Imperial College Shanghai Alumni Club - second meeting event

The Imperial College Shanghai Alumni Club held its second meeting on 2 July 2006.

The Imperial College Shanghai Alumni Club held its second meeting on 2 July 2006. The active membership to date were Imperial Business School Alumni, however we encourage attendance and involvement from the total Imperial Alumni in Shanghai.

On 2 July we were honored to have Dr. Geoffrey Nicholson, 1957 Alumnus, who gave a presentation on Innovation, The Global Factor. He talked about the environment in a company that encourages innovation as well as discouraging innovation.

Research is the transformation of money into knowledge. Innovation is the transformation of knowledge into money.

We need both of these activities in a vital and successful business organisation. Dr. Nicholson was called the father of the Post-It notes program" as he started and championed the Post-It note business and used it as one example of successful innovation. He explained how the technology worked and how it was expanded to many products using the technology.

It is important that organisations understand, not only the technical part of innovation, but also the personal characteristics of innovators. A study at 3M Company identified the key characteristics of innovators. This data is used to help hire people who have the potential of being successful innovators when challenged to do so, and when they are provided the environment which encourages innovation. Such people were risk oriented and have an experimental style. They ran experiments first and explained it later.

We thank 3M Company for sponsoring this event. We were inspired by the great presentation from Dr. Nicholson and we understand that achievement depends on human effort. Indeed, innovation is a vital part of successful companies and countries.

Contact the Imperial College Shanghai Alumni Club at ICAC.SH@gmail.com.

All the Best!
Imperial College Shanghai Alumni Club