Barrett: Innovations and Technology as the Lifeblood of the Modern Economy

Craig Barrett, Chairman of Intel Corporation, called on the technology industry and all countries of the world to “innovate and invest” in order to stimulate economic development and address global challenges.

Describing innovation and technology as “the lifeblood of the modern economy,” Barrett stated before attendees at CeBIT 2009 that investments in information and communication technologies will contribute to economic prosperity during the digital transformation that the world is currently undergoing. “There are three areas in which individual countries can refine themselves to increase competitiveness,” Barrett said while opening the world’s largest specialized technology fair. He added that investing in quality education produces smart people.

“Investing in research and development creates smart ideas. Ultimately, it is necessary to create the right environment in which smart people will develop smart ideas. Such steps would stimulate economic development, job creation, and the creation of opportunities, including future collaboration between the private sector, government, and academic circles,” Barrett said. Barrett’s conclusions are based on observations he gathers by visiting more than thirty countries annually as a “technology ambassador” and as the chairman of the UN’s global alliance for information and communication technologies and development. Countries that wisely invest in technology are better equipped to tackle such challenges, Barrett stated, while it is increasingly likely that countries that neglect and postpone such investments will find themselves in a worse position globally. “In the current global economic situation, it is more important than ever to think long-term. Today we can lay the foundations for growth. Many countries and companies are trying to pull themselves out of recession through savings. It is much better to pull out through investments,” Barrett continued. He believes that investing in new ideas and inventions not only stimulates the creation of new jobs but also enhances productivity, creates new forms of energy and smarter ways of consuming energy, improves healthcare and medicines, and offers customers more benefits for less money.

Barrett emphasized the need for investment in education, which is the foundation of a strong economy, especially today, as developed countries transition from manufacturing societies to knowledge-based societies. He added that developing countries can also leverage this foundation by promoting the use of computers, the Internet, and other technologies in education so that young people are prepared to compete for jobs in the 21st century. Investments in education are particularly necessary due to the fact that, according to Barrett, more than 75 million school-age children in developing countries do not attend school and need help to get educated. Barrett highlighted that one of the most successful ways Intel invests in education is through the Intel® Teach program, which trains teachers on integrating technology into the curriculum to improve the quality of learning and teaching.

To date, more than one million teachers in Europe have undergone training as part of the Intel Teach program. In Germany alone, half of all teachers have completed training under this program, which is available in all German states, and 89 percent of teachers reported that thanks to this training, they now use technology in teaching. “There is no better investment than in quality people and quality ideas,” Barrett told attendees at CeBIT.

He also added that public-private partnerships are key to finding solutions and tackling global challenges. CeBIT, held for the 23rd consecutive year, is the largest conference in the world showcasing solutions for the information technology and telecommunications sectors. It is expected that exhibitors from more than 75 countries will participate in this six-day event, attracting nearly half a million visitors from around the world. (M.N.)