Growth Hub
Our engine for innovation.
Growth doesn’t start with ideas. It starts with real customer problems that matter.
Growth Hub is our systematic approach to finding those problems, testing solutions early, stopping what doesn’t work and scaling what does. It is how we deliver market-led, scalable innovation.
Solving our customers’ most pressing challenges requires focus, agility and speed. We bring together our engineering, commercial, operations and data expertise to identify the right problems, understand them deeply, and shape solutions that are technically strong and deliver clear value.
We don’t wait for perfect information. We test early, challenge assumptions and learn quickly. Throughout, we remain a close partner to our customers, aligning our goals with their needs.
Our customers need solutions that work in the real world, and they need them faster. Growth Hub is how we turn their most pressing challenges into scalable, market-led innovation.
How it works
Solving our customers’ most pressing challenges requires focus and agility. We use a systematic approach to finding those problems, testing solutions early, stopping what doesn’t work and scaling what does.
Discover
We start by identifying real customer and market challenges - problems that matter and are worth solving. This means getting close to the customer, understanding the context and being clear on the value if solved.
Test
We start to build and test solution concepts early, working directly with customers. The focus is on learning quickly, validating the problem, refining the solution and understanding whether customers are willing to adopt and pay.
Develop & assess
As evidence builds, we move at speed to develop the concept and assess its potential. We strengthen the business case, build proof of customer pull and determine whether the opportunity can scale.
Execute & scale
We focus on scaling the solutions that work. This enables us to embed them faster into our portfolio and expand them across customers and markets to deliver long-term growth.
The mindset
Think big
Start with meaningful problems and scalable opportunities.
Start small
Build and test solution concepts early, and learn quickly.
Fail fast
Stop what isn’t working and focus on what will create value.
Scale at pace
Back what works across customers and markets.
The Growth Hub has really helped us understand the root causes of the problems our customers face - and with Retrofit 3D, we're able to address them directly.
Inside the Growth Hub Dragons' Den
Growth Hub brings multidisciplinary teams from across IMI together to work through sprint cycles on real customer challenges - combining engineering, commercial, operations and data expertise to shape solutions that are technically strong and commercially sharp. The most promising ideas are pitched to senior leaders, who decide which move forward toward becoming a product. Previous examples include our IMI VIVO electrolyser and Retrofit 3D additive-manufactured valve trims.
This year, 13 teams from 15 countries gathered at our new Process Automation site in Southern California for a Dragons' Den-style week - pitching, challenging and sharpening ideas that support megatrends Energy, Automation and Healthcare.
What stood out was the consistency of quality across all 13 projects. The Growth Hub framework gave teams a common way of working, clearer expectations and a sharper focus on the customer challenges we are trying to solve - proving that disciplined structure and creative thinking aren't opposites, they're what make innovation scalable.
That's the Growth Hub mindset in action: curious, candid, and willing to fail fast when it's the right call - focusing time and investment on the ideas that matter most.
Innovation in action
Cultivating a culture of innovation
A spotlight on data
Creating value in Transport
Creating value in Life Sciences
Creating value in Industrial Automation
The Growth Hub effect
IMI Hydronic enables data centre growth
Growth hub FAQs
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One IMI operating model
Learn how IMI creates sustainable growth through our strategic pillars, operating model and clear priorities, delivering value for customers, employees and shareholders.
Investor information
Explore our financial performance, reports and results, and see how we build long-term value for investors through disciplined execution and growth.