One Apple A Day #116
“In its purest sense, “invention” can be defined as the creation of a product or introduction of a process for the first time. “Innovation,” on the other hand, occurs if someone improves on or makes a significant contribution to an existing product, process or service. ” — https://www.ineteconomics.org/perspectives/videos/invention-vs-innovation
We often use invention and innovation as synonyms, but it is incorrect. To invent is about creating something entirely new from thin air. It is about having an idea for the first time. Innovation on the other side is what came after an invention. Is the process of changing something, to make it different. The reason why we try to change something existing is that we want to make it better for us and others, in one or more ways. This difference may be subtle, but it is vital. Innovation introduces the concepts of “use” and “impact” as means to measure the value of the changes.
Someone can argue that to invent is far tougher as you have no references in the process. Other would say that to innovate is more complicated because you must also consider the users, the market and all the external factors that will define the success of the innovation. I believe that invention and innovation are deeply ingrained one into the other. The process of inventing something new is often inspired by other inventions or innovations. Then, once you have a new idea, you have to go through an iteration process of small improvements (innovations) until you have something that works. For an invention to work means that it improves the life of someone.
On the other side innovations to existing things are always sparkled by intuition, a brand new idea that changes how we look at something.