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Inventions sometimes remain dormant for decades. This is the case for Stirling engines, once considered a funny desktop gadget and now making a comeback because its peculiar features fit into an emerging market need.

Can "Universal Expositions", or EXPOs as they are now known stimulate innovation? This was the case 100 years ago, and it might happen now too, if one looks at the concepts for "future cities" being showcased in Shanghai. However, it is also true that the lead time from showing an invention at such events to actual diffusion is often very long.

Innovation leads to imitation. This is especially true for inventions that are somewhat easy to copy, like Nestlé's Nespresso capsules. It is interesting that, to ward off price-based competition, Nestlé has chosen to keep firm in its positioning of Nespresso as a high-end and "affordable luxury" offering. This requires accurate branding, advertising, complementary services, and so on. Of course, some enforcement of its  1700 patents might also come in handy

We know invenetion is not innovation. The implication - says commentator John Kay - is that while the former can be supported by through public R&D grants, these will not necessarily lead to innovation... and it is probably hopeless for a public entity to try and make the right bets on which will the winning innovations be. Finding the right intersection between technology opportunities and user needs is something that can better be left to markets.

Sharp has developed a small 3D display that does not require users to wear special glasses: this innovation will become a new standard on mobile devices or customers are not so interested in 3D video on their mobile device?