The mission of Going Global is to educate and inform Midwest technology companies on what local technology companies are doing internationally so other firms can learn from the successes of like-minded peers.
CHICAGO – Before we get back into new interviews, let’s finish off 2004 by catching up with a couple interviewees from 2004 who had some interesting travels by the end of the year.
RPX Group’s Robert Okabe
MM: I understand you went to Russia recently. Who did you talk to and on what topics?
 RO: I was invited to St. Petersburg to speak to a group of Russian university technology transfer managers. The conference was sponsored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF). Other speakers included experts from the U.S., England, Scotland, Germany and France.
Each of us discussed the opportunities and challenges of commercializing technologies developed by research institutions in our markets. There was a lively discussion including our Russian counterparts after each presentation, which was facilitated by the moderators and the use of simultaneous translation (e.g. everyone wore headsets like at the United Nations).
MM commentary: As I assume most of you are aware, the OECD is one of the premier organizations in economic development in the world. To be invited to speak at one of their events is quite an honor.
MM: What did you learn while you were there? How will you use that knowledge?
RO: Technology transfer managers face many of the same issues in every part of the world. The major differences revolve around the magnitude of the challenges and their relative priority. Sharing solutions and processes has significant value. It will take a while to see how [we] will create value out of the insights and contacts I was able to develop.
MM commentary: The problem with participating in any non-profit association event (even one sponsored by the OECD) is how to leverage the experience. Yes, it’s great to meet high-powered people, but it’s not until you figure our how to work with them that it becomes really valuable.
MM: Why make the trip?
RO: In Chicago, we understand but are not always effective at getting the message out to the technology and investment communities that we have great people and ideas. It would be hypocritical to assume that people in other countries and markets can’t teach us new things as well (kind of like the pot calling the kettle black).
MM commentary: Here’s to publicizing Chicago’s entrepreneurs to the world and recognizing that we can learn from others as well.
MM: What’s in it for you and your group?
RO: The opportunity to acquire new and unique knowledge about technologies and commercialization strategies was by itself well worth the trip. I also met a number of people who will be great resources to RPX Group and the Chicago community.
MM: Are you or is RPX considering working in Russia?
RO: If the opportunity arises, it would be great. The commute would be tough.
MM commentary: Obviously, technology can make the commute moot.
MM: I also saw that you were a judge at the Thunderbird Global Innovation Challenge (my alma mater) in November.
RO: I was flattered to be asked and really enjoyed the experience.
MM: What did you think of the presentations you saw there?
RO: The Global Innovation Challenge was a different type of business plan competition. A number of major corporations created the challenges. They were business opportunities based on their real goals. Teams were assigned one of these “cases” and created a business plan for it. Viewing a number of proposals based on the same problem was unique and interesting.
MM commentary: This is a new event organized by Thunderbird. I took the first entrepreneurship class at Thunderbird almost 20 years ago. Thunderbird is quite an entrepreneurial school. Many of the typical M.B.A. recruiters visit Thunderbird (just as many Thunderbird graduates go into business on their own) both in the U.S. and their respective home countries.
MM: How were you chosen to judge this competition?
RO: Barry Moltz was one of the final round judges.
International Engineering Consortium’s John Janowiak
Michael Muth: How did the Euro DesignCon event go in Germany in October 2004?
John Janowiak: We were extremely pleased with the first Euro DesignCon. It exceeded our expectations from a participation standpoint and we made a number of new friends in Europe and Germany especially. We know this will help next year’s conference be an even greater success.
Whenever you unveil a conference internationally, there will always be a certain amount of “wait and see” from local participants. Euro DesignCon was no different. We met many people who, after they saw the quality of the event, were eager to be part of the 2005 conference. We’re looking forward to being back in Munich in October 2005 for the second Euro DesignCon.
MM commentary: I lived and worked in Munich for a couple years. It is the Silicon Valley of Deutschland. Maybe I’ll check it out later this year.
MM: Should Chicagoans attend or want to know about the 21st Century Communications World Forum in London in February and the Broadband World Forum Asia in Yokohama, Japan at the end of May? Why?
JJ: The 21st Century Communications World Forum in London is a major educational conference and technology exhibition that will focus on the business and technology requirements of making IP communications a reality on a carrier scale.
There is no more pressing topic in telecom right now than delivering voice, data and video over the Internet. The IEC is glad to have the opportunity to provide industry professionals education and the opportunity to see the latest technologies and applications in this critical area. We are pleased to be working with British Telecom … in this special endeavor.
This will also be a major focus at the Broadband Word Forum Asia conference in Tokyo. The value of both of these conferences is that the major players in the telecom arena – carriers, vendors, suppliers and content people – will be there to exchange information, study business models and determine how to deal with the opportunities and challenges of the new digital networked economy.
The IEC's ability to act as a platform for industry and academia to keep current in the latest developments is what makes these conferences so valuable.
MM commentary: I’m not sure it’s worth it for those with small travel budgets to visit these events unless these countries and technologies are specific targets. For medium to large companies with interests or prospects in these areas, it could be well worth the trip.
MM: What kinds of international content will you be providing at SUPERCOMM in June at McCormick Place?
JJ: One of the hallmarks of IEC@SUPERCOMM has been its international lineup of speakers. This year will be no different. We will offer a global plenary panel on the first day featuring speakers from as diverse locations as Belgium, Australia, Japan, France and Korea.
In addition, we will once again welcome presenters from Canada, Europe and Asia who will be spread throughout the many educational programs at SUPERCOMM.
MM commentary: I attended the Enterprise Communications Consortium events and walked the show floor at SUPERCOMM last year. It is a major international trade show. I learned about technologies being developed in places I never would have expected and made some good contacts all over the world.
Michael Muth is managing director of GATA, an international business development consultancy that helps technology companies build international partnerships. He can be reached at mike@intlalliances.com.
Click here for Muth’s full biography.
Previous Columns:
Q&As: FastRoot’s Terry Howerton, Doug Cogswell of ADVIZOR Solutions (1/4/2005)
Q&A: Opportunity International’s John Kamperschroer on Partnerships (12/21/2004)
Q&A: Opportunity International’s John Kamperschroer on Technology (12/14/2004)
Q&A: Opportunity International’s John Kamperschroer on Innovative Financing (12/7/2004)
Q&A: IEC Senior Director John Janowiak on Trade Show Realities (11/16/2004)
Q&A: International Engineering Consortium Senior Director John Janowiak (11/9/2004)
Q&A: Founder John Lee of Chicago’s Hostway on Web Site Localization (11/2/2004)
Q&A: Founder John Lee of Chicago’s Hostway on Growing Globally (10/26/2004)
International M.B.A. Guide to Moore School of Business, Thunderbird (10/12/2004)
Your International M.B.A. Guide to Northwestern, Loyola University (10/5/2004)
Entrepreneur’s Guide to International M.B.A. Programs in Chicago (9/28/2004)
Q&A: Prairie Angels Founder Bob Okabe on Diction, International Cities (9/7/2004)
Q&A: Prairie Angels Founder Bob Okabe on International Adaptation (9/1/2004)
Q&A: Prairie Angels Founder Bob Okabe on Managing U.S. Subsidiaries (8/24/2004)
Q&A: Origin Ventures Founder Steven Miller on Investments, Angels (8/17/2004)
Q&A: Origin Ventures Founder Steven Miller on the Canadian Way (8/9/2004)
Q&A: CPCP Founder David Baeckelandt on Multilingual Importance, Mentoring (8/3/2004)
Q&A: CPCP Founder David Baeckelandt on Japanese Disclosure, Due Diligence (7/27/2004)
Q&A: Chicago Pacific Capital Founder David Baeckelandt on Overseas Funding (7/20/2004)
Q&A: ADVIZOR Solutions CEO Doug Cogswell on the Art of Partnering (7/13/2004)
Q&A: ADVIZOR Solutions CEO Doug Cogswell on BP, AstraZeneca Wins (7/6/2004)
Q&A: ADVIZOR Solutions CEO Doug Cogswell on Global Software (6/29/2004)
Q&A: CEO Terry Howerton on Why Chicago, Ukraine Made FastRoot (6/22/2004)
Q&A: FastRoot CEO Terry Howerton on Blended Chicago Approach (6/15/2004) E-Mail This Article to a Friend or Colleague
View in Printer-Friendly Format
|
