When I was setting up Spin’s new R&D group, I developed a process to quickly gather information and evaluate the feasibility of new project ideas.  The process consisted of ever-increasing levels of engineering, time, and money, with pre-set phase exits allowing us to weed out impractical or inopportune ideas quickly and dedicate resources to the most promising options. 

Ideas for new projects were collected in formal and informal ways to ensure that the R&D team was aware of the company's most urgent needs.

- Monthly R&D check-ins with company leadership to discuss new ideas, prioritize them, and give general project updates  

- One-on-one meetings with people throughout the company to let R&D hear their ideas and to listen to what challenges they are facing to see if we have any ideas for projects that might help.

- Project approval check-ins with managers from other parts of the company to ensure buy-in and project value 

- Informally gathering new ideas from unexpected places