Failure has to be Appreciated

Have you embraced yourself on YOUR DREAM? What failures have you been through?

Dresden - A World Microcosmos in a Nutshell

What doubts and reservations do you have on this idea?

What is the story you keep telling about the problems of this community (Dresden)?

Where do you see Dresden in five years time (all odds positively in tune)?

The region around Dresden on the outer Eastern part of Germany (sort of on the edge) has been a legacy of invention, entrepreneurship, and futuristic minds. What has driven it that far? Back in the days of August the Strong it was the urge to rise to intellectual and representative levels of the other kings and queens around Europe.

Dresden became the 'Florence of the Elbe' (Elbflorenz), not just because of the light, and the hilly mountains resemble the area around Florence in Italy, but due to the arts that are to be found at large here in the area. This reaching from one of the most remarkable opera houses, the Semperoper, to world-known museums, and not as quite as prominent in the general visibility: being a place of cutting edge technology, and science.

A few years back when Infineon (formerly Siemens) decided to catch upon the legacy of microelectronics that played a major part since 1961 in Dresden with Werner Hartmann setting the start.  Quickly other institutions followed in now making Dresden, known as Silicon Saxony, Europe's most buzzing science, and research hotspot on fields like nano, bio, mobile computing, in short, all fields that are driven by the effects of 'Moore's Law'.

What makes Silicon Saxony different from Silicon Valley?

Dresden in itself is already a microcosm representing the "world in a nutshell", neatly following the bends of the river Elbe the city spreads along roughly 20 km, and 5 - 10 km in broad. Instead of needing a car, the public transport system with Dresdener Verkehrsbetriebe AG running a 24-7-service (one of the few in the world) being its mobility backbone, or just take the bike.

Arts, science, and technology meet within the city limits constantly and create a state of serendipity as the interview between Kai Simons and William Forsythe in "Mental Leaps" (page 7 ff.) show. But that is just the beginning. The rising discussion about installing free public WiFi around Dresden, via various approaches, is giving new positive impulses to create a worldwide acknowledged hotspot of Abundance bringing citizens' creative power into being.

What doubts and reservations do you have on this idea?

What is the story you keep telling about the problems of this community (Dresden)?

Where do you see Dresden in five years time (all odds positively in tune)?

Science & Technology in Performing Arts - OLEDine

During the 7. Silicon Saxony Days on June 27th, 2012 Prof. Jörg Rainer Noennig and his team of the Center for Knowledge Architecture of the TU Dresden provided the Science Speed Dating.

At the end a thrilling project that may lead to further projects facilitated by HTxA scouts Ralf Lippold & Angela Incampo was presented with Dr. Michael Scholles, Fraunhofer IPMS.

See for yourself, at FlickR.

For more pictures of the day-long event see Silicon Saxony FlickR set 

© OLEDine copyright by HTxA

PS.: How something could look like see here (however not suitable for ballet dance)

Mitteldeutschland 2023 - (Colorful) Fruits of Small Changes Today

The above is the title of the pitch at the Leipzig Elevator Pitch Night back in 2008. The speaker was covered with sweat, and the audience (200 people from business, education, politics, and English speakers all along) frowned their heads - BUT ONE.

Klaus Wurpts, back then head of Wirtschaftsinitiative Mitteldeutschland, asked the speaker for a personal conversation. "What has been your intention? What is the idea behind what you told in the elevator?"

The answer of the guy, "I have seen the impossible become possible, the new BMW Plant in Leipzig was erected in the shortest time, half the workforce, at least of the same quality as the other plants, and even faster ramping up - it was all done by the people of the region of Mitteldeutschland! So my vision is: providing the infrastructure so individuals can strive to their inner strengths, there will be an abundance of jobs, economic well-being, and joy of life."

Four and a half years later this guy still remembers the night in Leipzig where only a hint about an English workshop in one of the newsletters of the Wirtschaftsinitiative Mitteldeutschland caught his eye, he went, and he entered the competition, not knowing what would wait for him.

He only was deadly sure that if the others in the room could do it, he could do so as well, no matter what would come out. The least would be that his voice would be heard by more than one, and his dream would not be lost.

Colors of Choice

... get ready to  learn more about the upcoming Startup Accelerator! 

Accelerating, Based on a Seed, and a Network (Idea)

In 2008 Peter Senge's latest book "The Necessary Revolution" came out. It touched base, shortly before the economic meltdown due to the financial crisis, and the U.S. housing bubble, and the question "How individuals and organizations are working togehter to create a Sustainable World?" (actually this is the sub title of the book) arouse.

http://bit.ly/O4cL3R

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only think that ever has", said Margaret Mead. To which we would add, "Depending on their ability to build larger networks." ("The Necessary Revolution", page 225) - a quote that is ever so true today (despite immensely increased possibility of connectivity, knowledge flows across disciplinary boundaries).

2012 - Peter Diamandis (co-founder of ISU, Singularity University (with subtitling also in German, French, Greek, Japanese, Hungarian, ...), Planetary Resources, and initiator/ founder of X Prize Foundation) and Steven Kotler have written also a book with the title "abundance - THE FUTURE IS BETTER THAN YOU THINK".

In the note of the authors it reads on page x, "Moreover, the greatest tool we have for tackling our grand challenges is the human mind. The information and communications revolution now underway is rapidly spreading across the planet."

Should we have arrived at a turning point of time, where joint citizen action drives forward innovation, economic wealth, and creation of a sustainable future?

In Dresden this could be observed between the 11th of June till 20th of June 2012 with some single, not obviously connected, events that had a common demeanor - one, or more reappearing citizens who connected the events towards a broader picture, or in other words being part of the larger knowledge flow across boundaries.

2012-06-11 Kick-off World Forum of Universities of Resources on Sustainability - #WFURS on Twitter
2012-06-12 in the morning a personal visit to the local job center (unemployment agency), as I am currently on paid-job search
2012-06-12 attendance of press conference on #WFURS at Sächsische Landespressekonferenz, short chat with rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg Prof. Bernd Meyer
2012-06-14 attendance of 5th Dresden Future Forum together with Florian Vogelmaier, Angela Incampo, Sören Rogoll, Robert Schinner (DzWk e.V.),
2012-06-15 TU Dresden gains officially the status of an Excellence University
2012-06-16 (- 17th) Bunte Republik Neustadt also with Angela Incampo at Uschis Limobude (short video by Thomas Richter is yet to come) with a short visit after 4th MobileCamp Dresden
2012-06-16 (- 17th) attendance of 4th MobileCamp Dresden (sessions on #abundance [myself] ]and #quantifiedself [Florian Schumacher]) - #mcdd12
2012-06-18 arrival of Finnish teamentrepreneur Hanne Eskelinen from Team Academy in Dresden, 2nd visit to Dresden after 2008 visit to Hellerau with Iiro Koleimanen
2012-06-19 attending Dialogplattform at HTW Dresden as conference blogger, and being boundary spanner to connect Campua, Marco Dziallas, Career Service HTW Dresden,  - #DialogForum
2012-06-20 joint meeting with Hanne Eskelinen, Angela Incampo and members of the Mentoringnetwork of HTW Dresden

Now the question arises, "Why were these activities been brought together, and shared on various platforms?"

The answer perhaps is right in the words by Kevin Kelly, author of "What Technology Wants", in "Abundance" on page 237:

"For most of history , unique mix of talents, skills, insights, and experiences of each person had no outlet. If you dad was a baker, you were a baker. As technology expands the possibility space, it expands the chance that someone can find an outlet for their personal traits ... When we enlarge the variety and reach of technology, we increase options, not just for ourselves and not for others living, but for all generations to come."

.... should we be right in a knowledge singularity with an abundance of opportunities for individuals, citizens, entrepreneurs, researchers, managers, and students?

7th Silicon Saxony Day - Accelerating Towards The Future?

At the fomer site of Qimonda in Dresden on the edge of the Dresdner Heide the 7th Silicon Saxony Day is currently taking place. The topic is the current state, and future outlook of the regional high-tech cluster Silicon Saxony, and the microelectronics economy in general in the region, and beyond.

The press talk at 11am GMT+2 stood under the topic "Will Clusters be the Technology Companies of the Future?" with representatives of four national cutting edge technology clusters at the podium. 

Rorbert Weichert, CEO of PR Piloten GmbH opened the press talk and led directly over to the panel directly.

Prof. Thomas Mikolajick, Cool Silicon Cluster  - Energy Efficiency Innovations from Silicon Saxony who gave a broad overview of the cluster's work since 2009. The named beneficials of it being the brand name, the larger network organisation, and most recently the initiative of Silicon Europe that is expected to accelerate from this autumn on.

Walter Birkhan - Airbusinesscluster Metropolregion Hamburg talked about the relevance of the cluster in an ever increasing air traffic (5% p.a. worldwide) and the challenges of having two Global Players (Airbus, Lufthansa) on board. He also mentioned that it took six years to build up the trust amongst its stakeholders, and the necessary networks. Efficient Airport 2030 (only in German) being one of the major projects currently under way.

Stephan Witt - BioEconomy Cluster a pretty new cluster focusing on the use of non-food biomass.

Dr. Peter Frey - SolarValley pointing out the future opportunities despite the present challenges in the global solar market as the cost of solar PV cells are decreasing exponentially (via "Abundance - The Future is Better Than You Think").  Currently the solar branche is in a situation where production exceeds demand by 100% which gives power to even more accelerating decrease of prices, and the rise of new producers in Asia. 

As Mr. Witt outlined it should be so that solar power should take the energy lead, and biomass re-use should more and more find its way in replacing fossil fuels in the chemical industry.

Finishing off it became clear to all in the room that the challenges of the decreasing funding schemes (especially for Eastern Germany) will drive new forms of cooperations, even though as Prof. Mikolajick pointed out it is the hope that funding will still flow, or at least reorganized in the future. The positive effects of the clusters will more become self-accelerating positive economic impact due to the closeness of its involved partners as Mr. Witt said. Which will be more than obvious for all that the region needs to become the breeding place of future global players.

Will this be the Abundance that is laid out in Peter Diamandis book? Or will iHub in Nairobi, Kenya, be one other role model of future citizen-based hotspots based on information technology, trust, and collaboration, as described in KPMG's High Growth Markets (from page 32 on)?

Copyright: own

Update 2012-07-13 Article in Sächsische Zeitung, 2009-05-23 which points to the back then and current need, connectors being able to span across between academic research to SME in the region as Hartmut Fiedler, Managing Director of VSW back in 2009, now Secretary of State for Economics, Work, and Traffic of Free State of Saxony, is pointing out.

Update: 2012-07-18 Cluster können Technologiekonzerne nicht ersetzen (Heiko Weckbrodt, DNN)

Gaining Momentum Towards the Knowledge Singularity

It must have been February this year when IEEE Technology Time Machine (a three-day conference on technologies beyond the year 2020) reached my awareness. Information technology being the main topic, I already envisioned an accelerated buzz on the local media, and beyond - Dresden being one of the major hotspots in emerging technologies within the European Community. The activity on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ being pretty low, yet not unexpected, as the worldwide engineering community around IEEE has members, engineers, who are certainly not that active on social networks.

http://bit.ly/OrbitingFrogDotComBlackHole

So, by good chance I got the opportunity to cover the event live. I did so mainly on Twitter using the hashtag #IEEETTM, and I certainly was not the only one (see Slideshare presentation). During and after the conference there was little to no local activity. "Could it be the English language that held back contributors?" - was my question immediately coming to mind.

Mid-June, there appeared the next conferences in the high-tech context happening in Dresden. And another surprising phone call got me invited as official blogger in residence for the Kick-off of the World Forum of Universities of Resources on Sustainability at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg (the world's oldest mining university). Best time to check on the above research question, this time 90% of the participants from none-German-speaking countries. The hashtag #WFURS going to the East coast of the U.S. 

Again not much activity during (astonishing, as the free WiFi-connection was given to all participants) the event, and even less afterwards - despite the fact that the 63rd Research Forum followed directly after the World Forum.

The observed phenomenon accelerated the urge to dig deeper whether we have already a kind of  Information Singularity, where overburdening (seemingly) conferences and social media activities are kicking people's awareness of what is going on in the region completely off. Traditional media, with a strong urge of control and journalistic professionalism slowing down the flow of knowledge, that totally new, and unpredicted behavior of the actors in the system happen. A "Black Hole" of information, and knowledge overflow?

A more than interesting research question to follow up - stay tuned.

2012-07-05 Update: Social Media is the Glue of Innovation via game changer Charles van der Haegen

Future of Science & Research Funding

Due to the current turbulent discussions, activities, and movements around the globe it becomes evident that the present forms of financing are outdated in times that are accelerating so fast that as soon as the funding is right, the business model has changed already.

A year back in time, a dear FB friend from California, Michael Herrler, initiated a crowdfunding approach for scientific research, NextGenCrowd. An interesting project, even though it by now has not managed to get either larger attractiveness by the stakeholders, or real impact on the scientific research (worldwide).  At present times lots of scientific research is financed by public funding via grants. These arrangements are time consuming, and often take quite a chunk of researcher's daily work, which certainly could be more effectively used in their main work domain. 

Especially constrained are efforts of research-based spin-offs that on one hand depend on their main enabler, the education institution their makers come from, and the public domain of funding. In Germany, and especially the Eastern parts (formerly GDR) quite a thriving science community could be built up over the past 20 years. Now with the European Community extending towards even more Eastern countries the current funding will go down significantly, and funding will be mostly given in the future to technology-related work.

Which future paths may come when the questions are on the table, "How do we monetarize our research findings by getting a viable startup up, and going?"- "Will the efforts of networking across disciplinary boundaries be supported, and which ways?"

What are the possible future funding schemes currently hidden by our "blind spot" (individually and collectively)?

Some examples of new ways of funding are (and more on Crowdnavigator itself):

Crowdnavigator - a quite new crowdfunding matchmaking platform - seems to open new paths of collaboration to give new answers to the questions above.

Seedmatch (currently in German only) - a Dresden-based crowdfunding platform could also be a valuable source for technology-based startups to check out for funding

Credits go to Philippe Greier making the connection on Facebook (a case of serendipity)

Bridging Across Boundaries, Technologies, and Cultures

"What role will social networks, and its underlying technologies play in the time beyond 2020, and today?" - this question should stick over the course of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Technology Time Machine on 23rd to 25th, May 2012 in Dresden. "During the panels, they will engage in an interdisciplinary dialogue, discussing the consequences of these new technologies on human society and how those technologies can contribute t,o solving great global challenges." [quoted from IEEE / TU Dresden Media Information 3/12]

Day 3 of #IEEETTM 2012 Dresden

Reflecting on the event with a picture of the last session by IEEE President Gordon Day envisions already #IEEETTM 2013 in Seattle, very much gives a sense from where IEEE Technology Time Machine has come from, it started in Hong Kong in 2011, and has accelerated in Dresden.

At its 1st birthday, it seems that Dresden could not compare with buzzing multicultural Hong Kong as the place of action. Don't get yourself wrong at this first impression. This culturally rich city of well over 500.000 inhabitants on the meadows of the River Elbe is largely based on the artifacts like Semperoper, Zwinger, Residenzschloss, or Deutsches Hygienemuseum. Yet the technology and science legacy of the city can't be underrated. An impressive overview of the various technology fields, Dresden is exceptionally strong in, can be found at '"Dresden is more technological"' (English/ Deutsch).

Sparked by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Fettweis, Vodafone Chair Mobile Communications Systems, Technical University Dresden, emerged the vision of making the "hidden champion" of emerging technologies within Europe the place of the 2nd IEEE Technology Time Machine. The event itself focused on what's achievable with technology beyond 2020, and it fits this year perfectly into the official motto of the City of Dresden "Dresden - City of Art and Science", and the  first private cargo mission to the International Space Station (ISS) by SpaceX one day prior to the symposium' start on Wednesday.

Well over 200 attendees, and speakers from the corporate world, C-level executives, and emerging leaders such as YFEL members of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology met right downtown Dresden amongst the cobblestone roads of the past, viewing into the future.

All seemed very well organized, free WiFi-access for attendees in the conference rooms, Dresden - Magazine of the Capital of Saxony - Brilliant Moments in Arts and Science [the magazine is not available in the digital form presently] on the registration desk, and a pretty decent on-time agenda welcomed the future aware crowd on Wednesday morning. Due to the fact that the Hilton Hotel still asks for 17 € p.d. using their contracted provider's WiFi connection the technicians had set up a local WLAN network with LTE technology at the conference level, which after some initial difficulties ran flawlessly over the course of the conference.

Prof. Dr. Hans Müller-Steinhagen, Rector of the Technical University of Dresden, kickstarted the symposium with his presentation focusing on the alliances of academics, and industry to tackle the global challenges of the future. "Global challenges need global co-operations!", was his clear message to the audience. Focusing on multi-alliances through new concepts on how we communicate, resembling the internet itself, as the example he mentioned, the 'Pirate Party' drew out.

He namely mentioned 4 examples present in the region of Dresden (1) DRESDENconcept, (2) Dii, (3) Cool Silicon, and (4) "Region of Knowledge" (program by the European Commission to draw clusters tighter together). Ambitious projects to drive broader implementation of exponentially accelerating information technology which will greatly benefit from the potentially available entrepreneurial power of the region, which has held the "unique spirit" for centuries, even through the GDR-times, and the current financial, and economic turmoil that has hit so many regions of the world. Shall it be possible to set the four projects on "entrepreneurial fire?"

A question that resided in the mind till the next session by Jakob van Zyl, Associate Director of Project Formulation and Strategy at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA. He beautifully put it to the point during his presentation at the session 'Collective Intelligence', "Funding agencies do a bad job of what they are doing to the public. Those kinds of things we have to do a better job!". Hearing these words from a NASA engineer, and the director himself is not just astonishing, it opens the mind to what is possible to achieve putting the strengths of the different stakeholders in an elegant way together. A prominent figure and lately in the news is Peter H. Diamandis, founder of X Prize Foundation, co-founder of Singularity University (a university, founded in 2008, focusing on exponentially accelerating information technologies to solve humanity's grand challenges which are actually based at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California)). He has shown over the years that the co-operation with NASA, and other space agencies since 1986 has an immense impact. Back then he founded together with Bob Richards and Todd Hawley the ISU (International Space University) which is now headquartered in Strasbourg, France (as the result of a global competition). In other words, the combination of academics, industry, and passionate individuals, as the three graduate students back then represented, are the fuel to exceptional outcomes.

by @IEEETTM

From Thursday morning on the activity on Twitter accelerated up to unimagined heights, almost feeling like being at one of those tech-orientated bar camps, unconferences like Re:publica or Mobile Camp Dresden, where different media forms make the ongoing discussions available to all conference attendees.

The comparison of #IEEETTM to events like Re:publica, should, even more, play a role during the upcoming press conference around mid-day.

Following the so-called hashtag #IEEETTM on Twitter, one could find most interesting comments, links, or quotes from within the sessions, also by some of the speakers themselves such as Joe Weinmann (more storified coverage of the symposium on Slideshare).

by @IEEETTM

The press conference, organized by PR Piloten (now under the name WeichertMehner), one of the local communication partners of IEEE Technology Time Machine 2012, was well served also by local newspaper representatives. After the short overview of the intent of the event, Roberto de Marca, Executive Chair,  laid out the current achievements due to it (the first four on the list beside). Maurizio Dècina, General Chair, stated the general goal of the new event series, "listen to all the voices - to learn about what is going on". After that, the room was open for questions from the press body. One of the questions that came up by a representative by Technology Review was, 'What is the reason there had not been presented hot new technologies during the sessions, and secondly why the event is not a buzzing as the Re:publica in Berlin which attracts thousands of geeks, speakers, general public?'

What became quite clear was that engineers, as much as scientists, and researchers are in general, not the social network geeks, rather focused on getting the work done, finding technical solutions for pressing challenges. As shown here in Dresden, everybody was invited to join the conversation on Twitter, and learn from this experience, and after-conference reflections by all stakeholders. Without trying out new ways in a culture that is by far, and traditionally not as outgoing as marketing, and design folks are they won't come newly into the world - and the IEEE Technology Time Machine team certainly dared to take this next step into the future together with all stakeholders, attendees, and parties involved.

As Jakob van Zyl coined it to the point in his session, hours prior to the press conference, "We need the people in the middle that straddle the science and the business."

Artists by any means, whether painters, writers, or in the performing arts fields like Semperoper Ballett, and The Forsythe Company, that are both based in Dresden building on the rich technology, cultural, and arts legacy, are predominately prepared to play the "straddle" or "boundary spanning" role between science, and business. The Motion Bank project by William Forsythe capturing the choreographic and dancing legacies by technological means may open future opportunities to bring new emerging technologies into a new context, and build applications, services, etc. around it. Another connection string between art, and technology was laid out by István Simon, and Boglárka Hatala who work in a joint project initiated by Semperoper Ballett, and Technical University Dresden, especially on the question of how artistic creativity can be brought to scientific research fields to ignite hidden puddles of individual, and group creativity [the interview has been filmed by IEEEtv; parts of it will be available at a later time].

To wrap up on this most amazing conference in the center of Dresden, on the edge of Germany here four short questions, and answers:

1. What was good? Another terrific technology event based in Dresden, social network connection across boundaries, available WiFi, technology visionaries passionately talking about their work
2. What was tricky? Unstable WiFi due to unexpected usage, three days not enough, pre-conference social media activity low
3. What have I learned? Engineering communities are tapping into the power of social networks, a "damn question" can lead to profound change in behavior ("What is the official hashtag for the conference? Can you apply official info on it in some way?" on Wednesday, skyrocketing use of Twitter from Thursday morning on), boundary spanning/ straddle science, and business is not yet a common thing
4. Next action? Putting together a slideshow with tweets that were relevant during the three days from attendees, speakers, organizers, and others [to be found on Slideshare in a few days time], connecting with Amplifyfestival 2013

Updates on #IEEETTM in the press [some of the given links don't work any longer, probably to server shifts, website changes or else]:

- IEEE Spectrum
- Technology Review (via Heise; Germany)

- Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten (Germany)
- Computer-Oiger (AKA Heiko Weckbrodt; Germany)
- BINUS University
- IEEE Spectrum (USA)
- Uni UAE (United Arab Emirates)
- Neustar.Insights (USA)
- EE Times (Christoph Hammerschmidt; Germany)
- News Nepal (Nepal)
- Produktion (Germany)

Abundance Is Ready for Us

Ten years ago, a summer in Dresden, the "Black Swan" of an overnight flooding of the City of Dresden set off the creative minds in the city to act upon a bigger purpose: saving the precious legacy of the past.

Technology played a huge role in the first days to get organized within non-existing organizational structures (the city-owned computer center had been flooded completely over night in those days).

Now in 2012 the memories are fading, only when heavy rain is announced the past comes into mind of the citizens, especially when you live close by the river. Since this time however accelerating exponential technologies have become a major economic driver for the city' prosperity. And yet there seems to be not much visibility of what is "cooking" here.

In order to change that, I have applied to Singularity University's 2012 Graduate Studies Program (back in 2011 I had a seat, yet no fundings) and I am constantly knitting together the dots in my various networks to create awareness, support, financial backing, and most of all interest of local institutions, and people in the region who also see the vast chances of what Saxony and its people can create (not just for them) for society at large.

BlueFuture2012 - "What is outspoken is possible!" as Yadegar Asisi yesterday at Panometer Dresden said! It sounds for me a bit weird to ask you for support on making this vision a reality in 2012. Please visit my blog covering the small, yet growing steps towards the goal of making Dresden by 2015 Europe's most acknowledged tech and art hotspot, creating #abundance.

The Back Channel Value of Giving

Please feel free to add/ comment. Thanks a lot for your support/ input in this little poll, which will help me to understand your needs better and adjust my offers at #GSP12 at Singularity University this summer.
What would you expect in return for (if the person in question is attending a 10-week summer course at one of the viable tech hotspots on earth):


10 $
50 $
100 $
200 $
400 $
800 $
1,600 $
3,200 $
6,400 $
?

A Thrivable World in Which Heretics are THE Asset

"These days, the greatest asset that heretics have is that there are so many of them. They exist in every organization, balancing the imperative to do good works with imperative to keep their jobs and keek earning a living. Their greatest dream is to bring their work lives in tune with their personal hopes and dreams. Perhaps a corporation exists, in the end, precisely for its heretics.Perhaps in the long run is to help people expand their souls and capabilities by providing venues within which people can try things on a large scale--to succeed and fail and thereby change the world."

- The Age of Heretics (page 320), Art Kleiner, Editor-in-Chief Strategy+Business

Thrivability: A Collaborative Sketch

View more presentations from Jean Russell

Dennis Meadows' Thoughts Towards Abundance: HOPE

Dennis Meadows, systems thinker and co-author of "Limits to Growth" giving a most insightful lesson around change, in small and large. Especially his last 10 min are leading towards what is possible what "Abundance" by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler

(thanks to Michael J. Trout, founder of Foundups Corp. for this tip on Facebook)

2009 Commemorative Lecture: Dennis L. Meadows

..... when out of the blue things change

A miracle - what patience, and persistence make possible

.... living networks are all! (via Bert-Ola Bergstrand)

Dancers in a World of Abundance

.... we are all dancers in the wilderness of the world. Nine slides to think, and act!

 

 Created by change maker friend @HeleneFinidori, whom I met at Gathering11 in Melbourne in June 2011.

Bridging the Gulf - Creatives with Policy Makers

Nigel Cameron, whom I had the pleasure to meet at AMPlifyfestival 2011 last June in Sydney, with great folks on his panel.

General question that comes up: in which way can the "super-fast" innovators, VCs get along with the policy makers?

Whom do you know in #SiliconSaxony's policy arena who is innovative, open-minded, and in an appropriate position to discuss some future concrete concepts on the educational, and high-tech future of Saxony?

2012 - Innovation and Entrepreneurship

With the first day of the year 2012 coming slowly to an end here in Dresden (another five hours to go ;-)), my thoughts race back to late 2008 when I decided not to work for a consulting firm, rather venture out on my own. Coming from an engineering family (with roots in tailoring, and shoemaking), my mind seems to find new opportunities to create new business ideas, and ease the constraints in given business processes (almost unstoppable, as former bosses had to find out).

Copyright: http://antjelippold.com

So after a visit to a really strange business school with no teachers, only a head coach, and a couple of coaches, up in Finland it became clear to me that I am by far not the only "crazy one", and that it needs the appropriate environment to let geniuses shine their hidden capabilities.

Since those days, I read and write, reflect, and act more than in the decades before when I often was forced to be a "cog in the system" yet nothing could really stop my desire to make the world (around me) a better place, step by step (preferably small (!) ones, yet continuously).

"Innovation and entrepreneurship are thus needed in society as much as in the economy, in public-service institutions as much as in businesses. It is precisely because innovation and entrepreneurship are not "root and branch" but "one step at a time," a product here, a policy there, a public service yonder; because the are not planned but focused on this opportunity and that need; because they are tentative and will disappear if they do not produce the expected and needed results; because, in other words, they are pragmatic rather than dramatic and modest rather than grandiose - that they promise to keep any society, economy, industry, public service, or business flexible and self-renewing. They achieve what Jefferson hoped to achieve through revolution in every generation, and they do so without bloodshed, civil war, or concentration camps, without economic catastrophe, but with purpose, with direction, and under control."

Quoted from Peter F. Drucker, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 1986, p. 254