Breakthrough vs. incremental vs. platform innovation

Ideally, companies should maintain balanced portfolios that contain, at a minimum, both incremental and platform innovations. The pursuit of breakthrough innovations requires acquiring or developing breakthrough-specific capabilities and therefore requires a significant strategic decision and commitment.

Platform innovation generally delivers new customer benefits and typically increases market share rather than providing incremental growth. Breakthrough innovations, by contrast are widely perceived as high risk but enable companies to create and dominate a new market.

Via Conrad Lisco.