Among the industry’s top research organizations in computer and digital technology, Hewlett-Packard (HP) provides a list of hardware, software, and services to a large variety of customers, including small- and medium-sized businesses, as well as larger companies.

One of HP’s most innovative projects over the past few years has been the Moonshot System. VP of Server Engineering in R&D at HP Dr. Tom Bradicich sat down with Dave Vellante and Jeff Frick of theCUBE at HP Discover Las Vegas 2014 to discuss the company’s work and innovation with the Moonshot project.

Innovating from within

With HP’s current policy of few acquisitions, the company has had to do much of its innovation from within, in an organic nature. When asked to explain  how HP has been able to do this, Bradicich explained that while innovating from within is a challenge, a company gains certain benefits from doing so, including access to customers who can help a company guide and hone its investments quickly. The very breadth of the technology that HP has access to is another benefit.

This was especially true of Moonshot, which was organized more like a startup company within HP’s large R&D facility. Using a term called high-velocity rigor, Moonshot moves fast when innovating while staying rigorous in the business value it brings to its customers. In addition, HP has to make technology that matters to their custom while at the same time remaining unique.

Read more after the video.

• Approaching innovation

When further asked about HP’s approach to innovation, Bradicich explained, “The approach that we are taking… is a very managed approach to that in being very careful. It’s all about being extremely sensitive to three things that are happening: the customer, the competition, and of course the company. I call them the three Cs inside.”

Bradicich  continued, “What is happening with the customer, what is happening with the competition, what is happening inside the company dynamic? Because we are a business, we have to make sure we are sound for our stockholders, as well as for our customers. Now, balancing all those three takes a lot of skill. And the winners in the business are going to be able to do that and be able to know how to pace that which would interfere with other lines of business.”

HP’s vision for the future

When asked about any future projects related to Moonshot, Bradicich  responded, “We are seeking to aspire to be the leader in the micro server and highly scalable and even hyper scalable segment. Because we seek to be that, and because of the assets we just discussed, we feel we are the best to step up to that leadership role.”

Bradicich also explained that the industry craves leadership to drive down cost, drive up utilization and efficiency, and eventually move faster than the competition. He added that customers will see from HP continued innovation, continued enhancements in quality, continued enhancements in total cost of ownership value proposition, and some really amazing things happening.

“The reason it is so important to do that is because many customers will appreciate doing business with you not only based on the current product, but also based on the roadmap; where can I go in the future?” he said. “And we seek to make those customers feel comfortable that if they go with HP, they do have a future and will have a leadership advantage over their competition.”