Greg Winfree, agency director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and himself the holder of two patents, reveals his personal recipe for innovation success
There is an innovator living within each of us. That’s true for all people, I believe, but especially so for those of us in the transportation field – an industry in which inquiry is intrinsic and discovery is commonplace. It’s due to these pioneers that we’ve seen more transportation advancements in the past decade than we did in the century before.
Drawing on my own experience as the holder of two patents, I’d say there are several qualities that characterize a transformative innovator, with five topping the list. I discovered this after suffering through many a trip through many an airport, each time hauling what felt like a ton of luggage. Surely, I thought, there could be a better way.
“Curiosity tops the list of key innovator traits in my book”
And so, I wondered, “Does anyone out there have a garment that helps take the tension out of shoulder-borne weights?” As it turns out, no one did. So, I designed one myself. Someone else certainly could have done so before me, but the point here is that I was the first to ask the question. I was the first to be curious. That’s why curiosity tops the list of key innovator traits in my book.
The second, I’d say, is creativity. There’s nothing to be gained by confronting contemporary problems with legacy solutions. New challenges demand fresh thinking. Empathy is also essential. For our ingenious creations to have maximum value, we must consider who it is we’re creating for, and why.
I would also argue that resilience is essential. Not only must we be prepared to weather repeated setbacks; we must also be attentive when innovation takes us by surprise. We must also practice humility. Generative change doesn’t happen in isolation. To reach the highest levels of success, we must be willing, even eager, to share praise and credit.
My colleagues at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and our research cohorts at Texas A&M University apply each of these qualities in all that we do. A few examples of innovation from Texas include the development of cutting-edge EV technologies from advanced battery systems and chemistries that store energy more efficiently to smart charging infrastructure; the upgrade of our Environmental Emissions Research Facility, enabling us to test vehicles in temperatures below -40°F and above 120°F (-40 to 49°C); and the establishment of a solar field to unlock new EV charging capabilities.
We also partner with the Texas Department of Transportation, which has launched its visionary Innovative Transportation in Texas program to meet the rapidly growing transportation needs of the Lone Star State.
At the center of all these innovative ventures lies a simple but ambitious commitment – to conceive, develop, and deploy the very best possible mobility ideas for the betterment of society worldwide. In one word, to innovate.
This article first appeared in the December 2023 edition of TTi magazine
