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INNOVATION
We need also to foster a culture of innovation. This is the
third leg of our new economic strategy. Efficiency is important.
But it can be easily matched by others, and does not provide
a sustained advantage in competitiveness. In the globalised
economy that permits rapid spread of technology at low cost,
efficiency is only an entry-level requirement. Innovation
and imagination give an economy or a company that extra edge.
Today, wealth is generated by new ideas, more than by improving
the ideas of others.
Sporadic innovation by a few Singapore companies and the
public sector is not good enough. The innovative spirit must
permeate our whole society. The question is how to create
an environment that encourages many of us to become innovators.
By innovators, I mean a people whose minds are always looking
for new ideas and new ways of doing things, not simply copying
what others have invented. For this, we need non-conformist
thinking.
NON-CONFORMIST THINKING
Let me give you an example of non-conformist thinking. I happened
to tune in to the BBC on the eve of National Day. There was
an interview with a former American-Chinese TV presenter turned
entrepreneur.
This lady entrepreneur has produced a range of cosmetic products
tailored for Asian women. She explained that Asian women have
different features and different skin colouring, so cosmetics
meant for Caucasian women do not suit them. For example, when
Asian women use a pink-based foundation, they look as if they
are wearing a mask. Also, Caucasian women generally have more
prominent noses, so their cosmetics seek to make their noses
less prominent. On the other hand, Asian women generally have
small noses, so they need to use cosmetics to make their noses
more prominent. Otherwise, she said, 'You would not even see
a nose on their face!'
This woman did not simply copy others. A conformist would
have done that, and simply manufactured and sold western-based
cosmetics in the Asian market. Instead, she thought out-of-the
box, hoping to hit the jackpot.
I am also impressed by the innovative spirit of our National
Library. It collaborated with the private sector to design
and develop a system to track the movement of library books,
so as to cut down the time visitors spend queuing to check
in and check out books. The books are implanted with a microchip
which emits radio waves. To borrow a book, you put it on a
pad at the self-check machines, and the book is registered
as borrowed. There are hardly any more queues. Returning the
book is also a breeze. You simply slide the book down a book-drop
chute, and it is registered as returned.
Our National Library was the first library in the world to
use this technology. It has patented the invention.
NATIONAL INNOVATION COUNCIL
Ironically, to change mindsets in our society, a top-down
approach seems unavoidable. But I am clear in my mind that
the Government can only stimulate and encourage you to be
innovative. It is not possible to direct and drive the population
to become innovative.
Earlier this year, I invited Professor Gary Hamel, a management
consultant, to conduct a seminar on innovation for Ministers
and top civil servants. The seminar has generated some good
ideas on how we can encourage a more innovative society.
I intend to set up a National Innovation Council to push
along this change in the thinking of our people. Lim Hng Kiang,
who is making several innovative changes in the Health Ministry,
will chair this Council.
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