Rector Vélez-Arocho,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen!
It is my great honour and
privilege to have the opportunity to speak here on the opening of ICEE-2006,
not only on behalf of the iNEER Board, but also on behalf of my home
institution, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava in
The short history of our ICEE conferences shows that the
basic idea of ICEE and iCEER, namely, achieving mutual
progress through international partnership, is being accepted around the world
as a very practical and realistic goal toward promoting innovations in
engineering education worldwide. What we
are trying to achieve is now of wide-spread interest as future progress in
engineering education will be the key to the future progress in the global
economy.
The role and mission of engineering education is undergoing
transformation. There has always been a
gap between the pure science and applied research that is carried out at a
university and the achievement of a viable commercial product delivered to global
marketplace.
But without the faculty, students and other investigators
working at universities there can be no technology that can be transferred. The economic growth of each country has depended
and will continue to depend on advancement in technology which, in recent
years, has become much more multidisciplinary.
Allow me to cite only one example: The most hopeful
news in health care today springs from the application of new technologies –
surgeons are better informed and prepared thanks to new virtual reality
simulations; diagnoses are more accurate because of new digital imaging
technology; and cardiac specialists are looking at new ways based on special
technology to repair damaged heart tissue.
Accelerating the development of innovative
technologies for broad benefit is not possible without a partnership between
universities and the public and private sectors.
Today, many universities are thinking about
commercialization strategies in terms of licensing on spin-offs. The process suffers the structural
disadvantage of inhibiting transfer of knowledge. In such cases, a more effective and collaborative
solution is based on joint ventures using high-technology platforms.
Here, the benefits for companies include: development
of new products; finding technical solutions; access to experts and
state-of-the-art facilities at universities, including laboratories, graduate
students and equipment. Companies also
receive a more efficient transfer of technology while collaborating with
students, who are potential future employees.
There are also important benefits for universities,
including: performing research leading directly to the commercialization of
technology; funding for improving university facilities; valuable experience
for students working on commercial technologies; and improving social standards
for professors.
The benefits for the local economy include: marketing
of successful commercial products; job creation; and attractiveness for venture
capital.
Such a partnership solution helps companies become
more globally competitive, and improve skills of their workforce.
It is also more attractive for students, because they
have access to a problem–oriented education.
They can participate in graduate certificate programs focused on the
application of engineering principles.
The university’s facilities, laboratories and
equipment could be used also for workforce training supported by companies in
the form of customized projects.
A partnership such as this that transforms the laboratory
environment to a real production operation must lead to success for everyone
involved.
I am very glad that these topics are included in the
program of ICEE-2006, where we can discuss the influence of and experience gained
in the different countries, cultures, traditions and social–economic
environment.
Allow me to congratulate the Rector of University of
Puerto-Rico,
I am sure that ICEE-2006 will be a further step in the
successful story on international cooperation in engineering education, research
and innovation.
Thank you for your attention.