Innovating...Chicago-Style: How Local Innovators are Building the National Economy

Book Description:
Economists and policy makers say that we need to out-innovate the rest of the world to stay competitive. They are right. But knowing that innovation is vital and making it happen are two very different things. Economic recovery comes from creating new jobs and new businesses. It is accelerated by new products and services that create value and fuel growth. Innovating...Chicago-Style invites you to be inspired by 80 innovators who know that the key to unlocking growth is through innovation. Their tales of success is sure to spark readers with ideas that can be applied to their own ventures. Each innovator highlights the all-important consumer need that is being met. We ll pinpoint the uniqueness of the innovation and discover its break-through moment. You will learn the fascinating stories of how each idea came to be. We ll reveal the extent of the innovation s impact on society whether financial or social. And lastly, we ll get a glimpse into what these innovators have in store for the future. Tying all this together is the Chicago Innovation Awards. Established in 2002, the Awards shine a bright light on the creative spirit of the Chicago region by focusing attention on the most significant new products and services brought to market. The ten winners each year are innovations that uniquely fill unmet needs, spark a competitive response in the marketplace, exceed market expectations, achieve financial success, and improve people s lives. The innovators in this book are among the many winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards who remind us that innovation is thriving in America s heartland.