Network Innovation Lab at NetSci 2026 in Boston
At the international network science conference, Rizzo presented new work on innovation dynamics developed with collaborators at Central European University and the Complexity Science Hub.
Leonardo Rizzo participated at NetSci 2026 in Boston with support from the Network Innovation Lab, where he presented his article, Adjacent Possible Innovation Dynamics on Local Optima Networks.
The paper is a collaboration with Edward D. Lee and János Kertész, bringing together work with the Department of Network and Data Science at Central European University and the Complexity Science Hub.
The research proposes Local Optima Networks as a framework for studying how innovation unfolds. It models innovators as agents exploring nearby possibilities across a network of stable technological configurations. The authors show how this approach can reproduce several observed patterns in innovation, including the growth of novel ideas, the uneven frequency with which ideas are reused, and bursts of discovery over time.
Rizzo’s participation at NetSci 2026 reflects the Network Innovation Lab’s support for research and scholarly exchange at the intersection of network science, innovation, and organizations.
Working Paper: Adjacent Possible Innovation Dynamics on Local Optima Networks
