Putting dollars in education

I sat through a most interesting talk on Academic Entrepreneurship today. Dr. Harold J. Raveché, President of Stevens Institute of Technology shared with an audience of academics, scientists and businessmen, on the issues in developing an innovative knowledge-based economy. Here are some take-homes that are still fresh in my memory:

1. You can have all the necessary prescription (e.g. science parks, thrusts ), for developing a knowledge economy, but you will just be like the rest.
2. Engaging foreign ideas and talents will not guarantee success. Develop home-grown technologies, products and businesses.
3. There must be a proper framework to reward and support academic innovation and entrepreneurship.

Listening to his insightful sharing, I remembered my ideas for infusing Web 2.0 culture in students, and hopefully, stimulate technopreneurship. My "genius" plan would be to:

1. Introduce Web 2.0 technology.
2. Demonstrate using case studies, how these technological components were used to build new business models.
3. Student project to innovate their own "mashed-up" projects.
4. If one of the goals is to nuture entrepreneurship, the projects could be more competitive, and students will have to market and justify business needs.

Maybe this pedagogy isn't totally new, but I that's what I'll do. As you might have read, I'm so utterly impressed with the Google culture and spirit of innovation!