In my opinion, innovation results from focused research on real problems.
Sometimes the tough problems are hiding in the cracks. And sometimes, they are staring us right in the face.
There are many, many problems yet to solve for the longevity and reduced suffering for humanity and all life on earth.
Perhaps there is a disconnect between what “needs” to be addressed and what innovators “want” to address?
For example, there are hundreds of projects for new compilers, new programming languages, new interfaces, etc. Perhaps one of these may catch on and provide some limited value added over existing implementations. I argue that this is not innovation. It is “bouncing the rubble” (WW2 term).
How about some new analyses and projects to help predict and/or prevent school shootings?
How about research and technical solutions for reducing homelessness? Helping the homeless? Helping cities deal with homelessness?
How about researching what makes a town or city livable and providing low cost tools to help transform these places for the 20 to 40 somethings?
How about research and technical solutions for “social media” and other forms of communication that helps to connect people rather than dividing them?
There are lots of opportunities for innovation.
So if something is slowing down innovation it is probably the incorrect emphasis on the lone genius focusing on hard problems. This is no longer a sensible model for innovation and it probably never was in the first place.