Business based on (Technological) Innovation

Florin Talpes CEO of Bitdefender November 28th , 2013

Competitivity of Romania
World Economic Forum ranking 2013-2014:
76th (Bulgaria 57th)

Facts
Domestic market:
Most of the national economy sectors dominated by multinationals

Romania export structure

Low numbers of Romanian brands products Lower added-value: large integration in the manufacturing chain of the multinationals= Romania is still a production site

Innovation in Romania
Ranking in Global Innovation Index 2013 (WIPO/INSEAD): 48th (Bulgaria 41st)

48th in Global Innovation Index

Graduates in Science &Engineering: 62nd ICT access: 52nd (e-participation: 99th) R&D financed by business: 45th Venture capital deals: 63rd

48th in Global Innovation Index

Knowledge and Technology outputs: 23rd (strength) High-tech exports less re-exports: 26th Comm. Computer&info.services export: 20th

48th in Global Innovation Index

University/industry research collaboration: 110th State of cluster development: 111th

48th in Global Innovation Index

93 dimensions/KPIs compound the Index All are Change Drivers ? What are the Key Change Drivers ?

1st Key Change Driver

Assumption: do not expect wonders from the Gouvernment Clusters on Verticals

1st Key Change Driver

SelfGovernance of the Industries (including the Creative ones):
Long term Strategy (5/20 years), Roadmap, Management of Execution Case studies: ANIS (Software Industry Association) Romanian CyberSecurity industry Inventiile de serviciu Accelerators/Incubators in creative industries

2nd Key Change Driver

Build Market Understanding Skills and Knowledge
30-60% of the companies budgets are spent on Product/services design and Sales&Marketing Valley of Death for the Research (does not embed in Innovation) Poor performance of the Higher Education System

Demand of talents
Domestic vs mature markets as skills and knowledge demand:
Romania: baccalaureat level Western Europe/USA: college graduates

Absolutely needed
Skills and knowledge on the market understanding, marketing of the products/services and international distribution at the target markets standards Design of new products/services

Marketing Bitdefender
10 patents filed YTD 2013 in USPTO Target Global market with focus on North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific; Under 20% marketing college graduates Philology: 20% ! Doesnt matter the college

Talents gap
ManPower research on global market2012, in Romania:
45% of organizations hav difficulties in recruiting the right talents (2nd in the region) 26% EMEA average;

Talents Gap
The Higher Education System does not provide:
Economical education (International management, market research, international ditribution, marketing etc.) at the right standards: absolutely needed for inovation in technology Though of the graduates get jobs in the economy

All students should get a basic economical education

Talents Gap
We are missing occupations like:
Product Management Product Marketing Management Channel management/International Distribution Marketing online

Impact:
Massive negative on competitiveness Breaking-down real technological innovation and go to market

Fill the Talents Gap

Industries Associations should include in their strategy mid-term projects (Structural Funds ?) to build skills and knowledge;
Get a corpus of top international trainers Train the trainers (real business consultants) Educate the industry

Fill the Talents Gap

Provide to the High Education System maps of needed skills and knowledge with professors/faculties white and black lists Provide constantly feed-back on the quality of the graduates Lobby for incentives for internships in economy for students Promote professionals from real economy to teach in the Higher Education System

Thank you !