Today we’re meeting with Andrew Zolli, chief impact officer of Planet, to discuss the urgency of institutional innovation. Planet is a pioneering space and AI company that has launched the largest network of Earth-monitoring satellites.
As Zolli sees it, as the problems facing the world are getting increasingly big and complex, multilateralism is retreating.
As a consequence, we have relatively fewer people to attend to increasingly major problems. According to Zolli, the solution is to supercharge the key resource we have – human attention.
As such, a key opportunity for innovation exists in affecting human behaviour in ways that create positive incentives and move us away from danger, for instance by combining insights from behavioural psychology and technology.
Zolli provides the example of creating positive feedback loops in blood banks, by letting people know when the blood they donated is being used, making them more likely to donate again.
For Zolli, a crucial path forward is, as he puts it, to “redefine our terms.”
In the realm of international affairs, this means moving beyond siloed thinking and closing the gaps between different sectors to ensure information is utilized where it’s most needed.
For example, professionals in development, international peace, and security should collaborate more closely, actively involving a diverse range of stakeholders in their efforts.
IID 2025 will be the perfect opportunity to discover innovations paving the way for the future of institutions, so stay tuned for updates!
About the Istanbul Innovation Days 2025
The Istanbul Innovation Days 2025 convenes global leaders, thinkers, and innovators who are shaping institutional change and resilience in an increasingly complex world.
This short series highlights key voices exploring the pressures driving institutional evolution and the barriers that stand in the way.
From real-world examples to the challenge of anticipating crises before they unfold, these discussions explore how institutions can adapt to meet the demands of the future.
