Kehitysputket

Kehitysputket are a systematic approach to managing development projects through a sequence of phases and decision points, functioning as pipelines that channel ideas from exploration to commercialization. The primary aim is to increase innovation efficiency, improve resource allocation, and manage risk by enabling staged evaluation and go/no-go decisions.

A typical kehitysputki includes stages such as ideation, concept development, feasibility assessment, prototype or MVP, piloting, and scale-up toward market introduction. At each stage, a cross-functional team reviews progress against predefined criteria, and a steering committee approves the next step. Metrics commonly include time-to-market, budget adherence, and technical risk.

Implementation is common in corporate R&D, product development, and public innovation programs. Funding is often milestone-based, coming from internal budgets or external sources such as public grants. The model supports portfolio management by ranking projects against strategic fit, potential ROI, and risk, guiding resource allocation and prioritization.

Variations include stage-gate processes and innovation funnels in manufacturing, software, and biotech. Benefits include clearer accountability and learning, but criticisms highlight potential rigidity and administrative overhead that can hinder swift exploration of disruptive ideas. In Finland, kehitysputket are used in industry and public funding schemes to align research outputs with market needs.