The 5-40® Methodology
The 5-40® Methodology is a structured system for managing innovation in industrial companies, developed through more than 25 years of direct experience leading R&D&I projects. It organises the innovation process into 5 phases and 40 tasks, specifically designed to address the complexity of the industrial environment with efficiency, rigour, and a focus on results.
A method built on real-world industrial innovation
The 5-40® Methodology is not a theoretical model. It is the result of systematising decades of real R&D&I project management in large international industrial groups, in sectors such as chemicals, materials, consumer goods and components. Each of its 5 phases and 40 tasks has been designed and refined in the field, with the aim of addressing the real challenges faced by innovation teams in industry.
Why industrial innovation fails without a defined process
Innovation success does not depend solely on the quality of ideas, access to technology, or the ability to secure funding. Today, it also requires effective internal organisation and specific expertise to overcome the numerous challenges projects face on their journey to market. Navigating regulatory changes, addressing industrial property issues, financing investments, integrating open innovation, and coordinating across multiple departments are just a few examples of what can go wrong. The 5-40® Methodology is designed to manage this complexity, helping organisations avoid costly mistakes, make better decisions, and capture every opportunity.
A process with
5 phases and 40 tasks
The 5-40® Methodology organises the innovation process into five sequential phases covering the full cycle: from identifying opportunities and generating ideas through to industrial development and commercialisation. Each phase brings together a set of specific tasks that define what to do, how to do it, what resources are required and what decisions need to be made.
The logic of every phase
Phase 1
Ideation
Objective: Identify challenges and generate concepts to improve or create new processes, products, services or business models with the potential to add value to the company.
Exit criteria: Concepts with a strong strategic fit.
Phase 2
Study
Objective: Turn concepts into prototypes and assess their economic potential and risk profile to identify the most promising opportunities.
Exit criteria: Prototypes with a clear case for further development.
Phase 3
Development
Objective: Turn prototypes into products, processes, services, and/or business models that meet the business case and present no significant unresolved risks.
Exit criteria: Fully developed products, processes, services, or business models.
Phase 4
Industrialisation
Objectives: Execute industrial investments and develop a launch plan for the new product, process or service.
Exit criteria: Industrial and commercial readiness for a market launch.
Phase 5
Launch
Objectives: Execute the launch plan and gather data to assess commercial and market acceptance.
Exit criteria: Decision on whether to continue, adapt, or discontinue the product in the market.
What the 5-40® Methodology delivers
Full coverage of the innovation cycle
It covers every stage of the innovation process, from idea generation through industrial development and commercialisation, as well as every type of innovation, including open innovation. The project pipeline provides a comprehensive view of the organisation’s innovation initiatives, enabling teams to structure, prioritise, and monitor their progress towards implementation.
Efficient use of innovation resources
It functions as an operational roadmap describing the steps to follow, the tools and participants required, and the decisions to be made at each stage. It anticipates the real organisational and material difficulties faced by innovation teams, reducing uncertainty and execution times.
Adaptable to any organisation
It is a flexible process, applicable across industrial sectors, strategic objectives and company sizes. Its governance model is deliberately simple — an Innovation Coordinator and an Innovation Committee — which makes it easy to implement without complex organisational structures.
Sectors and companies that can benefit most from the 5-40® Methodology
The 5-40® Methodology is specifically designed for industrial companies operating in sectors such as consumer goods, food and beverage, equipment, components, chemicals, and materials, among others. It can be applied regardless of whether the innovation relates to products, processes, services, or even business models, provided a certain degree of technical complexity is involved.
Large industrial companies
With established R&D&I departments that need to systematise and optimise their innovation process, or bring dispersed projects together into a coherently managed portfolio.
Industrial SMEs
Companies that want to implement a professionalised innovation process without needing a large dedicated structure.
Technology start-ups
Companies that need to structure their innovation model from the earliest stages to access public funding, manage their project portfolio and scale in an orderly way.
How the 5-40® Methodology can be applied in your organisation
The 5-40® Methodology can be implemented through four service lines, tailored to the specific needs of your organisation.
Consulting
A structured consulting process to implement an innovation management system within your organisation based on the 5-40® Methodology.
Training
Training programmes in industrial R&D&I management based on the 5-40® Methodology, designed for executives, managers and working teams.
Coaching and mentoring
One-to-one support for executives and R&D&I managers in running their projects, applying the principles of the 5-40® Methodology.
Interim Management
Temporary leadership of the innovation function to implement a new innovation process and organisational model based on the 5-40® Methodology.
Discover the
5-40® Methodology
in depth
A book to understand the foundations, conceptual framework, and practical application of the 5-40® Methodology.A reference text for participants in training programmes.A practical day-to-day guide for managers and professionals involved in the company’s R&D&I projects.
Apply the 5-40® Methodology in your organisation
The 5-40® Methodology can be implemented through different service lines: training for innovation teams, implementation consulting, executive coaching or interim management. Request information to determine which approach best fits your organisation's needs.
For any enquiry related to the 5-40® Methodology or the available services, please use the form below. A response will be provided within 48 hours.