The University of Twente presented the fifth Innovation lecture
on 28 April 2010. This year's lecture was given by Albert van der
Touw, CEO of Siemens in the Netherlands. The lecture was entitled
Innovatie, wij kunnen niet zonder (Innovation:
indispensible). Mr Van der Touw spoke of the need for innovation
and the opportunities it presents.
Mr Van der Touw began his lecture by noting that we have arrived
at the beginning of a new era. Through shortsightedness, however,
we are facing a dead end, both with regard to the world economy and
to the environment. We must strive to create a sustainable
civilization where environment, economics and society are in
balance. "The innovation task we are facing is a challenge for all
of us: government, science, the financial world and industry. But
this is especially a task for talented engineers, in my
opinion."
Diligence
A critical fundamental attitude is indispensible to innovation.
Mr Van der Touw is not at all gloomy about Europe's creative
potential. "We Europeans are hard-wired with the spirit of
objection and a desire for sharp, intellectual debate."
Innovation requires more, however, than a critical fundamental
attitude and creativity. According to Van der Touw, innovation
seldom results from a single ingenious insight, as was the case
with Newton and Einstein. Take Thomas Edison, for example. "His
light bulb was not the result of a flash of genius, but the product
of years of diligent labour in a professional laboratory."
Solution
"Furthermore, the most successful innovations are those that
provide a solution to a problem of current, widespread interest. It
would be unwise to suggest a solution now for a problem that will
only be recognized as such by our aging population in twenty years'
time. It would be better to base our frame of reference on the fact
that there are many elderly people today who would benefit from
solutions. It then becomes logical to emphasize that this group
will be even larger in twenty years."
Collaboration
Innovation requires collaboration. Industry and science cannot
do it on their own. "It is precisely by working together that the
big issues can be addressed."
Earlier in his lecture, Mr Van der Touw mentioned that the
thematic goals of universities and companies could certainly be
compatible. He quoted some passages from the University of Twente
Strategic Vision 2009-2014: "...the University of Twente devises
surprising solutions for major societal issues in areas including
energy supply, sustainability, security and health." Siemens also
focuses on these themes. In recent years we have reoriented our
portfolio toward sustainable solutions for water, energy, mobility,
security and health."
