2thinknow are a vocal supporter of closer knowledge exchange between Australia and Germany, France & Austria within the broader European Union. Especially in the area of applied technology, science & collaboration.

After the recent CeBIT Asia-Pacific, I received a message from Jean-François Desvignes-Hicks, Executive Director of FEAST. Our view is that it is important to gather any data that supports increased German-Australian (and thus EU) research.

Increased co-operation will lead to further mutual economic opportunities & growth; growing the economic pie. And create mutual knowledge transfer. This is a view, on 2thinknow’s behalf that I have put to Ministerial Policy Advisers in Australia and given in speeches.

Assist with this Research.

FEAST (Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation - www.feast.org) were very pleased to have the recent visit of Dr Ursula Toyka, the head of the Asia-Pacific desk at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Australia.

Following this visit, DAAD would appreciate to increase the quality of information and consider providing additional support to further develop exchanges between Germany and Australia.

In order to consolidate and extend the Germany-Australia research network, DAAD needs to better profile the size of the population of German nationals teaching or conducting research in Australia.

FEAST and DAAD, are jointly asking our membership and the widest possible audience to complete a simple survey for all German citizens or residents currently working in Australia who are:

- Lecturers/scientists/academics

- Teach in the fields of German languages  and cultures

- Conduct research in any discipline (Natural sciences, Humanities, Social sciences)

• http://www.feast.org/germany/survey/
• Date: first results collected on 15th June 2009

Please complete the survey and email to any of your colleagues that fall in these categories. Outcomes from of the survey will condition the consolidation of the Australia-Germany research network.

The survey is totally anonymous, neither FEAST nor DAAD will collect any personal information. FEAST and DAAD will only collect and publish the overall results.

George Hall covered the Victorian bushfires and acted as information conduit via twitter & social media during the bushfires, and is active in twitter and social media in Melbourne. Twitter: @geehall1& Video Website geehall1.blip.tv

An Introduction…

I’d been on Twitter only a short few weeks when the bushfires occurred, but the day the fires started, my niece was in one of the danger areas (Churchill).  I remembered how handy Twitter had been in the Mumbai and Hudson River situations and got on it initially to get quick, relevant information that might help my niece.

After her situation was more under control after first week, I stayed on the twitter hashtags #bushfires and #vicfires to see if I could help thebroader community, not just my family.  Over the course of the  situation, I helped retweet messages from @cfa_updates, @774melbourne and others.

The more helpful, timely information flowing thru theTwitter situation the better.  Even ex-pats overseas kept up-to-date via our (collective) Twitter feeds.

Twitter is a Quick Conduit.

It’s a brilliant conduit for quick, early information, but does still need occasionally to look for confirmation of some things.

Even during the bushfires, one or two items had to be independently verified and it was sensible to still look for that sort of confirmation.

Where telecommunications are still up, it serves as a much quicker way to know there is a bushfire right in one’s area.  The first tweets about any fire are almost instantaneous, as long as you’ve got your computer or mobile phone app monitoring.  This is obviously quicker than any other news source.

Bushfire Region Reactions.

I actually haven’t heard much from actual fire victims/survivors, except for one of my regular Twitter correspondents.  Most of the reaction to my use of Twitter came from other people involved in the volunteer/emergency effort over Twitter.

@cfa_updates, thanked me for retweeting, and generally, other people I worked with on Twitter during the bushfire time generally thought I was doing a reasonable job.

But there were a lot of people who were doing the same thing on other hashtags, like @bootload over on #kinglake.  Special commendation to @retrogrrl for heaps of tweets regarding relief efforts, etc.

Twitter as Attention tool.

It got a lot of attention for relief efforts and appeals.  Twitter helped keep people like Stephen Fry informed (@stephenfry) and kept relatives and friends overseas apprised of the situation.

In terms of direct help, we still have to hear from people who might have picked up a helpful tweet from Twitter in the actual crisis areas.

One real problem with the fires was that a lot of telecommunications in some fire areas was out of action.

Twitter, in the future.

It opens up new ways of keeping in touch, of being aware of opportunities and important issues,  and even works great just for simple get-togethers.  In that way, it helps bring a community together.

Used positively, it’s quite handy and helpful.  And in time, we’ll think up even more ways to utilize it better for helping the community.  It’s limited only by the imagination of the user.

Thanks to George Hall for the above first-hand commentary on twitter & bushfires.

The 2thinknow View is that techology adoption as an innovation is driven by usefulness to our lives, in this case under trying conditions. In 2thinknow models we see innovation adoption as driven by end-user transparency on benefits. Find out more - contact us.

“The purpose of this club is a more open-source ethos club for Melbourne Innovation where the price of admission is ideas, and ideas alone! Race, Gender & Religion don’t matter. A more open, inclusive Generation X & Y club,” said, Christopher Hire, Executive Director of 2thinknow, Organizer of the Club.

“2thinknow call Generation X & Y the Creative Generation - far more positive & reflecting the inherent strength of this generation!” Hire continued.

“Often known as Club-land, Melbourne Establishment often is more interested in your school tie than how good you idea is! We think that America has proven the value of twitter, Social media, Crowdsourcing, Collaboration, Green Tech, Clean Energy, New Ideas, Web 2.0, and in general, INNOVATION!” said, Christopher Hire, Executive Director of 2thinknow, Organizer of the Club.

“The result of Establishment closed door to ideas? Increasing frustration of Generation X & Y being excluded from opportunity and new economic opportunities globally. Global opportunities, 2thinknow believe could be applied locally. Currently, economic benefit of local ideas goes offshore in frustration.”

In covering Melbourne’s Future Summit, social commentator Duncan Riley wrote on leading site Inquisitr (http://www.inquisitr.com) that “we had a lot of old, mostly white people… talk about what has been, and what is happening now.” - capturing much of the sentiment of the lack of opportunity for Generation X & Y to create change in the face of an entrenched views.

“2thinknow’s aim in organizing the Melbourne Innovation Club is to create a generational alternative for Generation X & Y Ideas people from Business, Government & Community to collaborate and change Melbourne,” Hire said. “From a smart business view, we are expanding the market for local innovation and thus 2thinknow products & services. US, Canadian, UK & EU businesses get it! Grow the market, grow the business. Innovation is in ALL our interest!”

About.

The Melbourne Innovation Club has a website: wwmelbourneinnovation.org and is on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/melbourneinnova).

And the Club will initially meet in the 2thinknow boardroom at Level 50, 120 Collins St starting June 15th 2009. And at various boardrooms, creative spaces, member offices and elsewhere around Melbourne.

Organizer, 2thinknow (http://www.2thinknow.com) provides Independent Innovation Analysis. To do this we benchmark & score Innovation Cities, monitor trends & identify Creative Companies. 2thinknow is based on a networked services model, a new type of business model, for a post-GFC world.

Executive Director of Innovation at 2thinknow, Christopher Hire overseas 2thinknow’s research since 2007. Hire has visited 42 cities in 3 years, and worked for 350+ organizations across Australia in analysis, consulting & training over 10 years. Bio: http://www.2thinknow.com/company/Executive-Director-Christopher-Hire.htm

Media or Sponsor? Media Contact:

Christopher Hire,
Executive Director of Innovation, 2thinknow
(Steering Committee Organiser, Melbourne Innovation Club)

Phone 2thinknow: +61 3 9225 5284

Twitter: @christopherhire

I was kindly invited to analyse innovations at the event as a guest of Jackie Taranto of Hannover Fairs, organizers of the Conferences & Exhibitions.

Some Coverage.

Tweets: Also my live tweeting (@christopherhire) attracted quite a lot of attention; especially as twitter-penetration not high in either the AusInnovation or eGovernment forums.

Radio: You can hear a CeBIT wrap-up from Ryan Egan producer of the TechStream Program; for of ABC Radio Australia. My innovation focused analysis is on the final 5 minutes of the MP3:

About ABC Radio Techstream and MP3

Media mentions: Many of the innovative themes & companies (like Daniel Draper’s Net Fox) that I discovered I will be mentioning in future interviews or media.

Articles: It was good to see some familiar faces; but also to meet new innovative stands. In a coming analysis, there will be a list of some innovations you may not yet have heard of.

Whilst there were many more; I selected a few that have global potential.

They will all be posted here where you are reading now: www.2thinknow.com/innovation

More in Print: In addition I’m working on some print magazine articles & a book; and will post here if any of those mention CeBIT themes, speakers & exhibiting innovators.

What’s Next…

My next article(s) will be the series 5 Key Themes for Business & Government from CeBIT.

If you’d prefer to listen: download the MP3 (last 5 minutes, though > I thoroughly recommend you listen to Ryan’s whole Techstream program on your mobile device!)

Hope this is a useful Executive Summary of CeBIT for you all!

It’s well known Internet provide us entertainment, cultural expression, facilitate friendships - and particularly important to remote areas - enable us to stay in touch with friends & family in country & internationally.

Remote Broadband Enables Innovation.

In developed countries, broadband in remote or rural areas can enable eGovernment services that supersede the paper forms & 1 hour drive to the nearest bank or post office. Today, I’m sitting in the audience of the eGovernment forum at CeBIT.

Particularly salient to ‘Rural Connectivity’ was Robert Schwarten of Queensland Government point about the Australian National Broadband Network enabling new business & consumer services to remote Queensland rural homesteads. Services that weren’t available 30 years ago.

He used as the example a remote homestead doing business via the internet with Caterpillar in the USA. Unthinkable but 30 years ago. Or at least, requiring a greater investment of time & effort to send & receive letters or telexes, increasing the time & cost.

Equally in US, Australian or other small towns, I have seen internet transform lives and provide a portal to the outside world - allowing those with big minds in small places some measure of reaching out.

Competitive Advantage.

As a national example, a world-class high-speed network National Broadband Network for Australia is an important tool that gives Australia a competitive advantage. Strategically, a redundant network to the existing national Telstra network is also important.

The degree to which any nation has a super-fast, ubiquitous internet, with reliable big-pipe connections that nation has a platform for innovation. Particularly significant is that in the 2thinknow models, this enables implementation of ideas & access to global markets from remote areas.

In short, super-fast internet reduces the costs of distance for remote regions worldwide.  This enables new global & local businesses to be created or expanded. Creating new economic growth.

(Also the internet provides information that may inspire ideas in an environment where idea-stimulus from magazines, arts, culture & interaction may be limited.)

2thinknow has a working model which explains the economic & other returns from innovation, such as broadband enabling. This provides a tool for others to argue for improving broadband or infrastructure.

There will also be losers. Some countries and regions within nations, will expand their competitive disadvantage by not having the necessary high-speed internet or reliable connections.

Pirates & Terrorists.

It’s often forgotten that technology that enables positive change, also enables negative change. The connectivity of the Somali pirates, and Afghan mountain terrorists has been a key weapon in their damaging effects on trade, business & society.

Of course, caution must be exercised, and strategically such enabling must be carefully considered in it’s ubiquity. In any technology there will be negative effects, often social.

The good news is that one negative often merely replaces another negative. The tool though can enable new negative behaviours. We hardly want better connected pirates, terrorists & drug-dealers. IP issues also abound, among various strategic issues that need further discussion to expand and mitigate.

Secure Networks.

Part of the security answer? Jack Cassidy of Bearing Point; and Dr Mark Anderson of DSTO would have pointed this out yesterday at AusInnovate. Separate, intensely non-political body, must monitor the security of the system.

And identity, perhaps partial, must be a part of any system. This must balance Privacy, Security & Performance - and must default to Open.

How of Internet?

In this there are 2 views. Cable (be it fibre-optic or copper) or Wireless. Of course there’s also satellite but that has further limitations.

Without examining it in depth, wired networks are the only reliable internet connection. Wireless is too easily impeded by obstacles; and should be the last resort.

2thinknow can develop & customise modelling tools that allow Government and Business to model the innovation benefits of Broadband; in economics & social terms.

In our view, super-fast wired internet provides regions with a competitive Innovation Advantage that enables them to advance above and beyond competing nations; and create a great degree of mid-term economic wealth.

For nations, for the next decades, success in super-fast broadband will make a large difference in Nation Innovation, economics and social desirability.

As Dr David Skellern, CEO of NICTA, later pointed out the collaboration required is not something Australia has been good at. I’d posit, that in any analysis, the size of the Australian market imposes some important constraints on Australian Innovation.

Enabling Innovation.

From a German viewpoint, Professor Dr Dieter Rombach, is giving a presentation on how to accelerate Open Innovation in ICT. In this case, enabled by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany (1 hour out of Frankfurt, down near Karlsruhe).

When I spoke with one of Senator Stephen Conroy’s advisers just prior to the 2007 election, I put to her that the 3 key planks of Innovation to be addressed for Australia were:

1) National Broadband Network (of which I was one of many voices)

2) Closer ties & exchange with Germany regarding ICT. [A point I repeatedly emphasized.]

3) Barcelona District 22 & similar - Government Start-Up Innovation Initiatives

In 2007-2008, prior to GFC, I presciently wrote a number of articles on related themes of Keynesian spending on infrastructure & nation-building. Keynesian provides trend support for a move towards Government enabling innovation.

It’s interesting to see that these ideas have bloomed. I wouldn’t presume to claim credit (especially given long-standing ties through CeBIT & NICTA), but I’m glad that the ideas are aligned with what 2thinknow viewed as strategic imperatives.

Particularly 2thinknow applaud the closer economic & research ties with German institutes & business. As independent innovation analysts, we see this, in our analysis, as strengthening innovation in both countries.

(Anecdotally, this has been the observation of many Germans in business & Gen Y Germans I speak with regularly).

Innovation Imperatives

For 2thinknow, I continue to research these forces. Here’s some related observations:

> Government & Universities must work together with commercial forces.

> They must enable bright innovators to come forward, without being stopped by innate conservatism.

> On the other hand, innovations only work when implemented & marketed. A good idea is not enough.

2thinknow have built a number of models to explain innovation.

But innovation faces different opposition in different nations; sometimes opposition strengthens; but more often it weakens. 2thinknow model can explain this process.

Support, Enable, Build.

Regardless Cities, States & National Governments need to support Innovators across all levels of business. Rather than waiting for a big firm to attach itself to the initiative.

That’s a lesson from today’s sessions, and my own observations in Europe & Silicon Valley 2005-2008.

With 22 Federal Government Agencies, fiefdoms, power-plays & control mechanisms abound. How to create change? How to collaborate?

Cassidy pointed towards some good answers.

Shared Services build collaboration.

Perhaps, in an analysis, the Innovation lies with Shared Services. This view was suggested in broad terms by Cassidy, as a key element in dealing across agencies. He also inferred that budgets remained decentralised.

(Budgets are often a centre of power, along with manpower & resources. Achieving co-operation can be difficult, when power is removed from decentralised entities.)

Cost - leading to unleashing innovation?

In this climate of high professional labour costs, and pressure on Government & Business spending — perhaps shared services represent an opportunity to:

1) Amalgamate non-core yet possibly critical operations

2) Establish low-key procedures for collaboration

3) Build structures for cross-silo collaboration

Shared Services enabling Innovation.

Are there more innovations shared services enable?

For sure there are downsides, but can efficiencies be gained from Shared Services, that enable reallocation of resources from admin/compliance/internal management to innovation?

Senator Conroy’s point was that technology, especially world-class infrastructure like National Broadband Network enables innovation. Building the network properly will create the world-class infrastructure to enable Australia to ‘punch above weight.

Enabling Innovation

Innovation Cities (the 2thinknow program for measuring & delivering innovation in cities) is based on ideas, implemented (largely, infrastructure) and with market access. Created prior to Conroy’s election - Innovation Cities - explains how innovation can be created in Cities. One third of this model is Implementation. Primarily that’s infrastructure.

The Wholesale/ Retail split, as understood, and’ fibre to home’ both align exactly with how 2thinknow see an Australian evolving as an ‘Innovation Nation’. Broadly, my professional view, the correct roles need to be allocated to Government & Markets.

Which is interesting given the following discussion.

Tension: Markets vs Government.

Conroy’s speech lead into the panel discussion; Narelle Clark (CSIRO ICT) is making a good point about ‘regulation’ ‘not killing innovation’. CSIRO, head honcho, Dr David Skellern initially raised regulation.

It’s almost a Government vs. Markets discussion. The tension has already started.

Probably productive as innovation occurs in tension between ‘regulation’ and ‘markets’.

But Narelle’s concern, paraphrasing, is not ‘killing innovation’ by over-thinking the framework. And not ‘over-engineering’ the aspects that belong in markets. David Skelton’s concern is seems to be ensuring that regulation supports a long-term network, in a technical view.

It’s an interesting question. Check out more or comment with your observation on twitter. http://twitter.com/christopherhire

(I’m here live-blogging about Innovation at AusInnovate Conference at CeBIT, at Darling Harbour in Sydney. )

This week I’ll be taking an opportunity to LiveBlog CeBIT - Ausinnovate Conference and eGovernment / Gov 2.0 Forum.

Liveblogging - Conference Game-Changer.

Liveblogging is commenting in real-time on speaking, and posting webresources - live conference interaction, for those not there, and for those there & on wireless.

It changes conferences, providing immediate analysis. Especially when it’s an audience of peers, such is true for many attending the Innovation or eGov conferences.

Start here!

Follow this journal for long-form posts: www.2thinknow.com/innovation

Best way to interact is to follow the conversation on the Hashtags #CeBIT #innovation #eGOV #NBN (Broadband) may all be of interest as well.

Short-form Tweets on twitter - and I will be posting live-updates from the speakers, live insights: www.twitter.com/christopherhire

My focus will be Innovation Analysis. Genuine innovation, genuine innovators, genuine ideas. Many of the voices of Innovation seem less than innovative, rather attaching the word ‘innovation’ to their existing initiatives.

Unlike many voices, my focus will be on insights that release innovation.

Independent Innovation Analysis.

As well as the very latest ideas from the CeBIT exhibitors.

In the increasing dispersion of media voices tomorrow I’ll be liveblogging CeBIT.

And providing an Innovation Voice. A voice for Change. A Voice for Ideas.

3 transport methods were blocked. 2 busy corridors were blocked.

Trams were blocked on Flinders St. And Swanston St, both ways.

Cars were blocked at the busy 2 corridor intersection, or at least impeded.

Taxis were not running from the main Train Station.

The cause - 1 broken down tram. Frequently a single tram breakdown (frequent event) will cause total grid-lock in the city, and flow-on effects.

The photos below show the problem. If you look closely you can see a common sight, pensioners walking 2 or more blocks because trams don’t run.

Melbourne’s Transport Collapse.

As today’s article in The Age reported, Trains fare no better in Melbourne. Trains do not allow the workforce to get to the CBD, let alone complete complex journeys.

Taxis are broadly unsafe, with drivers refusing fares, refusing to give change of $20 or $50 in many instances, not turning up, or pressuring passengers & taking long routes.

Trams are unmaintained, unclean and never running on schedule. Trams that supposedly run every 12 minutes, may not show for 24 or 36 minutes. Do these get reported in statistics?

Cars are the best option in terms of mobility, yet have traffic jams, toll-roads require parking and are not available to sectors of citizens and visitors.

Paying lip service to the environment whilst failing to build public transport solutions, or even deliver basic services, are a constant drain on the public purse. There is NO LOGIC in Victorian Government transport actions or policy.

Mismanagement, lack of maintenance, ineptitude and total abject policy failure in transport in Melbourne.

This can Change.

2thinknow are currently ranking Innovation Cities Index 2009.

Melbourne will rank well on many initiatives, notably excellence in food, retailing, arts & culture. However, mobility of citizens will rank poorly, as will related environmental factors.

This is actually low-hanging fruit, but the State Government have dropped the ball. Here’s some simple, non-policy reasons.

Maintain rolling stock. Not done.

Clean rolling stock. Not done.

Decentralise the department to people who actually run trains, trams & buses, not report on them. Not done.

We need proper training a proper system and a proper framework. Training, not done.

Logical Decision Making frameworks, not just economics. Not Done.

Bring back conductors. Not done.

Scratch Myki, a system that will slow down transport. Not done. Any MBA will explain Sunk Costs. And the State Government needs to recognize that this is a debacle.

There are solutions. But they require a declaration of failure.

A declaration of let’s start again in Victoria.

Transport Re-Boot.

The Government of Victoria has epically failed in the delivery of Transport. Admit it.

Then stop all wasteful spending and re-boot. It can be done. Let’s start.