%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2017 %T Accelerating Research Innovation by Adopting the Lean Startup Paradigm %A Kaisa Still %K commercialization %K context %K innovation %K innovation acceleration %K innovation paradox %K lean startup %K research %K research organization %K VTT %X Converting scientific expertise into marketable products and services is playing an increasingly important role in the launching of new ventures, the growth of existing firms, and the creation of new jobs. In this article, we explore how the lean startup paradigm, which validates the market for a product with a business model that can sustain subsequent scaling, has led to a new process model to accelerate innovation. We then apply this paradigm to the context of research at universities and other research organizations. The article is based on the assumption that the organizational context matters, and it shows how a deeper understanding of the research context could enable an acceleration of the innovation process. We complement theoretical examples with a case example from VTT Technical Research Institute of Finland. Our findings show that many of the concepts from early-acceleration phases – and the lean startup paradigm – can also be relevant in innovation discussions within the research context. However, the phase of value-proposition discovery is less adequately addressed, and that of growth discovery, with its emphasis on building on a scalable, sustainable business does not seem to be addressed with the presented innovation approaches from the research context. Hence, the entrepreneurial activities at the research context differ from those in startups and internal startups in established organizations. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 7 %P 32-43 %8 05/2017 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/1075 %N 5 %1 VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Kaisa Still is a Senior Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. She has extensive experience of innovation management gained within a research organization and a university, in a startup and in growth companies, as well as in a business incubator. Supporting collaboration, co-creation and innovation with technology continues to be at the core of her interests. Her current work concentrates on platforms and innovation ecosystems, accelerating innovation activities, and digital opportunities. Combined with the policy perspective, her work extends to private and public organizations, in regional and global contexts. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1075