Project Case

FILLING THE INNOVATION PIPELINE: RESEARCH SPACE IDENTIFICATION

Foresight Innovation Strategy

Challenge

Our client, a Global Sportswear brand, operates in a rapidly evolving technological and consumer landscape, with rising pressure from emerging competitors.

New signals in sports and adjacent fields are emerging fast. The supported unit works at the early, high-uncertainty end of innovation and needed a structured way to identify and evaluate emerging signals to then translate them into concrete research spaces.

Aerial view of athletes running on a track
A research and assessment process diagram showing how 120+ raw signals were filtered through survey input and assessment criteria down to a shortlist of 21 high-potential signals for strategic innovation planning.

Approach

We scanned 120+ research signals across several sports-relevant sectors before shortlisting 21 high-potential signals based on IP potential, novelty, and strategic fit.

A workshop with key client stakeholders was conducted to identify priority research spaces relevant to its strategic research initiatives.

Outcome

The project gave the client a clear, externally grounded view of where to focus near-future innovation efforts:

  • Signal report covering 21 prioritised technology and trend signals

  • Detailed profiles for 7 innovation spaces

  • Selection of 3 research spaces for further deep dives and exploration

A research space identification workshop diagram showing the process from signal profiles as input, through brainstorming activities, to defining insights, problems, hypotheses and next steps for strategic innovation.
120+

Research signals scanned

21

Final signals selected

7

Research spaces identified

20+

Internal experts and stakeholders involved

Cases

DRIVING IMPACT THROUGH INNOVATION AND GROWTH