Global perception, economic recovery, national social fabric needs are being intensely debated across political and social lines. This is a good thing, and part of a healthy democratic system. In support of these critical national needs, innovation will be an integral part of driving a progressive political, economic, and social agenda. As discussion about how to create, and deploy innovation for Ireland Inc evolves, it’s important to have a robust dialogue about what real innovation means.
Innovation is not a “gee whiz” idea. Innovation is not simply about a new invention where people can say “hey, that’s cool”. Innovation is about hard work, and the ability to take ideas, and lead for results. It’s a process that integrates the ability to identify good ideas, thought leadership skills to enhance, drive relevant change and collaboration, and most importantly, ability to deploy a tangible economic, academic, social or political result.
It’s all about the results.
I have seen innovation deployed in many forms. My experience in global leadership roles with IBM, various boards, and as Chairman of the Board of European Tech Cluster has provided me with a wonderful vantage point across global and local implementations.
From an IBM perspective, all successful companies are in the same business – the business of innovation. It is a risky venture. From start-up to multinational, the companies that sustain and grow are those that know how to create solutions to fulfil unmet customer needs.
Smarter Planet
The world and industry is becoming more instrumented, interconnected, and intelligent. These improvements are allowing leaders and citizens alike to take advantage of these smarter systems for progressive ideas and implementation of solutions based on thought leadership, analytics, and address pressing problems.
This drives true innovation and a Smarter Planet, from helping Government innovate and streamline effectively, helping Ireland Inc businesses grow globally, supporting traffic or pollution control in Dublin, Galway SmartBay project, Water Management model in Cork, IBM Global Entrepreneur Program for start-ups among others.
As Chairman of the Board, European Tech Cluster, I have also seen an exciting Cluster model develop. The European Tech Cluster is an innovative organization. It is industry led organization, comprised of 300 IT companies, driving 300+ billion of revenue globally, and 1Billion in Ireland. Multinationals, Mid-Size, Start-ups – IBM, EMC, McAfee, McKesson, Dell, KPMG, Moog, GXP Systems, PFH, Smarttech, Supply.ie, Zartis Ourland.ie, Cameo, Initiate Events, among many others. Regional roots, National impact, Global reach….innovation in motion.
The innovative vision is driving a collaborative team and strategy across industry, government, academia, for economic, social and academic results and it’s working.
WATCH: Denis explains more about the European Tech Cluster at Global Cluster TV
Economic results include Upstart model helping start-ups grow, where its first foray called Dealstart has already driven collaboration and deals between start-ups and multinationals. The Innovation That Matters program has also helped start-ups penetrate the Chinese marketplace.
Watch: Denis interviews the winner of the Innovation That Matters program
From an academic perspective, the Adopt-a-School scheme has driven industry teaming with more than 30 schools and growing, helping national and secondary schools with investment and skills tools. Fit4Work is enabling university students to be prepared with communication and interview skills.
From a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) perspective, the Smarter Senses Program has teamed industry with Shine Ireland, helping pre-school autistic children for potential mainstreaming with technology, investment and application development, and received the 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award for these efforts.
There are many other relevant streams in progress supporting innovation - skills net education, annual Tec Summit, European Tech Cluster Leaders Awards, Tech Tuesday/Thursday teaming events, Silicon Valley Comes to Ireland, Executive Forum, Heads of IT among others.
Collaboration has significantly increased across many platforms. Global Cluster TV (GCTV) is beginning to flourish as a collaborative video tool. A weekly #Techcluster tweet-up at 8pm GMT has trended nationally #1 over past several weeks, European and US are beginning to join, and has innovative global growth potential.
These results have enabled the European Tech Cluster to be selected by European Union Framework 7 (FP7) for the BeWiser programme. This selection by the EU will enable investment and integration with other selected Clusters across Europe to collaborate, learn, and grow. We are also discussing potential replication with Silicon Valley. We will drive this for further innovation. I believe the cluster model has significant innovation opportunities, and encourage aggressive investment and focus in this area.
I’m excited and positive about the future. Ireland Inc is an entrepreneurial and innovative nation that has made incredible impact across the globe in many ways, and has access to a powerful Diaspora.
The timing is right to further accelerate relevant innovation and collaborative leadership for economic, academic, social, political results. Together, we can make an innovative difference.
Innovation. It’s all about the results.
Read more about innovation in the Newstalk iPad Magazine.
