Design thinking that can alleviate social ills and problems would help create a smart future.
To create a smart future, we need innovation which can disrupt the barriers to the ideal state.
Many people, organizations, governments, and countries aspire to create a smart future where people are happy, organizations thrive, and environment flourishes [9].
However, the recent advances in digital connectivity and globalization are providing new tools to create a smart future where governments, business firms, social organizations, and ordinary citizens can co-create shared visions and goals for the greater good.
Most countries that are trying to create a smart future through innovation emphasize hardware-focused programs such as development or enhancement of research infrastructure for science and technology, research commons, science-technology-engineering-mathematics (STEM) programs, structural plans and budget of the government, and the like.
Pursuing "what is imaginable" is especially imperative for creating a smart future for the greater good through innovation [8].
We believe innovation should have a much nobler and inspiring goal, creating a smart future for the greater good.
Thus, there has been a movement to elevate the innovation goal to a much noble level such as creating value for the greater good or creating a smart future.
The "Innovation for the greater good" section presents ideas for creating a smart future through innovation which is for the greater good than just for an organization's performance outcomes.
In this paper, we review the evolution process of innovation and propose how innovation can disrupt the barriers to creating a smart future, the aspirational goal of innovation for the greater good.
