The New Argonauts

One of our speakers in the morning panel, Dr. Annalee Saxenian, Dean of the School of Information at UC Berkeley, was recently featured in an article in the Mercury News (September 3, 2006). Dr. Saxenian answered questions about her recently published book, THE NEW ARGONAUTS: REGIONAL ADVANTAGE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

The new argonauts are those entrepreneurs who have come to the US for an education, but have gone back to their home countries, or are actively engaged with them, for business purposes. While this is a relatively new phenomenon, having developed over the last ten years, Saxenian argues more importantly that the technology and enterprise clusters set up by the new argonauts in India, China, Taiwan and Israel are extensions of Silicon Valley. They are hybrid forms, combining innovative features of the Valley with political, cultural and corporate features of their home countries. These clusters also have the potential to become partners for Silicon Valley. According to Dr. Saxenian: "This is perhaps my rosy-eyed view of globalization that we are seeing new centers that are becoming viable partners, not just cheap labor, not just head-on competitors but partners for Silicon Valley firms."

The question is, how do these new clusters and linkages play out in the ICTD field? More generally, to what extent do entrepreneurs who return home, if they are successful, use their wealth and innovation to work towards more equitably prosperous societies in their home countries? One answer to this question can be found by looking at the Indian community in Silicon Valley, many of whose members are engaged in social development projects in India. We would like to hear from their experiences. And maybe Dr. Saxenian will provide additional answers at the Summit.

Summit Program now available

We have finalized an exciting line-up of presenters, who will discuss the Summit themes in panels, interactive workshops and a town-hall style plenary.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS:

* Paul Locatelli, S.J. President, Santa Clara University
* James C. Morgan, Chairman, Applied Materials, Inc.
* Geoffrey C. Bowker Regis and Dianne McKenna, Professor and Executive Director, Center for Science, Technology, and Society, Santa Clara University
* Paul Braund, Executive Director, RiOS Institute

OPENING KEYNOTE:
Craig R. Barrett, Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation Chairman, Global Alliance for ICT and Development, United Nations

Sarbuland Khan, Executive Coordinator of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development, United Nations


QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

PANEL DISCUSSION: WHAT IS SILICON VALLEY DOING?

OPENING STATEMENT:
Manuel Castells, Wallis Annenberg Chair, Professor of Communication Technology and Society, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California

DIALOGUE:

* Akhtar Badshah, Senior Director of Community Affairs, Microsoft Corporation
* Bill Coleman, Chairman, Silicon Valley Leadership Group Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, Cassatt Corporation
* William H. Davidow, Founding Partner, MDV (Mohr Davidow Ventures)
* James R. Fruchterman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Benetech Initiative
* AnnaLee Saxenian, Dean and Professor, School of Information and Professor, Department of City and Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley

LUNCH KEYNOTE:
“A PLAN TO GET ICT FOR ONE HALF OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION” Dan Shine Director, 50x15 Program, AMD

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT WORKSHOPS: WHAT CAN BE DONE AND HOW CAN WE DO IT?

1. UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COLLABORATIONS, led by Eric Brewer Director, Intel Research, and Director, Technology and Infrastructure for Emerging Regions (TIER) Program University of California, Berkeley
2. WORKING WITH MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS, led by Djordjija Petkoski, Lead Specialist, Business, Competitiveness and Development Group, World Bank Institute
3. ADDRESSING THE BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID (BOP) MARKET, led by Allen L. Hammond Vice President for Innovation and Special Projects World Resources Institute
4. LARGE INDUSTRY INITIATIVES, led by Bess Stephens, Vice President , Corporate Philanthropy, Hewlett-Packard Company
5. SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, led by James L. Koch, Executive Director, CSTS Global Social Benefit Incubator, Santa Clara University Eric Carlson, Associate Director, CSTS Global Social Benefit Incubator and Faculty, Entrepreneur Leadership Program, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University
6. HUMAN-CENTERED RESEARCH AND DESIGN, led by Anke Schwittay, Director of Research, RiOS Institute Paul Braund, Executive Director, RiOS Institute

CLOSING PLENARY: WHAT ELSE CAN SILICON VALLEY DO? A COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION

SUMMARY REMARKS: Paul Saffo, Director and Roy Amara Fellow, Institute for the Future

CLOSING KEYNOTE: Paul Mountford President, Emerging Markets, Cisco Systems, Inc.

TOWN HALL DISCUSSION: moderated by Paul Saffo

RECEPTION