The Irish Management Institute (IMI), in partnership with DEMOS, the UK think-tank, will host a conference interrogating Asian innovation in science, technology and business within the global knowledge economy. The conference, which will take place on January 24th, will address what the emergence of Asian dominance in these areas means for Ireland in the critical areas of business, science and technology, and innovation and economic policy.
DEMOS is a London-based organisation focused on economic and political change along with innovation and learning in organisations. In recognition of the importance of global developments in innovation for Irish business, the IMI partnered with DEMOS on the ‘Atlas of Ideas: Mapping the New Geography of Science,’ an 18-month study of innovation in science and technology in China, India, and South Korea.
Charles Leadbeater, the project’s principal investigator and a renowned author, will present the results of DEMOS’ findings at the IMI event. Irish industrialists, scientists, academics and policy-makers will engage with questions and challenges for business, academia, and government, to identify how Ireland can develop its competitive advantage within this changing global economic landscape. Facilitated by journalist and broadcaster Matt Cooper, a Specailist Panel, comprising Dr Tom McCarthy CEO IMI, Dr. Phil Nolan Chairman IMI, Martin Muprhy HP, and Martin Cronin Forfas, along with a number of SFI- and corporate-funded entrepreneurial scientists, will focus in particular on how organisations here can respond to the opportunities and threats identified in the research.
Discussing the conference, Dr Tom McCarthy, Chief Executive, IMI said:
“The DEMOS event will present comprehensive research into the science, technology and innovation systems in China, India and South Korea, providing us with a fascinating insight into the economy and emerging markets there. The event will explore how Europe can compete or partner with these emerging markets, and our progress to date. We have a distinguished panel for the Specialist Forum, where we will explore the implications of the report for business in Ireland.”
The conference will explore the following areas:
· A critical mass of scientific/technological and managerial talent is emerging in Asia, which is being created through internal organic growth and returning diasporas. It has the potential to surpass, both in quality and quantity, the European talent pool.
· The European / US dominance in innovation across science and technology is falling. Over the next two decades Asia will produce significant new centres of scientific and technological innovation; intellectual property is increasingly being created – for global markets – in China, South Korea and India. This process is likely to accelerate and deliver huge potential for the growth of Asian business in high value activities.
· Multinational corporations are leading in the development of new business models which leverage the powerful combination of a low cost environment with the highly creative, intellectual capabilities of workforces in the Asian countries.
