EIC launches innovation “lab” programme

The sessions will begin this November with a northern network operator who has agreed to pilot the “laboratory” approach.

Each innovation lab will gather employees from across an individual network’s business, specifically seeking to include employees who have not previously engaged in innovation projects.

The intention is that by engaging staff without direct innovation responsibilities and delivering training and insights into innovation best practice, EIC will be able to help networks escalate their innovation cultures. The sessions will also help businesses to identify their innovation priorities more accurately.

Yesterday, Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan told delegates at the Low Carbon Networks and Innovation conference in Manchester that the regulator believes innovation cultures in networks have improved since the introduction of incentive schemes like the Low Carbon Networks Fund – but only from “low” to “moderate”.

Speaking about the launch of the innovation service, EIC managing director Denise Massey said: “Through hosting these innovation labs the EIC will be working with other colleagues within the energy networks, providing insight into the problems faced by individuals throughout the organisation, which will enable the EIC to adopt processes that will solve those issues for the benefit of the energy customer.”

The EIC also plans to collate insights into network innovation prioirities in order to develop a cross industry innovation strategy. 

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