations.

Element*
Research Outlook & Research Outlook+
State of the Technology Analysis
S&T Sector Profile
Research Positioning
Niche Profile
Research Impact Assessment
Science & Technology Positioning
Research Activity Analysis
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IP Activity Analysis  
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Commercial Activity Analysis
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Innovation Trends, Barriers, Opportunities
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Innovation Value Chain Mapping
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Market Positioning
Stakeholder Feedback (technical market experts; endusers)
Up to 6 interviews
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Stakeholder Profile
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Niche ID
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Niche Validation
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Niche Analysis
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Impacts Positioning
Knowledge Mobilization Strategy
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Commercialization Pathway
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Spillover Effects Matrix
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Impacts Matrix
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Research Rationale Validation
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Innovation Positioning SWOT
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Logic Model
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* Individual elements can be combined to create custom reports.

The IPF Tools

Each Innovation Positioning Framework tool provides critical evidence, analysis, and advice for making informed decisions about your agri-innovation projects. Each tool is designed for a specific objective to accelerate progress through the innovation value chain.

Research Outlook & Research Outlook+
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The Research Outlook and Research Outlook+ inform decisions on investments in research, technology development and commercialization, by providing actionable recommendations that drive innovation and offer critical insights and evidence for strategically positioning research. It uses three positioning criteria:  science and technology positioning, market positioning and impacts positioning.

The Research Outlook+ is designed for cases where a detailed analysis of the anticipated impacts and benefits is required. It includes three additional impact positioning criteria: spillover effects matrix, impacts matrix, and research rationale validation.  The Research Outlook+ provides a unique, value-added analysis of the potential value, benefits and impacts of research.

State of the Technology Analysis
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The State of the Technology Analysis is a comprehensive synthesis of current global innovation activity for a technology or field of research. It provides a clear understanding of current and emerging science and technology trends, drivers, barriers, and opportunities. It is effective for identifying gaps in knowledge, building an evidence-base to support decision-making, guiding the adoption and application of best practices, and establishing future research priorities.

S&T Sector Profile
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The S&T Sector Profile is a comprehensive synthesis of emerging science and technology in an industry or business sector. The S&T Sector Profile outlines a possible scenario for future innovation prospects in the sector, identifies potential opportunities for scientific and technological development, commercialization and collaboration, and proposes follow up actions for driving innovation in the sector.  It is effective for making sense of the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges, within the sector, identifying gaps in knowledge, building an evidence-base to support decision-making, and establishing future research and innovation priorities in the sector.

Research Positioning
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The Research Positioning provides a preliminary analysis of the market potential of research or a new technology in a single niche. A niche represents the intersection between a market and an application. The objective of the Research Positioning is to competitively position the research or technology within the context of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within a niche. The Research Positioning informs decisions on strategies for and investments in research, development, and commercialization.  It is effective for positioning and prioritizing IP portfolios and invention disclosures.

Niche Profile
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The Niche Profile is a phased approach to identifying and validating potential niches for a technology. At the market-application intersection there are potential niches.  The objective of the Niche Profile is to identify the potential of a technology in various niches, and to assist in the prioritization of commercialization efforts. 

  • Phase 1 - Niche ID:A preliminary assessment of the full range of potential niches for a technology.
  • Phase 2 - Niche Validation: Assesses the niches as priority or ‘launch’ niches based on predetermined criteria.
  • Phase 3 - Niche Analysis: An in-depth analysis of the priority or launch niche(s) using the Research Positioning.
Research Impact Assessment
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The Research Impact Assessment is a post-research evaluation designed to identify and document the broad range of impacts that have resulted from your research and related activities. A history of the research and related activities is constructed based on interviews and review of documents. It uses the Impacts Matrix, a comprehensive framework of 11 dimensions of research impact, and a six-component logic model to map the path from initial inputs to research activities, outputs and to short, medium and long-term impact.

FAQs

Answers to commonly-asked questions about VISTA'S proprietary
Innovation Positioning Framework.

What is the Innovation Positioning Framework (IPF)?
The IPF is a comprehensive suite of analytical tools designed to help agri-food stakeholders make informed decisions, identify opportunities, and successfully drive agri-innovations. It offers a strategic approach to assessing and optimizing strategies to drive the discovery, development, commercialization, acceptance, and adoption of agri-innovations.
Who can benefit from using the IPF?
The IPF is designed for entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector, researchers, policymakers, industry professionals, and organizations focused on agri-innovation. It is particularly useful for those looking to optimize their research strategies, commercialize new technologies, and address complex innovation challenges in the agri-food sector.
What are the key tools in the IPF suite?
The IPF suite includes various tools, such as Research Outlook & Research Outlook+, S&T Sector Profile, State of the Technology Analysis, Research Positioning, Niche Profile, and Research Impact Assessment. Each tool is designed to address specific challenges encountered within the innovation value chain, and provide actionable insights to drive success.
How can the IPF help me make better decisions?
The IPF uses a unique blend of scientific expertise, market insights, and impact assessments to provide the necessary evidence and guidance for agri-food stakeholders to make strategic decisions, prioritize emerging research opportunities, and develop effective commercialization knowledge mobilization communication strategies. This enables stakeholders to minimize risks and maximize the potential of their agri-innovation initiatives.
Can the IPF tools be customized to fit my organization's specific needs?
Yes, the IPF tools are designed to be adaptable to the unique requirements and goals of various agri-food stakeholders. Our team can work with you to understand your specific needs and customize the tools accordingly, ensuring they effectively address your organization's agri-innovation challenges and objectives.
How does the IPF help in identifying new opportunities in the agri-food sector?
The IPF tools, such as the S&T Sector Profile and State of the Technology Analysis, provide in-depth insight and advice on current and emerging trends, technologies, and opportunities within the agri-food sector. The IPF identifies promising areas for agri-food investment, collaboration, and innovation.
What is the role of the Research Impact Assessment tool in the IPF?
The Research Impact Assessment is a post-research evaluation designed to identify and document the broad range of impacts that have resulted from your research and related activities.
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Contact VISTA for a free consultation.
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