Invent Quote by Frans van Houten
“Certain product categories become less attractive for us because, as they become mature, they become low-cost, and hence, there is less to invent. There is less to invent in a television, whereas in heath technology, there is a lot to invent. So we wanted to put our innovative power to work where it really matters.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Business Innovation Forum, 2017
Maturity drives down costs and novelty, shifting inventive focus to emerging, high‑impact sectors.
In simple terms: Old markets have less room for new ideas.
Key Takeaway
Target innovation where impact is greatest.
Themes
innovation
market dynamics
technology
Mood
strategic
forward‑looking
Type
business
analytical
When to use this quote
- health tech startups
- R&D strategy
- investment decisions
Key Concepts
disruptive innovation
product lifecycle
Questions to Reflect On
- What emerging fields excite you?
- How can legacy products still innovate?
A Different Perspective
Risk of overlooking incremental improvements in mature markets.
