“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” (Newton, 1675)
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” (Newton, 1675)
Newton already knew this in 1675. Enabling innovation is only possible at the frontiers of knowledge. This means you need access to existing knowledge before you can create improved or innovative concepts. It shows that education is a first step towards innovation. But it implies an important condition as well. Existing knowledge must be shared. This is where innovative companies and universities have a responsibility.
At the age of fifteen, Louis Braille invented the tactile Braille writing system. It facilitated and still facilitates the life of millions of visually impaired people. Louis, being blind himself, was at that moment being schooled at the Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles where they used embossed letters to read.
During his school years he learned about a silent communication system used by the French army during night time. This system consisted of a series of dots which were more easy to recognize as embossed letters. Louis adapted this system and Braille was born. This is a perfect example of innovation triggered by the need for an improved product or process. The story has three important lessons.
1) Education is the cradle of innovation
Without a schooling system, Louis Braille would have never learned about the French army code. It also shows how important it is that schools broaden their scope and teach students a very wide range of topics which trigger their curiosity. It also shows that innovation is usually achieved through a combination of different kinds of knowledge or experiences.
When we realize education is the spark that ignites innovation processes, it is worrying that UNESCO predicts that by 2025, 98 million qualified students worldwide will be excluded from higher education due to a shortage of university seats. At the same time, by 2030 the global skills deficit is expected to reach 85.2 million people.
A giant pool of potential innovators is left unused . Policy makers worldwide have to support this potential that could make a long term difference for our planet, our people and our future. Innovation is the most efficient way to solve our current and future societal and technical challenges (e.g. decarbonisation of the energy supply).
2) The frontiers of knowledge should be accessible
If the French army code would have been kept secret, Louis Braille would have never learned about it. So it’s vital governments, institutions, universities and companies share the knowledge they have. This brings two challenges, the first being the ever expanding amount of knowledge.
How can you make this knowledge about developed innovations accessible and findable while the frontiers of knowledge keep pushing outwards. This is where innovation has to support education.
Modern technology and artificial intelligence could offer the possibility to filter relevant studies, content and knowledge out of billions of scientific papers and other sources available worldwide. It implies the need for sufficient funding to keep the educational system up-to-date.
The second challenge is the catch 22 of intellectual property on the one hand and enabling personal knowledge by knowledge sharing on the other hand. Being the CEO of an innovative company I strongly believe that the two have a beneficial impact on each other.
3) Companies and universities serve as knowledge hubs
While innovative companies thrive on their intellectual property they need the fresh input of innovative thinkers creating new insights to stay ahead of the competition. At the same time, these innovative thinkers need the knowledge of these companies to reach the frontiers of knowledge. In my eyes there is no catch 22, but a match 22.
At Melexis we value the potential of young talented people. We realize they will become the people with the knowledge to push the boundaries of the existing business. Their innovation projects will broaden the scope of our activities and thus the potential of our company. They create competitive advantages. Given this beneficial influence on our future activities, we are glad to be a knowledge and support hub for them. We also accept failure as long as it fuels the learning process.
Melexis has always been at the forefront to support students. We help engineering students achieve their goals by offering internships, the Melexis Academy for fresh graduates, and sponsorship for those who build their own race cars or send magnetometers to space.
Innovative students using Melexis knowledge or support
OSCAR-QUBE
A multidisciplinary team from UHasselt (university of Hasselt, Belgium) won an ESA (European Space Agency) contest and literally reached for the frontiers of knowledge. By winning this contest, the students got their scientific project, the OSCAR-QUBE, in the ISS (International Space Station).
The QUBE is an advanced high sensitivity magnetometer built with carbon materials and synthetic diamonds. Goal is to measure magnetic fields in space and on earth. Melexis, specialist in magnetic sensors, sponsored the retrieval of the QUBE. The QUBE was launched with a SpaceX-23 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. https://www.uhasselt.be/en/aparte-sites-uhasselt-en/oscar-qube
Melexis Academy
The Melexis Academy in Sofia offers students or graduates with little or no experience the chance to strengthen their knowledge and skills related to microelectronics. They learn about analog design, chip layout, measurement procedures and the use of automated test equipment combined with hardware and software development. https://www.melexis.com/en/careers/academy
Firefighter helmet
Provatidis Efstathios from the Aristotle University created for a thesis a Proof of Concept integrated firefighter helmet. To help firefighters in smoky conditions, the helmet quickly detects the location of the fire with a MLX90614 sensor.
Conclusion
These initiatives clearly show how fresh thinking not only broadens the array of possibilities for companies, but at the same time improves the quality, comfort or safety of society as a whole. This is exactly the vision of Melexis.
We aim for the best imaginable future. A future that is green, safe, healthy and comfortable for all. We will only achieve this by inspired engineering. Innovation requires us to support students by sharing our knowledge and by enabling their innovative concepts. This innovation strategy will help our society to cross the frontiers of knowledge.
Marc Biron, CEO Melexis
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