
The Additive Advantage Podcast
EP 18: Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution
What separates groundbreaking innovation from ideas that never leave the lab? Dr. Scott Wood, Founder and CTO of CellField Technologies and Director of Biotechnology Innovation and Training at the University of New England, joins us to discuss the journey from academic research to real-world commercialization. Scott shares how a research question about cell mechanics evolved into a company focused on improving how new therapies are developed, tackling one of healthcare’s biggest challenges: why so many promising treatments fail before reaching patients. The conversation explores the difference between solving an interesting scientific problem and addressing a real customer pain point, why customer discovery is critical to commercialization, and the importance of getting out of the building to understand how people actually work. Scott also shares how additive manufacturing has helped his team accelerate the rate of learning, giving researchers and students the ability to test, fail, iterate, and improve quickly. The discussion draws parallels between biotechnology and manufacturing—from designing technology that is fit for purpose to understanding that new tools don’t have to replace existing ones to create meaningful value. Whether you’re developing new products, leading R&D, commercializing research, or implementing additive manufacturing, the takeaway is simple: fall in love with the problem, not the solution. #AdditiveManufacturing #Innovation #Biotechnology #CustomerDiscovery #Commercialization #Research #Engineering #AdvancedManufacturing About the Show The Additive Advantage Podcast explores what it really takes to turn additive manufacturing into a scalable, performance-driven business capability. Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson, the show features real conversations with leaders accountable for outcomes — not hype. Follow & Subscribe Follow The Additive Advantage Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, watch full episodes on YouTube, and follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date on new episodes and insights. Apple | Spotify | YouTube | LinkedIn About the Hosts Hosted by Dani Mason and Shon Anderson , industry leaders with deep experience in technology and additive manufacturing.






