We're talking big here (and diverse), not by acquisition but invention, most of it so far fairly low tech.  Homegrown notions--some accidental--are perfected, packaged and profitable before you can say "Eureka," succeeding by coming in damn handy.  Scotch tape.  45,000 new products so far.

Like the chemist who spilled on her sneaker and nothing would touch it.  Scotchgard.  Or the team that came up with a nonwoven bra cup reinforcer to which manufacturers preferred foam rubber.  It became a face mask and led to a division with all sorts of things to sell, including systems to shield workers in toxic environments.

Company policy:  a quarter of sales shall come from products less than five years old--and Lewis Lehr, who came to his position as CEO by way of R and D, says this necessitates "the continuing invention of the wheel."  It's a tall order, but 3M keeps rolling along.

You can't get more open-ended than that, and 3M is setting its sights on higher tech all the time.  But the humble lines still have the advantage that they are handy everywhere, and forty per cent of six billion in sales is now abroad.