For every gleaming success story, there is a long trail of failed attempts, abandoned plans, and unrealised ambition, but there is rarely the opportunity to gain learning from failure, observes Arianna Martinelli, from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, and the chair of track 7.3 at the 2025 R&D Management Conference. Her co-chairs are Gianluca Murgia (from Università di Siena) and Andrea Urbinati (from Università di Castellanza).

Learning from failure

Innovation has long been celebrated as the engine of progress—a force that transforms industries, improves lives, and fuels our imaginations. But focussing just on what works is not always helpful.

Arianna comments: “Surprisingly the stories of failure remain largely untold and unexplored, and this is a significant gap in the existing literature on innovation management.

“We chose the theme of “innovation failures” because they remain under-examined despite their critical role in driving learning, strategic reorientation, and long-term success.

“Innovation failures, such as discontinued patents, project abandonments, and product recalls, offer unique insights into the dynamics of innovation processes, team behaviour, and organisational strategies. By focusing on this ‘dark side of innovation’, the track highlights both the risks and opportunities inherent in innovation endeavours.”

Arianna explains that the topic is particularly timely given the growing complexity and uncertainty in innovation-driven industries, which are increasingly characterised by disruptive technologies, resource constraints, and societal challenges.

“Understanding how failures occur, how they can be mitigated, and how organisations can learn from them is essential for fostering resilience and adaptability in innovation ecosystems.

“Additionally, this track aligns with an ongoing research project I am coordinating, funded by the Italian Ministry of the University and Research. The project focuses on breakthrough innovation and ‘learning by failure’, particularly in industries such as medical devices, where the stakes of failure are high.

“The theme also builds on recent advancements in the study of innovation management, providing a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and the development of actionable frameworks. By addressing this pressing and underexplored area, the track seeks to inspire future research and inform practice, making it a valuable addition to the conference.”

7.3 Fail it till you make it: learning from failure and innovative activities

The relationship between failure and innovation is intricate, with innovation efforts often marked by uncertainty and the risk of failure at various stages. However, most of the scientific research primarily focuses on successful innovation projects, leaving gaps in understanding the factors and outcomes related to innovation failures.

This track aims to fill this gap and examine the determinants and effects of innovation failures throughout the development process. It will feature papers that explore how failures relate to the characteristics of innovations, the innovation process, and the innovator.

Additionally, the track will discuss how these failures can influence these factors over time through various feedback mechanisms, particularly focusing on “learning from failure” at both team and organisational levels.