Invention vs. Innovation: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 11, 2024
Invention involves creating something entirely new, while innovation involves improving or applying existing ideas in new and creative ways.
Key Differences
Invention refers to the creation of a new product, idea, or method for the first time. Innovation, on the other hand, involves enhancing or modifying existing inventions to create better value or efficiency.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 11, 2024
While an invention is the initial creation, innovation is the process of bringing it to a broader market or usage. Inventions can be standalone ideas, but innovations often require multiple inventions and ideas to be realized.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 11, 2024
An invention is typically a novel concept, untested in the market. Innovation, however, is more about the practical application and successful exploitation of new ideas, which often includes an invention.
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Jan 11, 2024
The goal of an invention is to create something new, whereas innovation aims at improving or making significant contributions to existing products, services, or processes.
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Jan 11, 2024
Inventors are known for their creative and original ideas, while innovators are recognized for their ability to adapt, improve, and commercialize these ideas.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 11, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Creation of something new.
Application or improvement of existing ideas.
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Market Readiness
Often untested in market.
Geared towards market acceptance.
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Role in Development
Foundation of new ideas.
Driving force for practical application.
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Jan 11, 2024
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Invention and Innovation Definitions
Invention
A process of creative thinking and problem-solving.
The invention of the wheel was a pivotal moment in human history.
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Innovation
The process of improving an existing product or system.
The innovation in smartphone technology has been rapid and transformative.
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Dec 17, 2023
Invention
A unique product resulting from experimentation.
Her invention of a water purification system won several awards.
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Dec 17, 2023
Innovation
A new method or idea, enhancing what already exists.
The innovation of online banking has changed how we manage money.
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Dec 17, 2023
Invention
The act of creating something for the first time.
The invention of the telephone revolutionized communication.
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Dec 17, 2023
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Innovation
The act of introducing something new to a field.
Her innovation in educational tools has benefited many students.
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Invention
An outcome of innovative engineering or scientific research.
The invention of the microchip led to the modern computer era.
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Innovation
The application of better solutions to meet new requirements.
His innovation in logistics significantly reduced delivery times.
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Invention
The act or process of inventing
Used a technique of her own invention.
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
A new device, method, or process developed from study and experimentation
The phonograph, an invention attributed to Thomas Edison.
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Dec 13, 2023
Innovation
The act of innovating; the introduction of something new, in customs, rites, etc.
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
Skill in inventing; inventiveness
"the invention and sweep of the staging" (John Simon).
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Invention
(Music) A short composition developing a single theme contrapuntally.
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Innovation
Something new, and contrary to established customs, manners, or rites.
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Dec 13, 2023
Innovation
A newly formed shoot, or the annually produced addition to the stems of many mosses.
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Dec 13, 2023
Innovation
The act of innovating; introduction of something new, in customs, rites, commercial products, etc.
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
The act of inventing.
The invention of the printing press was probably the most significant innovation of the medieval ages.
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Innovation
A change effected by innovating; a change in customs; something new, and contrary to established customs, manners, or rites.
The love of things ancient doth argue stayedness, but levity and lack of experience maketh apt unto innovations.
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Invention
The capacity to invent.
It took quite a bit of invention to come up with a plan, but we did it.
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Dec 13, 2023
Innovation
A newly formed shoot, or the annually produced addition to the stems of many mosses.
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
(music) A small, self-contained composition, particularly those in J.S. Bach’s Two- and Three-part Inventions.
I particularly like the inventions in C-minor.
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Dec 13, 2023
Innovation
A creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
(archaic) The act of discovering or finding; the act of finding out; discovery.
That judicial method which serveth best for the invention of truth.
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
The act of finding out or inventing; contrivance or construction of that which has not before existed; as, the invention of logarithms; the invention of the art of printing.
As the search of it [truth] is the duty, so the invention will be the happiness of man.
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Dec 13, 2023
Innovation
The act of starting something for the first time; introducing something new;
She looked forward to her initiation as an adult
The foundation of a new scientific society
He regards the fork as a modern introduction
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
That which is invented; an original contrivance or construction; a device; as, this fable was the invention of Esop; that falsehood was her own invention; she patented five inventions.
We entered by the drawbridge, which has an invention to let one fall if not premonished.
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Innovation
Transforming the market with a novel approach.
Their innovation in renewable energy sources is commendable.
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Dec 17, 2023
Invention
A fabrication to deceive; a fiction; a forgery; a falsehood.
Filling their hearersWith strange invention.
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Invention
The faculty of inventing; imaginative faculty; skill or ingenuity in contriving anything new; as, a man of invention.
They lay no less than a want of invention to his charge; a capital crime, . . . for a poet is a maker.
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
The exercise of the imagination in selecting and treating a theme, or more commonly in contriving the arrangement of a piece, or the method of presenting its parts.
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Dec 13, 2023
Invention
A creation (a new device or process) resulting from study and experimentation
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Invention
A new method, idea, or device.
His latest invention solves many problems in renewable energy.
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Dec 17, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How does innovation differ from invention?
Innovation refers to improving or applying existing ideas in new ways, while invention is about creating something entirely new.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 11, 2024
What is an invention?
Invention is the creation of a new product, idea, or method for the first time.
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Jan 11, 2024
Are all inventions successful?
Not necessarily; success often depends on market acceptance and practicality.
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Jan 11, 2024
What drives innovation?
Innovation is driven by the need to solve problems, enhance efficiency, or meet market demands.
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Is innovation always technology-based?
No, it can occur in any field, including business models, processes, and services.
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Jan 11, 2024
Can an invention be an innovation?
Yes, if it significantly improves upon existing concepts or practices.
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Jan 11, 2024
Can multiple inventors collaborate on a single invention?
Yes, inventions can result from collaborative efforts involving multiple inventors.
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Jan 11, 2024
Can anyone be an inventor?
Yes, anyone with a novel idea or new concept can be an inventor.
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Jan 11, 2024
Are all inventions successful and widely adopted?
No, not all inventions achieve commercial success or widespread adoption; some remain as prototypes or niche solutions.
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Jan 11, 2024
How important is creativity in invention?
Creativity is essential in invention as it involves thinking of new and original ideas.
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Jan 11, 2024
What's an example of a simple invention?
The paperclip is a simple yet widely used invention.
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Jan 11, 2024
Are all innovations successful in the long run?
No, not all innovations succeed; some may face challenges in adoption, market acceptance, or competition.
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Jan 11, 2024
What role do patents play in invention?
Patents protect inventions and give inventors exclusive rights to their creations.
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Jan 11, 2024
Is innovation limited to the technology sector?
No, innovation can occur in various industries, including healthcare, finance, education, and manufacturing.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 11, 2024
Do innovations always require new inventions?
Not always; sometimes, innovation involves new uses or modifications of existing inventions.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 11, 2024
What is the difference between an innovation and an invention?
An innovation is the process of improving or applying existing ideas in new ways, whereas an invention is the creation of something entirely new.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 11, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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