Innovation in Global
Green Tech solutions:
Where do we stand, what examples in which
applications in our daily lives?
25 may 2015
By Yvette RAMOS, President
Swiss Engineering Romandie
www.swissengineering.ch
www.swissengineering.ch
• A society of >15,000 engineers and architects in
Switzerland, active in all domains
• 7 regions, 26 interprofessional groups, 25 chapters
• Since over 100 years
…The largest professional network of Engineers and
Architects in Switzerland
• For >100 years, Swiss Engineering represents Members
interests in the political, economic, in the field of training
and in society in general, and supports their professional
development through customized services.
• As spokesman of the Engineering and Architecture, Swiss
Engineering is committed to improve and enhance the
technical and scientific professions in the media and public.
• We encourage the new generation while working to
strengthen professional capacity building.
Regions averages
1st October 2014
Glass ceiling:
used to describe the unseen, yet
unbreachable barrier that keeps women (and
minorities) from rising to the upper rungs of
the corporate ladder, regardless of their
qualifications or achievements.
• In 2010, the average in the EU-27, 15.5% of institutions in the
higher education sector were headed by women, and 10% of
universities had a female rector.
• Women = 36% of board members in 2010
• In science and engineering: they represent 38% of PhD
students, but only 23% of grade B and 11% of Grade A
• The proportion of women "full professor" is also the lowest in
engineering and technology, with 7.9%.
⇒ Egg freezing : is this a solution
to optimize your career?
SUGGESTIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT CAREER
© 2003 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Ada Lovelace and the the first
computer programmer
• Her father Lord Byron, and her
scientist mother encouraged
her from a young age to
become a champion of
mathematics.
• Lovelace worked with Charles
Babbage at the University of
London on his plans for an
“analytic engine” (i.e. oldtimey computer) to develop
ways to program the machine
with mathematical algorithms,
essentially making her “the
first computer programmer”.
The dishwasher was invented by Josephine Cochrane in 1887
• She marketed her invention to hotel owners,
scandalously going to meetings without a husband,
brother, or father to escort her, and eventually
opened her own factory.
The car heater, invented by Margaret A. Wilcox in 1893
• The first car heater, which
directed air from over the
engine to warm the chilly toes
of aristocratic XIXth-cent.
Motorists
!!! She also invented a combined clothes
and dish washer, which someone should
please build immediately ☺
1899, Letitia Geer invented a
medical syringe
• Oh, the wonders of
modern medicine! ..The
medical syringe that could
be operated with only one
hand!
• Remember her the next
time your doctor injects
you with only one hand.
Invented by Elizabeth Magie in 1904 under the
original name The Landlord’s Game: the Monopoly!
• Magie’s game was a critique of
the injustices of unchecked
capitalism, making it all the
more ironic when her game was
completely ripped off by …
Charles Darrow 30 years later,
who sold it to Parker Brothers.
• The firm eventually
tracked down Magie
and paid her $500 for
her “troubles”.
Residential solar heating by Dr. Maria
Telkesa in 1947
• Physicist and solarpower pioneer
teamed up with an
equally genious
lady, the architect
Eleanor Raymond,
to build the first
home entirely
heated by solar
power.
Marie Van Brittan Brown’s system for CCTV patented in 1969
• Her system for closedcircuit television
(CCTV) security, was
intended to help
people ensure their
own security, as police were
slow to respond to calls for
help in her NYC neighbourhood.
• Her invention forms the basis
for modern CCTV systems used
for home security and police
work today.
More telecommunications
technology, by Dr Shirley Jackson
• The theoretical physicist was
the first black woman to
receive a Ph.D. from MIT, in 1973.
• While working at Bell Laboratories, she
conducted breakthrough basic scientific
research that enabled others to invent the
portable fax, touch tone telephone, solar cells,
fiber optic cables, and the technology behind
caller ID and call waiting.
A simple model though..showing different
perspectives:
SOCIAL
PROGRESS
POLITICAL &
DECISION
MAKING
HOW ?
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNICAL..
ECONOMICAL
Engineers! Who are we?
• Engineers have the capacity to carry out
concrete policies to address complex issues
of socio-economic, human, scientific and
technological,
and
competitive
changing international environment.
in
a
The innovation concept?
Social & cultural innovation
Jobs, Employment
Habitat
Urbanism
Cosntruction
Social integration
Mecanics & Tools,
machines
Biotechnologies
Textile-habillement
Metallurgie-fonderie
Food & agriculture
Innovation
Measure control
Chemistry&
materials
Medical
Chimie-bio
Pharmacy
Telecom
Software
Electronics
New technologies
(Internet, E-business)
Technological innovation
Bio-medicine
Big challenges!
Strengthening links between Education and
Employment Market
Industrial and scientific innovation development
Pension management
Environment - Climate change!
Equality and Diversity
Contribution to the development of poor
countries and regions - migration
Economic globalization and new models..
Vision of the world..
Utopia?
• Fair and complex management of territories
(villages, towns, regions, countries, continents ..)
• Organization of a daily environment that is
livable for all
• Economically viable development providing
opportunities for progress in a world of
Justice!
Is this an issue of ..envisioning the future?
Or a reasonable and rational planning strategy ?
Un exemple : Développement d’une Stratégie e-Territoire
Vision
Objectifs
Stratégiques
Développer l’économie du savoir
Réduire
la fracture numérique
Positionner le Territoire
à l’échelle internationale
Axes
Contenu
Infrastructure Accès
Formation
Industrie TIC Téléservices
Plans d’action et programmes
28
While always balancing in a changing environment..
Right balance!
Without forgetting a key element..
management!
And…
What do they want?
• They want to work in responsible companies
that:
Engages them (=employees!) in the profit
Is environmentally friendly
Practices equality in all its forms, including
equal pay!
And above all…!
My conclusion..
⇒ Engineers represents key actors in the
overall innovation and patent system, and
are thus levers for supporting social and
sustainable development
Thank you !
Yvette Ramos
MSc. Eng. – MBA
[email protected]