The New Dynamics of Multinational Innovation: The Challenges and Opportunities Posed by China and India March 10, 2008

Chair:
• Professor Jaideep Prabhu, AIM Innovation Fellow and Director of Research, Tanaka Business School, Imperial College London.

Speakers:
• David Tyfield, Research Associate, Demos.
• Priti Elahi, Director, R&D Business Projects, GSK.
• Clive Harris, Distinguished Engineer, Chief Innovation Officer, GTS, IBM.
• Omkar Joshi, Head of Innovation, Reuters.
• Mehmood Khan, Global Leader of Innovation, Unilever.

Event Description:

Recent evidence suggests that multinational firms are increasingly locating their innovation activities not so much in the triad nations of North America, Western Europe, and Japan as in emerging economies such as China and India. A recent survey of multinational R&D found that 22% of all new R&D centres to be developed between 2006 and 2009 will be in China and 19% in India. The figures for the US, Western Europe, and Japan are 19%, 13%, and 5%. This phenomenon raises a number of questions with profound consequences for governments and firms worldwide.

The trends mentioned above reflect the many opportunities now available to tap resources and markets throughout the world. Yet locating innovation in foreign countries also raises significant challenges for multinationals. Managers of firms are keen to understand how to manage the challenges along with the opportunities posed by doing innovation in China and India. Likewise, policy makers are keen to understand the consequences of these trends for the long term competitiveness of their home economies. The lecture will be followed by drinks and light refreshments and offer the opportunity for networking and continuing discussion.

Official Website: http://www.aptn.org.uk/80310%20Chindia%20Innovation.html