Unveiling Wazoku's Open Innovation Map to Celebrate a Global Crowd of Changemakers

With the end of 2023 upon us, it seems like a pretty opportune moment to reflect upon something critical that will only become even more important going into 2024: the potential of collective intelligence when it comes to problem-solving. Tapping into a global crowd of changemakers , utilizing collective intelligence, realizing the impact of crowdsourcing…what all of these have in common is the ability to address and tackle incredibly complex, multidisciplinary challenges in a way that traditional problem-solving approaches have not been able to thus far.?

In line with this, the Wazoku team decided to embark upon an exciting adventure at the end of this year, in order to showcase the tremendous value that people from all over the world hold with regard to solving some of the world’s toughest issues – we created an Open Innovation Map! And what exactly is that? That’s what this issue of Connected Crowd is dedicated to, so stick around to learn more about global collaboration, innovation, and the power of the Wazoku Crowd.?

Mapping Out the Wazoku Crowd

At the end of this year, the Wazoku team decided it would be pretty cool if we could not just write about the influence of the Wazoku Crowd, but also show it – that’s why we created an Open Innovation Map. This map traces the global footsteps of the inventive minds behind the Wazoku Crowd, highlighting the diversity and depth of ideas that have emerged from every corner of the globe.?

Specifically, The Open Innovation Map captures and visualizes key insights into the global landscape of collaborative problem-solving. Firstly, it provides a comprehensive overview of the percentage of Active Solvers per region, shedding light on the geographical distribution of engaged participants. Secondly, the map delves into the number of solutions generated per region, offering a quantitative measure of the creative output from different parts of the world. Lastly, the Map highlights the percentage of new solvers per region, showcasing the influx of fresh perspectives into the Wazoku Crowd.?

Critical Creativity in Problem Solving

Madhavi Muranjan, a Wazoku Crowd Solver, eloquently captures the essence of all of this, stating that, "It is very satisfying to study and understand new problems. But to create a possible unique solution, and to know that your idea may actually be the one to solve a major global problem - now that's really something!"

Wazoku's Open Innovation Map not only evidences the global engagement in solving Challenges, but also emphasizes the shift from traditional approaches to a more collaborative and inclusive model. Wazoku Crowd Solver, Dr. Radhakrishna Ammanamanchi, adds his perspective, noting, "In my opinion, it does not require special skills to solve problems. What it does require is critical creativity…".

These stories of Solvers, such as Madhavi Muranjan and Dr. Radhakrishna Ammanamanchi, shed light on the tangible effects of Open Innovation, demonstrating how Wazoku is empowering a global community of changemakers to make a real difference in the world.

A Global Community of Solvers

The data from the map reveals a compelling narrative of diverse perspectives converging to address complex, multidisciplinary, and global Challenges . This year, the region which contributed the highest volume of solutions was Asia, contributing a remarkable 33.86% of all solutions. Europe closely followed, making up 25.29% of the innovative solutions presented.

Delving deeper into the demographics of contributors, it becomes evident that the majority of new Solvers are also from Asia, constituting 33.43% of the total new participants. Europe trails closely behind at 25.20% of new Solvers, and North America showcases a strong presence at 19.91%.?

In October 2021, Wazoku acquired Colombia-based open innovation company Channge, adding its LATAM-based crowd of primarily students to the Wazoku Crowd. At the end of 2023, the ISA TRANSELCA Challenge gave Wazoku the opportunity to test an entirely new approach: posting the problem and opportunity in both English and Spanish. Accordingly, in 2024, we hope to see even more Solvers, solutions, and success stories across Central and South America!

Looking Ahead: A Call for Global Collaboration

The Open Innovation Map underscores the power of collective intelligence in tackling global challenges. As we near the end of 2023, it is imperative to recognize the potential of collaborative problem-solving. With problems becoming increasingly complex, interconnected, and multidisciplinary, solutions need to come from a diverse pool of knowledge. Make sure to keep an eye out in 2024 for more on the Open Innovation Map as we have something in the works – this is just the start!?