Sebastian Welter | Innoscape Talk #7
May 2023 by Matthias Niggli (Interviewer). CIEB | University of Basel
Digital Innovations at IKEA Switzerland
Artificial intelligence, the use of drones and robots or augmented reality are among the most promising new technologies that have the potential to reshape entire industries.
In our 7th Innoscape Talk we sat down with Sebastian Welter, Innovation Leader at IKEA Supply. We explore how the company is navigating the rapidly evolving technology landscape and how it is trying to leverage these innovations for its own business success.
We discuss innovation at IKEA, explore the company's organizational structure and processes, the role of collaboration and the decision-making process regarding in-house innovation versus buying external services. We then examine the significance of data and intellectual property for IKEA's business model. Finally, Sebastian Welter shares his views on Switzerland as an innovation hub.
Content of the Interview
00:20 What are your tasks and responsibilities as an innovation leader at IKEA?
02:05 How does the organizational structure of IKEA look like?
03: 12 Where are your main innovation activities taking place?
05:17 How does IKEA approach innovation?
07:10 What is your view on the difference of internal innovation versus buying it from third parties?
09:12 What role does collaboration play in IKEA's pursuit of innovation?
12:00 Innovation is a highly competitive field - how important is it for IKEA to be a first-mover?
14:20 How has digitalization impacted IKEA's business operations?
15:33 What specific types of data are considered essential for driving innovation within IKEA Supply's operations?
17:09 Do you use data from external providers, and if so, how is it integrated?
18:31 How often does IKEA file for new patents?
20:00 Is Switzerland an attractive location for research and development?
21:57 Do you find enough talent for innovation in Switzerland? What profiles are scarce on the labor market?
Interview: Matthias Niggli
Question Script: Rolf Weder, Dragan Filimonovic, Matthias Niggli, Christian Rutzer, Till Schmidlin
Production: Dropzone Productions Studio
Edited: Studio Frich
Disclaimer: The Innoscape Talk series exclusively conveys the opinion of its interviewed experts. It is not intended to represent the position or opinion of the University of Basel or the CIEB. Nor is it the official position of any staff.
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Center for International Economics and Business | CIEB University of Basel