Océ strengthens innovative power by sharing information
Océ CTO discusses “sharing and learning” at embedded systems
symposium
Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 4 December 2008 — “Partnerships like the one between the Embedded Systems Institute and Océ are increasingly important in today’s industrial environment. They are one of the ways we can strengthen each other’s innovative power. Océ is committed to locating, accessing and sharing information with external partners – other companies, knowledge institutes and expertise centers like the ESI. That’s important because we have to work faster and smarter with fewer cycles and shorter time-to-market.”
This was the keynote message by Anton Schaaf, Chief Technology & Operations Officer and member of the Board of Executive Directors at Océ, an international leader in digital document management. Schaaf was appointed this week as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Embedded Systems Institute, a prominent Dutch expertise center focused on sharing knowledge about embedded software and systems. Today, the Océ CTO addressed an audience of 200 technology executives at the ESI Symposium in Eindhoven.
From inside-out to outside-in
“In the past, innovation was largely an inside-out process, using our own-developed knowledge. Today, innovation is largely outside-in, forcing you to take a look at your own core competences, deciding the things you want to do yourself, as well as defining the non-core activities which others can do better.”
Schaaf was very brief on the rules for innovating together. “There are none!” The Océ CTO outlined his firm conviction in sharing things rarely shared before. “Specialized knowledge. Intellectual property. Expenses and financing. Last but not least, risks and rewards – particularly those associated with technology development and innovation. It means being open to someone else’s knowledge, creativity and inspiration, instead of simply relying on your own.”
Don’t reinvent the wheel
The ESI and Océ have worked together since 2002 on two leading-edge projects: one enabling Océ to develop an adaptive mid-volume production system, the other focused on the adaptability needed for Océ’s future inkjet color systems. “Securing new knowledge accelerates the development cycle, avoids redundancy and facilitates forward-looking thinking rather than reinventing the wheel. The benefits of partnership in both these projects are compelling!”
Schaaf believes that government has an important role to play in providing the necessary research subsidy funding of knowledge centers such as the ESI. “We too look to government to act as a motor for innovation,” the Océ CTO concluded. “Through investments in intelligent infrastructure projects. By stimulating demand across a wide range of technology applications such as systems engineering. This will strengthen the position of The Netherlands as a leading innovator at national level and contribute to the future of the high-tech industry in this country, and with it all the benefits that it brings for our knowledge economy, our customers and for the community at large.”
Editors’ note: A copy of the speech by Océ CTO Anton Schaaf is available on request from Océ Communications at nick.gale@oce.com.
About Océ
Océ is one of the world's leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The broad Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the world’s Fortune 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 90 countries and employs some 24,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in 2007 amounted to € 3.1 billion. For more information on Océ, visit the corporate website.
For more information, please contact:
Nick Gale
Manager Media Relations
Telephone +31 77 359 5628
E-mail nick.gale@oce.com