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predict that from the beginning.
If I want my company to sponsor me, then that means I have
to make my case to a manager
whose priority is to maintain the
company's financial well-being.
Usually the first question is about
the return on investment, and
explaining that the idea is "really
cool" is not the answer that person
is looking for.

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E E E F E L L O W C H A I K .   T O H W R O T E in his blog post that
both industry and academia have become shortsighted
in their research efforts: "Industry as a whole is now
focused on short-term research, often called D&D-
design and development-which results in marketable
products within a two- to three-year time frame. Research
takes time, and most breakthroughs come only after a good
number of years." Toh is a professor of electrical engineering
and computer science at National Tsing Hua University, in
Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Those in academia are also strapped for time, he noted.
They are tasked with many roles, including teaching, supervising students, seeking research funding, and publishing, so
they typically conduct research only on a part-time basis.
"Who is now doing the long-term fundamental research
that will disrupt the market and drastically improve quality
of life, and what role will or should IEEE play in terms
of advancing research?" Toh asked. "Progress in human
civilization is everyone's responsibility. It is time for us to
unite and act."

-Günter Grossmann

I've worked in corporate research for
almost 20 years, and I can attest that
there is no smooth pipeline between
basic research and innovative
product development. In almost
all cases the innovative product
requires multiple breakthroughs
across seemingly unrelated fields.
For example, the iPhone was
introduced in 2007 and had required
innovation in displays, software, and
digital communications.
-RF Austin

Professor Toh is right: The level
of fundamental research is
much diminished from the era
when the Internet and GPS were
developed. Many of today's great
technologies have their roots in
government funding, often from
the military. Only these agencies
seem to have the foresight to
keep funding risky research that
leads to genuine breakthroughs.
The U.S. government has been
generous with funding in the
past, but perhaps an international
coalition of governmentfunded research should be
promoted for the good of all.
-William Webb
Continues on next page
JUN E 2018 TH E IN STITUTE

13
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Institute - June 2018
