Transcript Slide 1

R&D Globalization - Solutions? A
Romanian Perception
Dr. Octavian Buiu
CPhys, CSci, MIEEE
Honeywell – Sensors Lab. Bucharest
Introduction
• Globalization defined using the “Wave” approach;
adopted in World Bank analyses,
• Phenomenon originated in the 1870s:
– international flows of capital, labour, and merchandise first
began to converge and to grow at a noticeably rapid pace.
• The second wave is defined as the years following
World War II (1945–80), while the third and current
wave is identified as beginning in the early ‘80s.
Context (I)
“Overall spending on R&D and innovation in
the Union should be increased with the aim of
approaching 3% of GDP by 2010. Two-thirds of
this new investment should come from the
private sector.”
European Commission, "Presidency Conclusions: Barcelona European
Council, 15 and 16 March 2002," SN 100/02, Brussels
Context (II)
• Economic and technological development
depends less on where one resides than on how
well connected and ultimately how intelligent,
responsive, innovative, and inventive one
can be.
• Work goes globally and around the clock (in
all aspects)
Why and How?
• Raising productivity in terms of R&D implies either:
– Increasing the incidence of innovation output per invested
euro
– Decreasing R&D expenses for any given innovation output
• Solutions:
– Favour in-house R&D;
– Buy the results of R&D in the market (licensing, M&A’s,
etc.)
– Re-organize R&D; develop partnerships, outsource,
smartsource, global / virtual lab.
Why?
• Main purpose for investing in R&D abroad is
– to acquire technology and/or
– to be near to an industry’s innovative centre in
order to keep the frontrunners of the latest
technological developments.
– serving parent company interests or needs of the
local-market,
– access to foreign R&D labs and pools of highly
skilled labour
Drivers and Barriers
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Technological knowledge
Business management knowledge
Resources
Organisation / infrastructure
Culture
Technological innovation (I)
• R&D investments are likely to happen when a
supportive environment for technological
innovation exists and is fostered over time.
• Developing new high-tech development zones
or “science parks” designed to attract
researchers, entrepreneurs, and venture
capitalists from around the world.
Technological innovation (II)
• Integrative model for high-tech development—
i.e., the clustering of high-tech enterprises near
leading universities and areas with
technologically advanced infrastructures
– Research Triangle Park (NC, USA)
– Cambridge Park (Camb, UK)
– Silicon Valley…
Challenges …
– Educate for innovation starting with HE
– Identify the right environment :
• regional,
• industry dependent..
• Long/medium/short term perspectives
– Keep the structure simple and flexible
– How to run it?
– Have the get access/retain the right
people/expertise