The Challenge

AstraZeneca wanted to strengthen its product pipeline by creating an R&D culture in which innovation wasn’t seen as the responsibility of a select few.

The ambition was to encourage 10,000 employees across multiple global locations to collaborate more openly, challenge established ways of working and contribute their own ideas.

That meant doing more than communicating the importance of innovation. AstraZeneca needed to give people the motivation, skills and confidence to participate, while connecting innovation back to something personally meaningful: the impact their work could have on patients.

The Solution

INVOLVE developed i2i Week, a global, science-inspired engagement programme designed to make innovation visible, accessible and participative.

Across 15 sites, simultaneously over one week, employees were invited to explore innovation from different perspectives, generate ideas and learn from colleagues, patients and one another.

Key elements included:

• IdeasPharm — a free-flowing, farming-themed installation that appeared across all 15 sites, giving employees space and stimulus to cultivate, develop and share ideas.
• Local Stars — real examples of individuals and teams within AstraZeneca who had challenged established ways of working and successfully put innovative ideas into practice. These peer stories made innovation feel achievable rather than abstract.
• Patient Stories — an immersive Patient Showcase where employees heard directly from real patients about the impact of disease on them and their families, reconnecting innovation with its ultimate purpose.

Turning participation into action

The programme was designed to generate more than enthusiasm during launch week.

A digital innovation hub gave employees somewhere to capture, share and develop ideas, while leaders and local teams continued to track progress after the initial campaign.

More than 3,000 innovation ideas were uploaded, turning the engagement activity into a practical pipeline of employee contribution rather than a one-off communications initiative.

The Results

• 10,000 R&D employees engaged globally
• 15 sites activated simultaneously
• 3,000+ innovation ideas uploaded to the digital hub
• 85% positive response to “I feel motivated to contribute to the success of R&D”

The programme created enough momentum for sites to continue running their own sessions after the global launch, with employees and leaders continuing to develop and feed back on ideas through the innovation hub.