Innovator in Residence (IIR)

 We have been developing a replicable model to solve grand challenges

Doing good is surprisingly difficult - most of our work have unintended consequences and our ambitious fall short in execution. As part of the Unbuilt Labs Global Think Tank Ecosystem, we combine our proprietary research on disruptive trends and crises with our operational expertise to advise on ideas, methods, and movements that have the potential to change global dynamics. We specialize in helping solutions-oriented research organizations develop actionable recommendations and impactful programs and products.

We have been developing a replicable model to solve grand challenges. Grand challenges such as the 2030 SDGs are characterized by their high global priority and complex causality: attempts to intervene create irreversible changes as well as unintended second and third order consequences. To solve grand challenges and reconcile the logics of sustainable development and the market, a strong research center and feedback mechanism is both a tool for evaluating local impact of global programs and a source of competitive advantage as we operate in an increasingly volatile business landscape. We believe the next generation of responsible and innovative companies solving grand challenges will be led by strong research centers that consistently deliver breakthrough ideas and monitor ideas’ impact.

The are some key learnings from our 2021-2022 pilot program. First, we have found that given the complexity of solving grand challenges and creating long term systems change, the likelihood of success is far greater as an organization than as an individual. While individuals may have access to moral, expert, and discursive power, structural and institutional power are only available to organizations. Second, we have found that research organizations looking to solve grand challenges require a vastly different agenda-setting model since by definition its work needs to span multiple degrees of abstraction simultaneously. We have developed a scope 1-2-3 agenda-setting model among others as part of the Global Consortium for Systems Research (GCSR) Systems Research Toolkit. Third, we have found that methods used to find product-market-fit for digital products are also effective for designing actionable information products. We have used working iteratively, user research, user testing, and knowledge co-creation methods to understand the potential impact of a research question prior to conducting research. Fourth, we have found that companies now need a broader range of academic and organization-specific research to operate in the rapidly changing global landscape and sustain long term systems change.

We are pleased to support the next generation of high-impact research organization solving grand challenges. Founders make critical decisions during the early stages, but the current research ecosystem offers little support during the discovery and exploration process. We offer a one of its kind pay-what-you-want Innovator in Residence (IIR) Program, where founders looking to set up solutions-oriented research organizations to solve grand challenges receive 1 year of support through monthly 1:1 Advising Sessions. We can help you clarify your Theory of Change or mandate, design a research agenda, and more generally, offer sound advice. As a perk we offer to our IIRs, you are welcome to add your advisor Marvin Cheung to your Board of Advisor as a Special Advisor after three advising sessions, until the end of the IIR program, if you so wish. Longer term arrangements can be made depending on need and interest. If you have a bold vision for change, we would be pleased to welcome you to the Unbuilt Labs Global Think Tank Ecosystem.

Contact: Marvin@UnbuiltLabs.com