Economic development

• Argentina’s Innovative Capacity

  Three authors – two from Argentina and one from Canada – review and comment on national and corporate policies and practices which contribute to Argentina’s capacity to innovate in the 21st century. One is left with the impression that while there has been progress in the last few years, significant challenges remain. Unless addressed at the corporate and national levels, Argentina’s economic development will continue to lag behind expectation. Download Argentina Arriving.

  Posted on Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 5:52 pm in Best Management Practices, Cultural Aspects of Innovation, Economic development, The role and place of R&D in innovation..

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  Tags: Economic development, infrastructure, research and development

• Linking academic research to commercial success.

  Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde seems to have gotten the right formula in this energy/wind turbine initiative. Download – The Linkage Between University Research and Commercial Success.

  Posted on Thursday, March 31st, 2011 at 3:29 pm in Best Management Practices, Economic development, Leadership, The role and place of R&D in innovation..

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  Tags: Economic development, innovation, research and development

• Is innovation inhibited in mainly-Muslim countries?

  A recent article in the New Yorker magazine prompts further research into this issue. Innovation, the main driver of economic development and the creation of jobs, may be inhibited by religious beliefs but progress in several Islamic countries seems to refute this notion. For more background information have a look at some of the ideas set out in a paper; Download the discussion on Innovation and Religion.

  Posted on Thursday, March 31st, 2011 at 3:17 pm in Cultural Aspects of Innovation, Discussion, Economic development.

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  Tags: Economic development, innovation, religion

• Huawei Technologies – one of 8 recipients of The Economist’s Annual Innovation Awards

  Huawei Technologies, China, is the recipient of this award for its ‘corporate use of innovation’. While noting that R&D is the most significant contributor to Huawei’s overwhelming success, it is difficult to believe company statements that over 50% of its staff are engaged in R&D as stated by the company and by a recent report by the Battelle Institute. Perhaps the definition of R&D is different in China than elsewhere. This interpretation might also be the reason why China’s investment in R&D has risen so rapidly in the last few years. While not much information is available on this dynamic company, we identify at least some of the management practices which have made it successful.  Huawei Report Economist Award. Click on the link for our free, brief (4-page) report.

  Posted on Thursday, December 16th, 2010 at 9:23 pm in Best Management Practices, Economic development, The role and place of R&D in innovation..

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  Tags: China, research and development

• The ultimate tinkerer – Dyson of vacum cleaner fame

  Evidently, Dyson, the inventor of the high-end vacum cleaner which has ‘cleaned up’ the market with the application of new cyclonic technology, built 5,271 prototypes, before he was fully satisfied. This is an example of professional tinkering which, in this case, has made a significant difference. Read the article in The New Yorker, September 20th, 2010, Annals of Invention. Fascinating article!

  Posted on Sunday, October 24th, 2010 at 7:27 pm in Cultural Aspects of Innovation, Economic development, Rewards for Innovators, The role and place of R&D in innovation..

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  Tags: development, research, tinkering

• Tinkering and economic development? Compare the U.S. with 3 countries.

  U.S. innovative economic success is based largely on four notions; ‘tinkering’, materialism, a flexible financial infrastructure and a high tolerance for failure at both the corporate and individual level. Tinkering puts ideas into action. Consumer-driven materialism ensures a ready market for new ideas. A flexible financial infrastructure facilitates the relatively easy establishment and destruction of enterprises. An open attitude to failure encourages individuals and corporations to try new ideas, gadgets, and business models. All four are most prevalent in the United States economy while only one, two or three may be present in other economies.Compare the presence of these four notions in the U.S., Canada, Russia and Japan. Download ‘Tinkering etc.’

  Posted on Thursday, July 15th, 2010 at 1:33 pm in Cultural Aspects of Innovation, Economic development.

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  Tags: failure, infrastructure, materialism, research, tinkering, tolerance