Tech

Young inventors are more daring than their older counterparts. This is the finding of a study conducted at Les universités techniques du futur (UTF) in Paris.

"Young inventors are more inclined to see opportunities than older ones," explains Marin Caron, a professor at UTF. "This leads them to be more willing to try unconventional methods to solve problems."

However, young inventors are less adept at identifying certain risks associated with different approaches.

"Our initial hypothesis was that teams comprising both young and older inventors would perform best," says Caron, "but that turned out not to be the case. When younger individuals are paired with older ones, the latter tend to take control. The most effective approach, therefore, is a team of young inventors who regularly consult with an older mentor. This allows the young inventors to work freely, while the mentor can point out risks and potential obstacles that they might have overlooked."