Making innovation easier in business with Otilus
Innovation is not just about having a good idea. It means turning that idea into a project, organizing trials, documenting decisions, assigning responsibilities and keeping a clear record of what has been done.
Thursday August 20, 2026
For a company developing a product, improving a service or preparing a funding application related to research and development, this organization quickly becomes essential.
With Otilus, innovation does not rely solely on the manager’s memory or on a few follow-up meetings. It becomes a shared, readable and progressive process that every team member can understand.
Why innovation needs a simple framework
In many companies, innovative projects move forward through trials, adjustments, blockers, trade-offs and new hypotheses. This way of working is natural. But without a clear tool, it can become difficult to know:
- who is working on which hypothesis;
- which step has already been validated;
- which tests still need to be carried out;
- which decisions have been made;
- which elements can be documented;
- which work truly falls under innovation.
This point is particularly important when a company is preparing an application for a research tax credit, innovation tax credit or any equivalent tax scheme depending on the country. The challenge is not only to produce. It is also to be able to demonstrate a structured, consistent and traceable approach.
The right tool does not replace tax or scientific expertise.
It helps the team keep a clear view of the work carried out, the milestones reached, responsibilities and the elements that can help build a solid application.
An international topic, not just a French one
The research tax credit is well known in France, but the logic of tax support for R&D exists in many countries. According to the OECD, nearly 55% of total public support for business R&D in the OECD area was provided through tax incentives in 2023. The OECD also states that 23 out of 38 countries provided more support for business R&D through tax schemes than through direct funding.
In Europe, the effort is also massive: Eurostat estimates that the European Union devoted 403 billion euros to research and development in 2024, representing 2.24% of GDP. These figures show that innovation is not a secondary topic. It has become a strategic lever for companies, governments and teams that need to turn their ideas into concrete solutions.
To go further: the OECD tracks tax schemes related to R&D and Eurostat publishes European data on R&D expenditure.
Otilus, a support tool for team innovation
In Otilus, a card can represent an innovation project, a new feature, a prototype, a product improvement or a service evolution. Phases make it possible to track progress, while tasks detail the concrete actions to be carried out.
This approach is particularly useful for teams that need to move forward without losing the memory of the project. Otilus connects the global vision to day-to-day work, with an approach close to the field.
| Innovation need | Otilus response |
|---|---|
| Structure an idea | Create a project card with phases, tasks, notes and deadlines. |
| Distribute the work | Assign actions to the right team members. |
| Track trials | Visualize progress in a project-oriented Kanban. |
| Document decisions | Keep notes, comments and history inside the project. |
| Prepare an application | More easily retrieve steps, evidence and contextual elements. |
Scenarios to avoid oversights
An innovative project rarely follows a perfectly straight line. It can go through a study phase, design, testing, correction, approval or a pause. With Otilus’ automatic scenarios, certain actions can be triggered at the right time.
For example, when a project moves into the testing phase, Otilus can automatically display the expected tasks: prepare the protocol, record the results, document deviations, notify a manager or request approval. The team gains rigor without adding administrative heaviness.
Well-managed innovation is innovation that leaves a trace.
Ideas, trials, trade-offs and blockers must be easy to find again, even several months later.
Prioritize without stifling creativity
Innovation requires freedom, but it also needs priorities. In a product or service project, not every idea can be handled at the same time. Some are urgent, others are important, and others must wait for client feedback, technical approval or a budget constraint.
Thanks to the GTD and Eisenhower Matrix approach, Otilus helps clarify actions without turning the team into an administrative machine. Each team member can see what they need to do, what can wait and what requires a quick decision.
This logic encourages accountability. The manager does not control every minute. They provide a visible, shared and understandable framework.
Visualize the timeline of innovation
An innovative project can span several weeks or several months. Otilus’ Gantt chart makes it possible to visualize major phases, deadlines and sensitive periods. This view is useful for anticipating delays, preparing milestone meetings and sharing a clear vision with teams or partners.
As part of a research, experimentation or development project, this time-based view also helps better distinguish periods of exploration, testing, approval and delivery.
A simple tool for serious innovation
Otilus is not intended to replace a specialized firm, an accountant or an innovation funding advisor. However, it can become a valuable support tool for organizing work upstream. The clearer the project is on a daily basis, the easier it becomes to retrieve useful information later.
This is also what makes Otilus strong: a simple, sovereign solution designed for real work. The tool helps structure projects without locking the team into a rigid method. It makes it possible to empower everyone, track steps, document progress and better manage collective innovation.
This logic also echoes the ideas already discussed in the article Reducing meetings without losing efficiency: when information is clear and shared, the team spends less time going over the same points and more time moving forward.
In summary: Otilus is a natural ally for companies that innovate, develop a product, improve a service or prepare an application related to research and development. It brings one simple but essential thing: readable, collective and lasting organization.