One year of iNNOLAB: the manifesto born from practice
There is a moment in an innovation workshop or in some business meetings that is very recognisable. Someone blurts out "what if...?" and, for a few seconds, the air in the room changes subtly, in that instant everything seems possible, a possibility within reach. There is something magical about that moment. But, in most organisations, the magic is short-lived. The meeting ends, the day to day comes and the spark dies out on its own.
A year ago, we at Izertis decided to keep that spark alive and turn it into a system. And from that decision, iNNOLAB was born as an innovation accelerator: a way of working that connects talent, ideas and technology to create solutions with real impact, focused by sector and driven by a shared ambition: to grow and stand out while staying "One Tech Ahead".
Creativity can be turned into value
iNNOLAB has established itself as a way of working that truly works, grounded in principles lived out by every Squad.
This year has left us with one certainty: creativity becomes value when it is accompanied by method, collaboration and a shared mentality.
This manifesto summarises what we have learned and will guide us in our corporate innovation model:
iNNOLAB Manifesto
1. It all starts with a good question.
Not with a brilliant idea, but with a well-framed challenge. Who experiences this problem, and when does it occur? What friction does it generate? What change would show that we are on the right track?
The initiatives that have made the most progress this year are those that managed to define the problem precisely. When the question is powerful, the idea comes by naturally – and it comes better.
2. What is visible can be improved. The invisible, no.
In any given session there are several people imagining "the same thing" in many different and intangible ways.
The prototype (a storyboard, a wireframe, a basic demo, a hand-drawn flow) acts as a clever shortcut: it turns the conversation into something you can see, point to and improve.
Prototyping is the fastest way forward, and we apply it in various phases of the Squad
3. Co-creating multiplies the intelligence of the team.
iNNOLAB works when it blends approaches that normally work in parallel (operations, sales and technology) around a common challenge.
When each area provides its context, the problem is understood sooner, and the solution is constructed with more precision and nuance.
This shared conversation accelerates agreements and raises the quality of the outcome.
4. The method makes creativity scalable.
Inspiration ignites; the method sustains. Without structure, creativity scatters. A shared and well-designed framework allows us to move forward with intention, make informed choices and validate with clarity.
The method channels creative energy and transforms it into results. Repeated over time, it becomes culture.
5. The focus protects the impact.
The most counterintuitive principle in innovation: "we can do anything" sounds tempting but leads to a loss of focus.
Maturity emerges when the team defines the smartest next step: a concrete hypothesis, a priority user, a core functionality, a clear validation criterion. That focus protects the team's time, reduces complexity and accelerates value delivery.
Maturity emerges when the team defines the smartest next step
6. The customer is the compass. Impact is the common language.
When the impact becomes visible, something changes in the conversation: business, technology and expertise stop speaking different languages and start building together.
That alignment guides innovation at iNNOLAB: improving processes, opening up opportunities and elevating the user and customer experience.
From there, differential conversations with customers are opened and "One Tech Ahead" is strengthened from the ground up.
7. A squad ends. Learning stays.
The proof is in the return of the teams to their day-to-day work: common language, concrete tools and confidence to start without waiting to "get it right". This year we have activated profiles with an eye and the ability to bring ideas to life, who have experienced iNNOLAB as a valuable process.
What remains goes beyond the method: what remains is the collaboration, what remains is the culture and what remains is a network of people who already know how to innovate in a different way.
Innovation applied to innovation itself is what keeps the model alive
8. The model improves because it listens.
The first year has been a laboratory in itself. Each edition, each dynamic and each delivery has left behind valuable feedback.
This listening translates into improvements: simplifying what slows us down, reinforcing what accelerates us, and refining our criteria.
Evolution is built into the design. Innovation applied to innovation itself is what keeps the model alive.
2026: from "it works" to "now it scales".
In 2026, iNNOLAB grows as an ecosystem and expands its focus: closer to the client, stronger within the community of Innovation Champions, and more present in the culture of those who innovate with us.
We will continue building continuity so initiatives can grow, and we will reinforce the spaces that help learning stick: a shared language, a common method, and a culture of collaboration. The model will keep evolving through continuous listening, maintaining focus on what creates real value.
In 2026, iNNOLAB will evolve through constant listening to maintain a focus on what creates real value
A year ago, we started with a spark. Today we have a way of working to make that spark find its path. And the most exciting part is what comes next: more collaboration, greater clarity, and more real-world ready solutions.
Exploring a challenge from within Izertis —or alongside our clients—is now possible: iNNOLAB is ready to turn that initial question into a tangible proposal, step by step.