Solutions on the road towards the 4th Industrial Revolution (2)

Technological advancements keep evolving daily all over the world from scientifically certified research works and innovative inventions. These advancements are geared towards the next phase of industrial revolution, and for a simple reason of sustainably making the world a better place for mankind. This process is especially made feasible through the possibility of presenting talents and skills as intellectual properties of potential inventors who successfully recreate their ideas by taking advantage of the knowledge in information technology. This cycle advances progressively through unending scientific trending virtual mode concepts; with efforts professionally made in various areas of relevant study and academic disciplines. An example is the robotics that is currently making waves and blazing the trail on related artificial intelligence theory (AI). The theory involves where computer systems perform tasks that normally require human intelligence (examples of which are speech recognition, visual perception, translation of foreign languages and decision-making). The academic task clearly presents the technological proof of successful, achievable academic feat; with the corresponding global impact generally experienced from a continuously ongoing research and development (R&D) in any given field of science. Technologists making marks through innovation all over the world (or the upcoming and very promising techies in the institutions of higher learning that run various research works) would not disconnect their works on innovative technology, not being rooted or linked to the historical achievements of Henry Etzkowitz and Loet Leydesdorff that developed the Triple Helix Model in 1997 to explain the dynamics of academia-industry-government relationship.

The collaboration that exists between the three stakeholders of this organisational model needs to be viewed with vigour, from a perspective that progressively builds and sustainably promotes limitless growth, progressive prosperity and massive economic development in all sectors of any economy being studied. It is a model that demands collective responsibility for participation, with unreserved determination from all and sundry, as patriotic stakeholders that are focused and resolute to succeed. It is a model that cuts across professional borders by unity of purpose towards actualising a common goal through a targeted mutual interest for all concerned. The set objective therefore, drives beyond self and individualistic desires hence, the obvious nearness towards the 4th industrial revolution. In the field of business, this discussion of the triple helix model in business innovation strongly showcases the entrepreneurial skills as manifested in every aspect of the operations that characterise the successful exploits of the Silicon Valley. This is simply because they portray two principal virtues that are very critical; and those virtues are openness and transparency.

Stepping this model down to the world’s developing economies and the third world nations, especially in the African continent. The big concern and a disturbing question that is posed for tackling is: “Can the collaborative liaison for achieving a very positive relationship amongst the three principal stakeholders work seamlessly without hiccups along the line, aimed at actualising very successful economic gains that would be mutually beneficial to all?” The answer, honestly, could neither be here nor there, just for the simple reason that insincerity and selfishness could scuttle all the efforts made in putting the structure (academia-industry-government) together for a genuinely intended innovative business results; which might ultimately end up as a failure due to lack of “openness” and “transparency”. This is just a fact, and it is the ghost or monster chasing after this sincere progress, well intended positive growth and overall positive development in such economies. In Nigeria, for instance, this is the only or the major stumbling block that might stand against the nation making reasonable headway towards the 4th industrial revolution.

It could be attributed to being demonic, never to think positively by allowing negativities like corrupt practices, greed, insincerity and every known vices to stand against the attractive outcomes of knowledge economy and knowledge society (outweighing openness and transparency). For the desired aims and objectives to be universally actualised by the stakeholders with innovative mode for innovative inventions in developing economies, the three arms of the partnering sectors must resolve to redouble every effort that shall enhance contributory high performance effects for the cumulative outcome that could lead to the emergence of indigenous technological advancement. It is one that is capable of announcing the uniqueness of industrial revolution or feat that is suitable, and works for that particular economy. This is the essence of having the academia to conduct extensive researches in their operational environment with their own locally sourced raw materials, and proficiently develop them to have astronomic rate in the products output without appreciable change in the energy input. In other words, an enhanced energy efficiency (invention), backed with research grants and all needed encouragement and protective policies from the government; plus financial support from investors in the industry, needed to promote great sales of such invented products that already may have been insured and its patents duly secured legally. This will be a product with a great future through sales promotion, once introduced and launched into the wider, open market. The 4th  industrial revolution in contemporary society involves more of economic operations concentrating much on leveraging information technology, with drastically reduced physical or human involvement from the onset of the product development to its delivery to consumers, with high energy efficiency applied all through the product’s value chain.