@David, pls find my amatuer comments inline. :-) On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 11:25 AM, David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd < kianiadee@gmail.com> wrote:
Aki,
In the EU video the whole notion of innovation as 'turning ideas into money' is wrong. There are plenty of innovations that don't have direct monetary value but greatly change the way people work, saving time and effort.
Absolutely agree with you, and also add that level of creativity can only come when people have enough to sustain a basic lifestyle. That failed economic polices are the reason that most in developing countries will only innovate pegged to financial returns. They have no other options.
Even the EU can't tell Africa what innovation is or what they ought to do, our greatest innovations must be in the largest areas of need ... food, jobs for all and dealing with disease. We need to localize our solutions, I am very encouraged to see people in Tharaka and Gatanga tapping into local rivers/streams to generate electricity. Is that innovation?
Fully agreed on this and that the EU was an example, and thus the need for local govts to set examples of innovation. For those who self powered using rivers etc are only doing it at a very local level, and that power generated does not contribute to the national grid except fix a local problem. When govt projects that affect National Interests, growth and job creations, then it becomes very different.
TED issues aside, government has a role and in the case of Lockheed Martin, they were contracted to build defense systems during cold war and could not trust any other company outside the US.
Basically developing govts need to understand that we are at war with anything that seeks to replicate creativity and innovation. And this war can only suceed if the right polices are in place. With more than 40 years of independence across the continent, we should have by now had parallel programs that look at saving on literally billions lost through foreign exchange as a start.
Again if you know everything you produce will be taken up by your one and only customer (govt of the US) how much innovation is there? You are approaching this from a very academic angle, innovators don't need permission or policy from government to come up with new or improved stuff they just do.
- The US govt had very specifc requirements for what armaments and technologies were needed, thus the innovation was not limited. How much of what we do today, especially in electronic communications, is derived from the space industry. You name it, and its all there. From atomic clocks, vsat systems to long range radios. And all these led to formations of companies that could deliver on requirements and finally leading to the consumer market. Listen to what the Lady EU commission said about Research to Retail in the EU clip.She is 100% spot on and know what she is talking about. To really help you understand the problem, please consider this: The winner at Pivot25 was MedAfrica, which had a proper concept and rollout. Now they need *money* to make the innovation work. What should they do to grow and make a significant impact ? Wait 12-24months in the hope of VC funding or dig into their own pockets to sustain an innovative idea until success? Rgds. :-)