Denis Simon at Dalian conference 

As the Inaugural Meeting of the Summer Davos kicked off in Dalian on September 6th, Dr. Denis Simon, Provost of the Levin Institute joined noted journalist and author, Thomas L. Friedman and Professor Wang Zhongtuo, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, for a special seminar on the future of innovation at the Dalian University of Technology.  The seminar, which was sponsored by the Dalian S&T Bureau and the Dalian University of Technology, provided a platform for the examination and analysis of the new models of innovation that have been emerging as a result of the impact of globalization on the processes of technological discovery and commercialization.  Tom Friedman kicked off the seminar with a well crafted presentation that took many of the concepts contained in his widely read book, The World is Flat, and showed how the process of global technological levelling has created new hubs of innovation capacity around the world.  Friedman implored the 250+ members of the audience not to succumb to artificial limits in this new world of growing innovative capacity; instead he suggested that the only limit to their potential impact would be the limits each person imposed on their own imagination and ability to think beyond what is currently possible.

Dr. Simon's presentation was focused on examining some of the crucial components of the new global innovation system, especially the critical role of high end talent.  Building on some of the research conducted at the Levin Institute on the evolving global talent pool, Dr. Simon suggested that the massive push for more and faster innovation among companies--big and small--was leading to a search for pockets of talent to carry out research at the technological frontiers of new knowledge.  In addition, Dr. Simon highlighted the possibility that the concept of "national innovation system" might be obsolete and new science and technology developments are more and more occuring within the conext of transborder, highly globalized knowledge networks that operate at the subnational level involving scientists and engineers from multiple countries.  Building on a recent article in Foreign Affairs about the onset of the "global campus," Dr. Simon noted that even the loyalty of research-oriented university professors may be changing.  While they still may be receiving their main paychecks from their home university, the most research active faculty members are increasingly focused on their work and relationships that are not tied to the physical space of their campuses.  Instead, the are embedded in series of multinational research structures that are not defined by national borders or even controls.

Professor's Wang's presentation concentrated on the ingredients for ensuring more effective results from innovation related activities.  He brought into focus the various initiatives taken by the Chinese government to promote greater innovative activity in China, including the launch of the 15 Year Medium to Long Term Science and Technology Plan in January 2006.  Professor Wang got into great detail about how to address some of the disconnects in the existing Chinese innovation infrastructure, especially linking together the endusers and the initiators of the research.  His deep knowledge and experience came through loud and clear as his presentation was able to bring to the surface many concrete ways China might enhance its innovation potential.

The two presentations sparked many questions from the audience, which was composed of members of the Dalian municipal government, local Dalian enterprises, and students and faculty from DUT.  At the end of the seminar, Madame Liu Xiaoying thanked all the speakers and expressed great satisfaction about the quality of the exchanges between the speakers and the attendees.  DUT and SUNY are in the process of negotiating a cooperation agreement that will bring together students and faculty for exchange progreams, joint research, and a series of joint conferences and workshops.  In October 2007, President Ou Jinping of DUT will lead a small delegation to Albany to meeting with Interim Chancellor John Clark to work out details of their cooperation.  In addition, DUT and Levin are in discussions about a potentially large multidisciplinary research project that would be focused on assessing the impact of imported technology and know-how on the growth and development of the Chinese automobile industry.

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