Pearson to publish Filipino author’s book on ‘technopreneurship’ and innovation in Asia

Jun. 04, 2007

MANILA — Pearson Education Asia, through its imprint Pearson Prentice Hall, will publish Filipino author Dennis Posadas’ book on technopreneurship and innovation in Asia this June 2007.


In his book RICE & CHIPS: Technopreneurship and Innovation in Asia, Posadas details the rules of innovation so that countries like the Philippines can succeed in developing wealth from intellectual capital. Silicon Valley, a region of Northern California, is said to be the most innovative region in the world. It contains two major science universities, Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley, numerous research institutes like the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, large high tech companies like Intel, Cisco, and thousands of small high tech startups.

According to Posadas, Asian countries like the Philippines can copy Silicon Valley to a certain extent, but only if they follow certain ingredients which have worked since time immemorial. These ingredients, says Posadas, are intrinsic to the workings of an innovative region. Posadas says that, innovation is really a local and social phenomenon. Rather than concentrating on high level policies, which he says may help somewhat, the real innovation occurs at the ground. He says what is important is that scientists and engineers are able to develop close relationships with investors and technopreneurs who have a good understanding of the technology and the market. Policy makers can help by minimizing the red tape and bureaucracy that surround these relationships, but in the end, it is the scientist/engineer and his investor partner/s who will make things happen.

Working with the University of the Philippines Ayala Science Park project as a consultant, Posadas hopes that the Diliman-Loyola Heights area can develop the right infrastructure and culture to attract scientists, engineers, angel and venture capitalists, intellectual property lawyers, key technology suppliers, and others involved in commercializing intellectual property. But he says, we have to iron out the kinks, like outdated intellectual property rules that prevent government scientists from starting their own tech companies and the like. Posadas ends his book with a challenge.

While he says Asia can copy Silicon Valley, he says that innovation should be targeted towards raising the quality of life of the millions of people who live below $1 a day. He cites developments like the Pasa-load, or the innovations designed to help Overseas Contract Workers (OCWs) as the types of innovations that should be encouraged.

RICE & CHIPS: Technopreneurship and Innovation in Asia is published by PEARSON PRENTICE HALL. It will be available in National Bookstore this June 2007 in the Philippines, and internationally through other major bookstores as well as online through Amazon.com.

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Dennis Posadas is the author of RICE & CHIPS: Technopreneurship and Innovation in Asia
(Pearson Prentice Hall Asia, June 2007).

See http://ricebowlandchips.blogspot.com for more information about the book.

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