To effectively assess "Innovation and Research" within an engineering organization, focusing on Innovation Culture and Research and Development (R&D), consider these questions:

Innovation Culture

1. How does the company define and value innovation within the engineering team?
2. What formal mechanisms are in place to encourage and capture innovative ideas from team members?
3. How are innovative projects funded and supported within the organization?
4. What examples of recent innovations can be highlighted, and how have they impacted the company?
5. How does the company celebrate failures and learn from them as part of the innovation process?
6. What role do cross-functional teams play in fostering innovation across the company?
7. How is time allocated for team members to work on innovative projects or ideas?
8. What partnerships, if any, does the company engage in to boost innovation?
9. How does the company stay informed about emerging technologies and industry trends?
10. What challenges has the company faced in building an innovation culture, and how were they addressed?

Research and Development (R&D)

1. What percentage of the budget is allocated to R&D, and how is it distributed among projects?
2. How are R&D projects chosen, and what criteria are used for selection?
3. What is the process for moving R&D projects from concept to development to deployment?
4. How does the company protect and leverage intellectual property developed through R&D?
5. What role do R&D efforts play in the company's product development strategy?
6. How are collaborations with external research institutions or industry partners managed?
7. What significant R&D accomplishments has the company achieved in the recent past?
8. How does the company measure the success and impact of its R&D activities?
9. What challenges does the R&D department face, and how are they overcome?
10. How does the R&D team stay ahead of technological advancements and market trends?

These questions are structured to uncover the depth of the company's commitment to innovation and R&D, evaluating how these efforts are structured, supported, and integrated into the broader organizational strategy and culture.