Saturday, August 14, 2010

The Innovation Bug...




“Millions saw the “Apple” fall… but it was Newton who asked-why???”… 

Its worth to note here that the answer to the “why” part, i.e., gravity and the attitude (creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship) of the phrase, both incidentally are the major survival tools! While the “attitude” keeps the globe “spinning”, gravity keeps things from falling off while it spins! It is this attitude sure has got the world intoxicated more than weed. 

Did you know that: For a growing number of countries, innovation in its many dimensions is emerging as a leading factor of economic growth and prosperity! If yes, great! If no, keep track of the happenings my friend (placements round the corner!).

So, you ask: Where does India stand today? Well, “Global Innovation Index 2009-10” puts India at 56th place out of 132 countries. While “Innovation capacity Index 2009-10”, puts us at 85th place of 131 countries. These indices measure innovative-ness differently and hence the large variation in standing. However, both research teams agree that factors leading to rapid growth in India in last two decades and the Indian pitfalls: “high illiteracy, a poorly developed infrastructure, a festering fiscal deficit problem, and a highly bureaucratic regulatory framework” all of which seriously discourage entrepreneurship and innovation co-exist in India  

The question I now ask is: “Is this the real reason why the National Innovation Foundation; the Technopreneur Promotion Programme(TePP) by DSIR, Gov. of India; E-cells across the nation in various institutes; etc., don’t contribute to the fullest?” Till March 2009 (since 1998), TePP accessed around 7500 ideas, evaluated 1650 proposals and supported 240 innovations. Is this a good equation? I guess not. But, having worked on TePP for my summers, I can comment that it’s not always the “panel’s” fault that lead to rejection of a proposal.

Now, stop and think for a moment. When our faculty assigns us for some project, what do we do? The 1st thing we do is Google it! And the last thing we do is Ctrl+V! Or maybe, some formatting here and there. That’s the maximum “creativity” that we show. And then we blame the faculty for the bad marks. A great man once quoted “Think not what your country has done for you, think what you have done for your country”. And this is exactly the case here.

Agreed, that the road from creativity to invention to innovation is often quite bumpy. Therefore, the “driver” ought to keep his eyes on road and the destination (visionary); actually drive the vehicle (actualize vision); and hit the break (quit) as required. Yes, you read it right. Quitting is leadership too! One needs to quit if need be for the right reason and the right time. Else, it could prove to be a catastrophe. If you prove yourself as a “good” driver, there is no reason why a “traffic police” should halt you in your journey to success!
There is a tide in the affairs of men
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose the ventures before us
                                                       -William Shakespeare
PS: Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what other haven't... invention is transferring creativity into reality ... and innovation is being able to commercialize the invention.... :)

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