OLYMPUS TECHNOZONE Vol.54 2002-08
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Interdisciplinary approach crucial for both research and business
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How do you view collaborative research with
firms?
I had previous experience of collaborative
research in the private sector. We need to be very selective regarding
work carried out in universities and that carried out in a business
context. Scientific research at universities can never be focused
from the outset on creating commercial products. Universities must
always look one step beyond what private companies are contemplating.
They must constantly devise new concepts and make new discoveries.
Ideally, the results of such academic research will be embodied
in good technologies owned by companies, leading to the evolution
of industries that can contribute to the well-being of humanity.
The conversion of the hybrid DNA computer into microchip form is
something that a firm can do far better than a university.
Having entered into collaborative research with
you, I believe that it is Olympus's responsibility to turn the results
of that research into products that can be used by many people.
Angstrom technology, micro-machines, nanotechnology...
I believe unique new products can be devised more quickly by linking
diverse technologies rather than approaching them separately. In
the future we will need to take a more interdisciplinary approach
across various fields. We can no longer think of element technologies
as discrete and separate. It is important to try and make the most
of those technologies.
Though we understand what's needed, it is difficult
to do in practice. It will be very difficult to achieve an interdisciplinary
blending of the technologies on which our existing business areas,
such as endoscopes, microscopes and clinical analyzers, are based,
with the accomplishments of genome research. The same is true in
academic research, isn't it?
Of course. However, people from many fields
are involved in the DNA computer project. In addition to computer
scientists, we have also biophysicists like myself, mathematicians,
biochemists, and molecular biologists. The DNA computer already involves
interdisciplinary research. |
