Despite the lack of frenzy action that is the hallmark of living organisms, the inanimate world surrounding them is no stranger to change. It only takes more time for combination and variation, for degradation and decomposition to make a difference.

As living beings, humans share the properties that characterise the animate world, including birth and death, growth and ageing, and agency.

Against our best effort, the order that we seek to establish does not last forever; as if a ‘hidden force of anti-order’ would systematically undermine all our endeavours. This ‘force’ takes many forms as it harnesses a variety of mechanisms.

The innovation engine is the centrepiece of our innovation capacity, yet we have more means at our disposal – ranging from basic, like variation and combination, to sophisticated, such as birth and growth.