Invention is the key to Jump the Queue in a Competitive World - Keynote by Nathan Myhrvold (CEO, Intellectual Ventures & Founder of Microsoft Research)

Posted by Vineet Bansal

at October 9, 2009

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading ...

The opening of PAN IIT 2009 had set the theme up for coming three days and clearly the focus is on Education, Invention and Innovation. Following the opening ceremony, the conference moves on to the second keynote speaker Dr. Nathan Myhrvold, introduced by Mr. Umang Gupta, a leading entrepreneur.

“Invention-road to prosperity” is what Dr. Nathan starts with and emphasizes that invention is the quickest and most efficient path to economic development and especially for a developing country like India who has the required skill set. Economic development can be achieved by following the traditional path and he cites examples of countries like Japan, Korea and Israel. However, following what is set upon you by somebody else will always result in a generation gap and hence the emphasis on the technological shortcut –“Invention”.

Crisp power point slides and very apt citations has kept the delegates completely engaged and have left them thinking. Focusing on the potential of Indian Intellectuals, he re-iterates the fact that IIT’s have played an important role in the development of Silicon Valley. The need is to harness this potential and put into invention. India’s current licensing revenue is a meager fraction of their annual GDP and if it reaches to a proportion of what the ratio is for United States then there is potential $300 MM increase in annual GDP.

Very inspiring and interesting talk is concluded with the fact that good ideas can come from anywhere and it is the intellectual capital which needs to be optimally invested.