Innovation is a complex process that requires creativity and talent, as well as infrastructure, long-term investment and a truly effective merit-based system of incentives: these were the watchwords at this event to launch the latest issue of Aspenia. Indeed, it was observed that for a society to be innovative in the twenty-first century world, it must have the scope and ability to combine scientific research with applied technology, thereby transforming ideas into products or services that are useful from a market perspective. From the pharmaceutical industry to the agricultural and telecommunications sectors, long lead-times often exist before advanced the fruits of “cutting-edge” research reach consumers on a large scale, thus impacting directly on the wellbeing of individuals and society as a whole. It is therefore essential to ensure a strict nexus between the theoretical and laboratory phases and the application and production stage.
It was further suggested that the ideal conception of science (which sees it as operating in the service of society and progress) and its application in the pursuit of profit are not inevitably incompatible, but rather can work in perfect harmony, as is demonstrated for instance by the phenomenon of “techno-philanthropy”. More broadly speaking, the intellectual passion and vitality that must necessarily characterize advanced scientific and research sectors require favorable conditions that need to be engendered at several levels, namely, in the institutional and legislative, and the public and private arenas. In particular, a properly functioning academic sphere is key to ensuring merit-based rewards and interdisciplinary exchange.
Equally indispensable is opening up to the rest of the world, especially so as to ensure the circulation of ideas and information, as well as the adoption of established best practices.
Another aspect identified as being of particular importance, and thus far problematic for Italy, was how the possibility of failure is handled – including business failure. It was seen as arguable, after all, that the freedom to fail forms part of the freedom of enterprise. Business risk, in other words, is an integral part of the functioning of the market, but it should not destroy the future chances of those (often small businesses) that have embarked on innovative ventures not resulting in immediate success.
It was also noted that innovation is a multiplier of productivity, and as such is crucial in the mix of factors required to steer a course out of crises. The phase currently being experienced is not merely one of cyclical crisis but also of systemic change, thus entailing a fortiori that it is “technological leaps” which will provide the necessary impetus for recovery and for the development of a new economic order. Predicating efforts on innovation was deemed a sensible counter-crisis strategy, also taking into account the glaring problem of the shortage of certain non-renewable resources at a global level and the pressure this is creating on the price and availability of a number of commodities.
Against this backdrop, the fact that Italy invests less financial resources in research than the European average (which, in turn, is lower than that for other advanced regions or countries), and that the trend points to a further decline, was viewed as alarming.
In an increasingly competitive global environment which sees new emerging economic powers making greater headway in innovation rankings, it is not only crucial for Italy to boost its scientific capabilities, through reform of its education system and centers of excellence (including via the rationalization and amalgamation of existing institutions), but also to make more efficient use of homegrown human resources, that often end up securing career opportunities abroad, thereby determining a low “return” on the investment made by Italy in their education and training. Additionally, in recent years, the country has lost its advantage in important product sectors, in part because of its low level of investment in innovation. It was thus stressed, in conclusion, that given the global changes in course which are set to affect all mature economies, it is essential for Italy to put itself in a position of being able to seize the opportunities that technology can offer, and make its presence felt in leading-edge markets.
