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"Standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards in a world that is changing at an ever more rapid pace". This is an accurate summary of the impact of innovation on contemporary society, for countries, firms and individuals. The ability to innovate – and renew oneself – is at once a yardstick of competitiveness, a factor of success and a guarantee of survival. Research underlies any innovative process, but the path that leads from the intuition to the discovery, and from this to applications, is never entirely predictable. In fact, innovation is only possible in a society that rewards creativity and risk-taking and ensures the uninhibited flow of information and ideas. And which understands the fact that innovation is power – thanks to its ability to change the world, life and things, and the social impact of its consequences – and as such should be shared by all the citizens of the world. |
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The Role of Accidental Discovery in the Advancement of Science and Technology
Milan, 4 December 1998 In planning a strategy for investment in scientific research it can be quite unproductive to emphasize practical applications of the work in advance. Major discoveries in science are frequently accidental. They tend to follow significant advances in technology. Similarly, sometimes complex technologies specifically designed to perform a rather specialized measurment in science lead to unanticipated practical applications. Three examples will be discussed: The discovery of superfluid 3He; the discoveries of the quantum Hall effect and fractional quantum Hall effect; and GPS (the Global Positioning System). |
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