Bell Labs Calls for Innovation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 26, 2001

Bell Labs Calls for Innovation

Innovation will become even more crucially important for Chinese enterprises after China joins the World Trade Organization, a senior executive from the world's best-known innovation laboratory said in Beijing over the weekend.

This is because Chinese firms will face more direct challenges in their home markets after more foreign companies flood the market, as China honours its commitment to open many previously government-protected areas to direct foreign competition, said Carl Hsu, vice-president of Bell Labs of the United States, at a ceremony marking the launch of his book titled "On Innovation - My 30 Years in Bell Labs."

Hsu's book reviews his experiences and his success at Bell Labs, offers his thoughts about innovation, especially on the telecom sector, and also gives his suggestions on the development of China's telecom industry and the future model of Zhongguancun, which has an ambition to develop itself into the "Silicon Valley of China."

Dr Hsu said there are four major elements that determine the success of innovation: leadership, team spirit, talent and technology.

China has the advantage of having a rich talent pool at its disposal and is being quick in adopting the latest technology in the world. That will put the country in a favorite position for technology innovation.

The current worldwide economic slowdown may have some impact on the talent market. But in one or two years when the world economy recovers, China's rich talent resources will become an obvious advantage for its economic development and technological innovation, Hsu said.

Hsu also said enterprises should play a dominant role in technology innovation in China, because they are more market-orientated. However, under the current economic development stage, the government should continue to play its important role of guiding the development of technology innovation, such as in the development of Zhongguancun.