Capability development in the Co-Innovation Program

Summary

The purpose of this project was to support activities for developing innovation capabilities of the MLA Co-innovation managers and to explore collaborative projects between red meat producers and other relevant companies.  The series of activities included MLA Co-Innovation Networking events, learning & development exercises and assessment processes to facilitate the ongoing development of innovation capabilities of the MLA co-funded innovation roles.  These activities were supported by follow up activities from the outcomes of the March 2019 Co-Innovation network event, including i) Co-innovation partners face to face meetings, ii) Hargraves partners meetings and iii) follow-up networking events, as required.   

Following the MLA's Co-Innovation partners' networking event (March 2019), there were a series of activities and initiatives, which were facilitated by Hargraves and Catalyst, including:

Co-Innovation Manager network support:

• Collaboration Health Check for Co-Innovation programs with various partners.
• Working with Co-Innovation partners as required, including but not limited to:
  • Company's innovation program.
  • New food solutions & services proposition and business case.
  • Hargraves / Catalyst facilitating engagement of Hargraves members with similar interests and mutually beneficial opportunities through the Hargraves Conference and events such as Facebook breakfast.
• Collaborative innovation projects:
  • Working with Co-Innovation partners as required.
  • Developing a partnership project model to explore options for Healthy Aged Care solutions in the red meat industry.

A series of one-on-one conversations with Co-Innovation managers was undertaken to explore opportunities for the MLA Co-innovation group to collaborate amongst other red meat industry representatives as well as across other sectors.  For example, the opportunity and potential business case of providing/filling an apparent gap in meal solutions (including red meat offerings) and services for new products.  Introductory meetings between Hargraves members were undertaken to start to explore possible options to collaborate across sectors and create a win-win.  The process "Where to play" & "How to win" was commenced through these initial facilitated discussions by Hargraves with its network members. 

Ongoing discussions are required with MLA Co-innovation partners with the prospect of making introductions between cross sector companies to work together on meal solutions and services for Aged Care, and possibly other institutional markets opportunities.

Hargraves and Catalyst propose to continue to facilitate networking events with its members to expand and grow MLA's Co-innovation networks. A further workshop is planned to bring together Co-Innovation managers to develop capability, to share and to learn from external companies. Hargraves will invite members from other industries to participate

In addition, ongoing support in the Co-innovation events and associated activities is proposed as part of MLA's Hargraves membership and other associated MLA funded capability initiatives.