Difference Between Invention And Innovation

Although they have almost the same value and are often confused, invention and innovation are two concepts. New inventions and ideas occur every day. Many of these developments are helpful, but innovation makes them known and, as such, a part of our daily lives. The Industrial Revolution brought many new inventions, but the innovators behind those inventions made them essential. You can learn what makes a great invention by understanding the difference between invention and innovation.

Let us understand this with an example – According to Arizona State University, the first light bulbs were produced in the early 1800s.” In 1820, Warren De la Rue first attempted to produce an incandescent light bulb.” Although De la Rue invented the device, Thomas Edison, in 1879, finally produced a working model. Edison’s innovation and marketing strategies made the light bulb one of the essential concepts in the world.

Invention vs. Innovation 

Key difference: Invention is creating a new entity that can be a device or a process, while innovation is changing the existing thing to improve it.

What is Innovation?

Innovation is the application of new ideas, concepts, products, services, and practices to help increase productivity. An essential element of innovation is its successful application commercially. You don’t just have to invent something; for example, introduce it to the market so people can use it.

One of the main purposes of innovation is to propose new ideas and technologies to increase productivity and produce good results and value with the same amount of inputs.

Elements of innovation

Idea: Identification of innovation potentials, derivation of ideas, evaluation, and release of ideas.

Concept: Extensive analysis and derivation of concepts for the solution, implementation, and commercialization.

Solution: Development and testing of solutions to the finished product.

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What is Invention?

An invention or invention is a novel object. But to become an innovation, it must imply a societal change. I like the English version of the definition of innovation better. They emphasize more on successful application rather than commercial success (some innovations have yet to be commercially successful because they are not marketable products).

Invention creates a new entity, while innovation involves improvements to existing things. However, both are essential to each other. If an invented thing is not practical, you must make innovative changes. The same is the case with innovation since innovation cannot be done on things that have not been invented.

Inventions are unique and not built on any existing product. They can be patented to protect the inventor’s intellectual property rights by law. 

Examples of inventors and their inventions:

• The Wright Brothers – Airplane
• Galilei  – Telescope  
• James Watt – Steam engine 
• Elisha Graves Otis – Elevator 
• Guglielmo Marconi – Radio 
• Karl Benz – Car 

Examples of innovators and their improvements:

• Steve Jobs and the introduction of iPhones and iPads
• Marie Curie and her research on radioactivity
• Elon Musk and his progress on luxurious electric cars 
• Nikola Tesla and his work in the production, transmission, and application of electric power
• Nick Holonyak Jr. created LED lights from the light bulb
• Guglielmo Marconi eliminated the telegraph wires

"Not All Inventions Are Innovations"

It's true! Let us understand why through some interesting examples -

1. What is an Invention?

An invention is when a person makes something new that never existed.

Example: The first aeroplane was an invention because nothing like that existed previously.

2. What is an Innovation?

An innovation is when an invention is enhanced or used in a useful manner to help people.

Example: Airplanes with improved engines and safety devices today are innovations.

3. Why some inventions are NOT innovations?

All inventions are not innovations because:

✔ Some inventions are useless – If an invention does not find a real problem, it won't be widely adopted.

✔ Some inventions are too early for their time – If people do not accept or comprehend the invention, it won't become an innovation.

✔ Some inventions are displaced – If a better invention comes along, the first one may never be used.

Example: The electric car was invented in the 1800s, but gasoline cars were still being used. So, it was not an innovation then. But when companies such as Tesla made electric cars practical by improving them, they became an innovation.

4. All Innovations Are Based on Inventions

Innovation always begins with an invention, but an invention becomes an innovation only if it is practical, useful, and accepted by everyone.

Example: In the 1960s, the first touchscreen was invented, but nobody used it. Later, smartphones implemented it practically, and that's how it became an innovation.