Innovation and Creativity in the Muslim World Prof. Dr. Mustafa AG Abushagur Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY USA Presented at ICKBD 08, Al Maddinah, KSA June 24, 2008

Innovation is the conversion of knowledge and ideas into a benefit, which may be for commercial use or for the public good; the benefit may be new or improved products, processes or services.

is the conversion of knowledge and ideas into a benefit,

which may be for commercial use or for the public good;

the benefit may be new or improved products, processes or services.

Economic Growth Innovation

Muslims’ Innovation Algebra Alchemy (Chemistry) Algorithm Alcohol …

Algebra

Alchemy (Chemistry)

Algorithm

Alcohol

…

Islamic Innovation Then and Now “ Eleven centuries ago an Islamic renaissance occurred in Baghdad, attracting the best scholars throughout the Muslim world. For the next five hundred years, Arabic was the lingua franca of science. Cutting-edge research was conducted in cities such as Cairo, Damascus, and Tunis. “ Daniel Del Castillo, Chronicle of Higher Education, 2007 “ Today, no one looks to the Arab world for breakthroughs in scientific research, and for good reason. The 21 Arab countries that make up the region are struggling to teach even basic science at the university level. For wealthier ones, such as ..., complacency and a relatively new and underdeveloped university system have hampered progress. “

“ Eleven centuries ago an Islamic renaissance occurred in Baghdad, attracting the best scholars throughout the Muslim world.

For the next five hundred years, Arabic was the lingua franca of science.

Cutting-edge research was conducted in cities such as Cairo, Damascus, and Tunis. “

“ Today, no one looks to the Arab world for breakthroughs in scientific research, and for good reason.

The 21 Arab countries that make up the region are struggling to teach even basic science at the university level.

For wealthier ones, such as ..., complacency and a relatively new and underdeveloped university system have hampered progress. “

Innovations Metrics Intellectual production Patents Published papers Published books Technology transfer Business creation

Intellectual production

Patents

Published papers

Published books

Technology transfer

Business creation

Innovation Metrics Data It is presented here for the following countries: USA JAPAN GERMANY SOUTH KOREA ISRAEL SINGAPORE CHINA INDIA MALAYSIA SAUDI ARABIA INDONESIA TURKEY EGYPT IRAN UAE MOROCCO PAKISTAN LIBYA

It is presented here for the following countries:

USA

JAPAN

GERMANY

SOUTH KOREA

ISRAEL

SINGAPORE

CHINA

INDIA

MALAYSIA

SAUDI ARABIA

INDONESIA

TURKEY

EGYPT

IRAN

UAE

MOROCCO

PAKISTAN

LIBYA

0.0000 LIBYA 0.0002 PAKISTAN 0.0001 MOROCCO 0.0123 UAE 0.0005 IRAN 0.0010 EGYPT 0.0020 TURKEY 0.0004 INDONESIA 0.0030 SAUDI ARABIA 0.0355 MALAYSIA 0.0026 INDIA 0.4198 SINGAPORE 0.0053 CHINA 0.7505 ISRAEL 0.5846 SOUTH KOREA 0.5133 GERMANY 1.1014 JAPAN 1.00 USA Patents per Million (2007) COUNTRY

Patents Issued

Innovation Creation The ultimate cause of all innovation is human creativity. Innovation does not occur in a vacuum; it requires a workable structure of incentives and institutions. Government policies that foster the right enabling conditions for innovation, and that allow entrepreneurship and markets to flourish, can provide a climate that encourages innovation and economic growth in the 21st Century. Increasingly, one of the core enabling conditions is intellectual property protection.

The ultimate cause of all innovation is human creativity.

Innovation does not occur in a vacuum; it requires a workable structure of incentives and institutions.

Government policies that foster the right enabling conditions for innovation, and that allow entrepreneurship and markets to flourish, can provide a climate that encourages innovation and economic growth in the 21st Century.

Increasingly, one of the core enabling conditions is intellectual property protection.

The Innovation Continuum Research Making new Discoveries and Developing New ideas Development Turning Discoveries Into Commercial products Startup Starting new Businesses and Bringing Products To market Growth Adding jobs And revenues To the economy

The Innovation Continuum Basic Research Applied Research Product Development Job Creation Wealth Creation University Education/ Research Companies R&D Government And Industry $$ Angel Investors Venture Capital Investment Bankers

Recommendations Innovations starts early in life. It starts at home Education methodology have to change from instruction to discovery Encourage students to question everything around them Create entrepreneurship curriculum and culture “ Constructive” failure should not be a stigma. It can be very valuable Create long term investing culture Innovation and entrepreneurship leads to the creation of new technology companies which are high risk but high pay.

Innovations starts early in life. It starts at home

Education methodology have to change from instruction to discovery

Encourage students to question everything around them

Create entrepreneurship curriculum and culture

“ Constructive” failure should not be a stigma. It can be very valuable

Create long term investing culture

Innovation and entrepreneurship leads to the creation of new technology companies which are high risk but high pay.

“ The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” Thomas Edison

“ The value of an idea lies in the using of it.”

Thank You