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the future of Water, March 2005
Club of Amsterdam pdf version SupporterPricewaterhouseCoopers Water as a commons, water management as a public cause As water is vital for life and shapes economic development, water has always been a focus of public concern and public action. However, changing ideas on governance of water, changing pressures on supplies and new debates about the crises linked with water also make this an important time for new public debate. This presentation will discuss how the perspective of water as a commons is shaping and changing water provision from perspectives of consumers and managers, particularly for the ‘services’ of water supply and irrigation. It will also look at emerging global questions on water management, and the challenges for public agencies and consumers to ensure water provision as planned by the Millennium Development Goals and other international conventions affecting water. The potential synergies, paradoxes and conflicts between these different proposed transformations for the consumer will also be debated. Linden Vincent Investing in Water Industry World wide turnover in the water and wastewater sector in 2004 was estimated at US$ 400 bln, with an expected* increase of 50% to US$ 605 bln in 2009. The United Nations** stipulates that per year additional investments of EUR 100 bln are needed to catch up with the growing demand. Apart from these massive investments, the quest for fresh water will result in privatisations of public organizations and the implementation of new breakthrough water technologies worldwide. Daco Enthoven Engendered or endangered: what is the future of water resources management? The achievement of the MDGs is setting up the rhythm of the international development agenda. Water as a cross cutting issue of development is an obvious starting point for various interventions around the world. While traditional perspectives of water developers and managers could tend to favour increased coverage, sustainability requires policies and practical interventions that promote efficiency, effectiveness and equity as basis for the transformation. The presentation will highlight that while water resources are developed and managed by humans for humans, the relationships of power, access, use and control are so different and diverse that often well intended efforts may have negative impacts on the most vulnerable risking the same development goals they are supposed to fulfil. The challenge of moving from theory to practice will also be discussed. Maria Arce 19:30 Welcome by our Moderator Homme Heida, Promedia, Member of the Club of Amsterdam Round Table 19:45 Part I: Linden Vincent: Water as a commons, water management as a public cause Daco Enthoven: Investing in Water Industry Maria Arce: Engendered or endangered: what is the future of water resources management? 20:45 Coffee break 21:15 Part II: Panel with the Speakers and our Moderator Homme Heida Linden Vincent Professor of Irrigation and Water Engineering Wageningen University and Research Centre Linden Vincent is Professor of Irrigation and Water Engineering at Wageningen University, previously working in academic and research institutions focused around international development and water management in the United Kingdom. Alongside this, she has worked as a consultant and expert in irrigation, rural water supply provision and water management in a number of southern countries. Her current research includes work on technological and institutional options in resolving water scarcity, groundwater-based irrigation and local water management institutions. http://www.dow.wur.nl/NR/exeres/195AA5BA-C115-4BF7-B503-8A37F361E60F.htm Ir Drs Daco J.J. Enthoven Founder, maxxFountain Water Fund Mr. Enthoven (50) has a background in technology, marketing and venture capital. After graduating from the Technical University of Delft, he worked as an analist at JDP Consult in the Netherlands and Congo-Brazzaville. Mr. Enthoven went on to complete his MBA at the University of Rotterdam and worked alongside his studies at Rodamco Fund as an investment executive. In 1985, Mr. Enthoven moved as an account manager to McCann Erickson and later as marketing director to BBDO Netherlands. In the 1990’s he started Maxx Business Development that implemented marketing projects for DSM, Toyota, Mitsubishi, KPN, PinkRoccade and Unisys as well as the Dutch Justice and Economy ministries. Beginning in 2000, Mr. Enthoven expanded into venture capital. As director of Twinning’s Amsterdam region, he was involved in all aspects of the startup and rollout of 50 IT related companies, including funding, organisation, technical development and commercial activities. Mr Enthoven has a sharp eye for opportunities in freshwater development. In early 2003, he launched MaxxFountain Water Investments that aims to invest in highly qualified water related companies with innovative technologies and good market potential. Mr Enthoven speaks fluent French, English, German and Dutch He is a passionate mountaineer and ice skater like the Netherlands’ Elfstedentocht ice skating marathon. http://www.maxxfountain.com Maria Arce Executive Secretary Gender and Water Alliance Maria Arce Moreira is the Executive Secretary of the Gender and Water Alliance. Originally from Bolivia and a civil engineer by academic formation, the main areas of her working experience relate to human settlements, urban environmental management, participatory processes and organisational development in various Latin American and African countries. http://www.irc.nl http://www.genderandwateralliance.org Homme Heida Promedia Member of the Club of Amsterdam Round Table Homme Heida is a generalist by heart, who worked as a journalist for several mass media like Algemeen Dagblad, Tros Aktua and publishing group VNU. After ten years he started his own bureau Promedia: company journalism, which slowly changed into business journalism. Now back again with larger media, he is editor-in-chief of Global Dutch, a magazine for Dutch entrepreneurs, who are active in foreign countries. Homme Heida has a continuing interest in a more philosophical approach of ‘being there’. His views on the future are very much based on new technologies. “Humans change only slowly by evolution. Technology will speed it up”, he argues. His credo is: ‘living body and soul’, which means to him a sportive challenge as well as an intellectual one. From the Amsterdam marathon till the Club of Amsterdam.
Club of Amsterdam Journal, March 2005, Issue 44
Content The Gender and Water Resource Guide News about Water News about the Future Next Event Desert Knowledge Australia NEW: Summit for the Future ReportRecommended Book Enculturated Management Models – the Need of a Globalised World Agenda Club of Amsterdam Open Business ClubClub of Amsterdam SearchSubmit your articleContactSubscribe The Gender and Water Resource Guide The Gender and Water Resource Guide Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a cross-sectoral policy approach to respond to the growing demands for water in the context of finite supplies. Policy makers, analysts, international organizations and governments have sought consensus on principles to guide the setting of priorities, policymaking and the elaboration of specific initiatives. Key points include: Water should be treated as an economic, social and environmental good; Water policies should focus on the management of water and not just on the provision of water; Governments should facilitate and enable the sustainable development of water resources, including a regulatory framework; Water resources should be managed at the lowest appropriate level; and There should be recognition that women play a central role in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. UNDP’s [United Nations Development Programme] water strategy draws on the thinking behind the global IWRM policy discussion and focuses on capacity-building for the governance of water resources and the aquatic environment. It is also linked to four UNDP focus areas: poverty reduction, livelihoods, environmental protection and gender equality. Introducing GenderPoor targeting, inequitable distribution of benefits and burdens, and poor operation and maintenance structures have hindered development projects aimed at addressing issues of sustainable development in water resources management. Community participation and management approaches have failed to address these issues largely because communities are often seen as a collection of people with a common purpose. Gender refers to the roles and responsibilities of men and women and the relationship between them. Gender does not simply refer to women or men, but to the way their qualities, behaviours and identities are determined through the process of socialization. These roles and responsibilities are culturally specific and can change over time. Gender is seen as the social construction of men’s and women’s roles in a given culture or location. Within this overall context, UNDP has defined its gender approach as: Taking account of gender concerns in all policy, programme, administrative and financial activities, and in organizational procedures, thereby contributing to a profound organizational transformation. Specifically… bringing the outcome of socio-economic and policy analysis into all decision-making processes of the organization, and tracking the outcome. This includes both the core policy decisions of the organization, and the small, everyday decisions of implementation. Maria Arce, Executive Secretary, Gender and Water Alliance Maria Arce is a speaker at our event about the future of Water on March 30th. News about Water 360 million Chinese without safe drinking water; chronic shortages in citiesby Asia AFP More than 360 million rural Chinese remain without safe drinking water and cities are facing chronic supply shortages, raising serious health concerns, senior officials warned. Zhai Haohui, vice minister of water resources, urged the government to devote more money to tackling the issue, the China Daily reported. “Priorities of the government investment should be given to the construction of more projects capable of supplying clean drinking water for all people throughout China, particularly the millions of rural people plagued by unclean drinking water,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands Chinese are afflicted with various diseases from drinking water that contains too much fluorine, arsenic, sodium sulfate or bitter salt,” said Wang Shucheng, minister of water resources. Zhai, the vice-minister of water resources, said the plan was to provide safe drinking water for all rural people by 2020. 2005 Stockholm Water PrizeThe Center for Science and Environment, based in New Delhi, India, won the Stockholm Water Prize “For a successful recovery of old and generation of new knowledge on water management, a community-based sustainable integrated resource management under gender equity, a courageous stand against undemocratic, top-down bureaucratic resource control, an efficient use of a free press, and an independent judiciary to meet these goals.” The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is an independent, public interest organisation which aims to increase public awareness on science, technology, environment and development. The Centre was started in 1980. For more than two decades, CSE has been creating awareness about the environmental challenges facing our nation. Searching for solutions that people and communities can implement themselves. Challenging India to confront its problems. Inspiring it to take action. Pushing the government to create frameworks for people and communities to act on their own. News about the Future LeitraThe Leitra is a new type of non-motorized vehicle designed for commuting, shopping, distribution of light goods, recreation and touring. The international term for this type of vehicle is a velomobile. It is fast, but not designed specificly for racing. The primary considerations for the design of this tri-cycle with full fairing were: Safety in normal traffic, cycle comfort in cold, windy and wet weather, sufficient payload for touring and shopping, reliability in daily operation – also in wintertime. Vitamin Enriched’ Rice Reignites GM Debateby BBCThe genetically modified food debate has flared up again after it was reported British scientists have developed a new GM strain of “golden rice”, which produces more beta-carotene than before.The strain produces about 20 times as much as previous varieties, the BBC reported.The human body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, and the breakthrough could help reduce deficiency of the vitamin and childhood blindness in developing countries, the report said.The new variety has been developed at the British laboratories of the biotechnology company Syngenta.The BBC said Syngenta would make the rice available for free to research centers across Asia, who will, if they are given the go-ahead by their governments, begin field trials. Next Event: Wednesday, March 30 the future of WaterWednesday, March 30, 2005reception: 18:30-19:30, conference: 19:30-22:15location: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Prins Bernhardplein 200, Amsterdam [next to Amstelstation], free parking. Linden Vincent: Water as a commons, water management as a public causeDaco Enthoven: Investing in Water IndustryMaria Arce: Engendered or endangered: what is the future of water resources management?Moderated by Homme Heida Desert Knowledge Australia Desert Knowledge Australia To live and thrive in desert regions, people require particular knowledge and know-how. Australia has extensive scientific and technical knowledge as well as thousands of years of accumulated indigenous expertise and other skills relevant to desert livelihoods. The knowledge that resides within inland Australia – individually and collectively – about successfully developing and sustainably living in harmony with these arid lands is of great value. These abilities have commercial potential in other desert countries facing problems such as installing renewable energy supplies, encroaching desertification, productive land management and service delivery over large distances to highly dispersed small communities. Knowledge ClustersNatural Resource ManagementPeople living and working in rangeland areas have indisputable know-how and technical skills in managing these lands. With an initial focus on the market potential of the many native food and medicinal plants used by Aboriginal people, this cluster is addressing horticultural, wild harvest, intellectual property, marketing and research requirements for this unique and valuable industry. Technical SolutionsThis cluster explores the physical infrastructure and technical services for desert communities. Areas include building, design and construction, water and energy use, waste disposal, transport and communications. Health, Education and Social ServicesPrimarily focussing on efficiency and methodology of remote delivery of health and educational services, this cluster will distil knowledge of better systems of governance and key service delivery. Towards a Solar RegionRenewable energy presents many opportunities for the knowledge economy in desert Australia. This cluster focuses on the development of viable renewable energy alternatives. Graduate Centre for Desert KnowledgeLocal bodies already host many post-graduate students. This cluster will work actively in partnership with Australian and international universities to co-ordinate and facilitate an expansion of post-graduate study across in-land Australia. To assist with this, a comprehensive list of suggested projects and support resources has been compiled and published. Sustainable CommunitiesThis cluster is working to improve regional outcomes by integrating economic, social and environmental knowledge. The program focuses on how local and remote communities can best interact with business and industry, in particular art and tourism, to improve regional life. Summit for the Future Report 2005 Summit for the Future Report 2005 The Club of Amsterdam released the Summit for the Future Report. You can download it for FREE [190 pages, pdf, 2,77MB]: https://clubofamsterdam.com/2020/10/27/summit-for-the-future-2005/ Recommended Book Oceans 2020: Science, Trends, and the Challenge of Sustainabilityby Gotthilf Hempel, C. P. Summerhayes, John G. Field, IOC, SCOR, SCOPE Oceans 2020 presents a comprehensive assessment of the most important science and societal issues that are likely to arise in marine science and ocean management in the next twenty years. Sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR), and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE), the book brings together the world’s leading ocean scientists and researchers to analyze the state of marine science and technology, identify key scientific issues for sustainable development, and evaluate the capability of scientists, governments, and private-sector stakeholders to respond to those issues. Oceans 2020 suggests what can be done about major marine environmental issues through the better development and application of marine science and technology, focusing on the issues that are most closely related to human and sustainable development. It will help guide countries in developing their marine science and technology strategies and priorities and is an essential source of information for policymakers, government officials, resource managers, scientists, the media, and all those concerned with the current and future health of the oceans. Enculturated Management Models – the Need of a Globalised World Enculturated Management Models – the Need of a Globalised Worldby Leif Thomas Olsen, International Centre for Consulting Excellence (ICfCE) Anthropologist Melville Herskovits’ wrote that ‘Given the premise, the logic is inescapable’, and psychologist Harry Triandis described culturally derived premises as “unstated assumptions, standard operating procedures, ways of doing things that have been internalized to such an extent that people do not argue about them”. So how come the so-called ‘international community’ so often, in spite of their lead agent’s (IMF – International Monetary Fund) failings in the handling of two major economic crises of the 1990s, still make the mistake to believe that the Washington Consensus has universal following? Could the answer not be that this Washington Consensus is in itself a culture, with its own culturally derived “unstated assumptions”? A string of ‘formulas’ may help to explain the links between culture as a phenomenon and the action we take in the name of it. Let me here suggest that our everyday logic is heavily influenced by the following interrelated developments: On the Social Level (LS): Cultural Values (CV) + Environment (E1) = Cultural Application (CA) On the Empirical Level (LE): + Cultural Application (CA) + Experience (E2) = Cultural Premise (CP) On the Logical Level (LL): Observations (O1-n) + Cultural Premise (CP) = Cultural Conclusion (CC) On the Action Level (LA): + Cultural Conclusion (CC) + Resources (R1) + Resolve (R2) = Cultural Behaviour (CBe) xplained in simple English this means that the application of our cultural values will be shaped by the environment we operate in. For instance, a newly arrived Chinese immigrant to the US may act differently in a given situation in the US, compared to what s/he would have done in China, not necessarily because of an immediate change in his/her cultural values, but because the US environment (in which s/he now operates) is very different from China, making the ‘normal’ behaviour impractical, or even unrealistic. As s/he gains experience from operating in a ‘new’ environment, this experience will also start to affect his/her premises (underlying assumptions). This means that instead of assuming a certain type of development based on past experiences, s/he will now begin to assume different types of developments, based on fresh experiences in the new environment, combined with the ‘old’ references that s/he still retains. Once these new premises start to ‘stick’ in his/her consciousness, a new type of logic will develop, one that most probably can be said to position itself somewhere between the old logic s/he used to apply, and the prevailing logic in his/her new environment. Armed with this new logic, and given whatever resources and resolve s/he has and/or can muster, s/he will act in whatever way s/he now finds ‘logical’. No doubt is this not at all a linear process of development or change, nor one where the different steps always will reveal themselves as individual steps. However, all of them must be passed through before his/her action will change as a direct consequence of the new cultural influences s/he is exposed to. Having accepted this it soon becomes understandable why it is so difficult to (e.g.) introduce management models developed in one cultural setting into another cultural setting. As any management model constitutes the ‘essence’ – in fact the distillate – of all the thinking that went into the development of it, the model itself equals the ‘cultural conclusion’ in the formula outlined above. To simply try to share the observation (such as poor competitiveness or low profitability) and then force the management model (i.e. the conclusion) onto the situation, is bound to fail – no matter how well it worked in the environment where the model was first developed. If the cultural premises (developed from the ‘social’ and ’empirical’ levels preceding the ‘logical’ level where it is applied) upon which the management model is based, are not in place in the culture in which the model is going to be applied, it is frankly speaking not going to succeed. Let me take just one example: Most management models developed in the West tend to equal ‘seniority’ with hierarchical positions. But in most Asian societies is this just one aspect of seniority, affecting the authority it carries. Quite obviously is age an important seniority-issue in the East, but so is the issue of relationship. So does for instance social practices in Vietnam (still) request even a small child to treat his or her younger cousin as an older sibling, if his/her parent is younger than the cousins’ parent who is the brother or sister of the child’s own parent. Complicated? Perhaps to a Westerner, but to a Vietnamese this is a “standard operating procedure”. And if one grows up being taught that that is the way to relate to (and as seniority is crucial, also ‘treat’) family members, it is not strange that one’s view on how to relate to and treat future colleagues also becomes different from that of a Westerner. So what do I want to suggest from all this? In the name of a more even-handed globalisation process, offering also ‘the Rest’ the equal opportunity that “the West” so often stresses, I suggest a marked effort to enculturate the management models that universities and MBA programs teach, helping local students and professionals alike to actually see the forest for of all the trees. Starting in Asia, the International Centre for Consulting Excellence (ICfCE) is in the process of setting up a network of Think Tanks, particularly targeting societies where Western management models and techniques are regularly taught (and/or exported to through a multitude of bi- and multilateral projects) – in spite of the receiving society’s often very obvious differences in culturally derived premises when compared to those upon which the models themselves are based. By actually reversing the process that created the model in the first place, and identifying and replacing the invalid premises, the task of these Think Tanks is to develop enculturated management models – based on that particular culture’s uniqueness and strong points, while still making best use of the vast research, experience and know-how that went into the model in the first place. Club of Amsterdam Agenda Club of Amsterdam Season 2004/2005 .March 30, 2005 the future of Water .April 27, 2005 the future of Branding .June 1, 2005 the future of Robotics .June 29, 2005 the future of Philosophy Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club
Club of Amsterdam Journal, March 2005, Issue 43
Content Q&A with Daco Enthoven Q&A with Linden Vincent News about the Future Next Event Ecological House of the Future Summit for the Future: Video Recommended Book Office of the Future Agenda Club of Amsterdam Open Business ClubClub of Amsterdam SearchSubmit your articleContactSubscribe Q&A with Daco Enthoven Daco J.J. Enthoven Founder, maxxFountain Water Fund Club of Amsterdam: The Water Industry is known as being a conservative industry. Nevertheless major changes ahead create opportunities for new ventures. Can you briefly describe the key areas of development? Daco Enthoven:Trends Increasing consumption: global consumption has increased eightfolf over the last 200 years and is expected to double over the coming 20 years Old water and wastewater systems leading to leakage percentages of 50% Increasing water tariffs Drivers: Changing regulations and water directives leading to new standards Srtingent directives Consolidation in the industry Promising technologies including low energy consumption Key areasDesalination projectsWaste water treatment technologiesEnergy recoverySpillage & leaking controlPipeline renovationDesinfection systems Technologies Membrame technologies including reversed osmosisUV technologiesUltrasound sludge treatmentBacterial waste water treatmentprocess monitoringEnergy recovery Today, there are still almost 1.1 billion people who have inadequate access to water and 2.4 billion without appropriate sanitation. What are the key commercial avenues dealing with this? Daco Enthoven: Increasing privatisationsOutsourcing of services of public companiesRapid expansion of low energy water treatment systems Q&A with Linden Vincent Linden Vincent, Professor of Irrigation and Water Engineering Wageningen University and Research Centre Club of Amsterdam:Each year 80 million additional people will tap the earth’s water. In the past century, global water withdrawals have increased almost tenfold. Some countries have abundant, untapped stores of water to support growth well into the future. But others are already using most of their water, and major increases in supplies will be expensive. How can developed countries adapt to these changing circumstances? Linden Vincent: It’s the energy, innovation and loyal commitments of local groups, agencies, and capacities of national states (and how they work with global funding and knowledge agencies, that make people find means to overcome shortages of water – not only money, per capita income or levels of ‘development’ per se. Among ‘developed’ countries, policies have include transformation of water use patterns (crop diversification and exchange around water rights), to gain more income from available water and thus import good with higher water demands has been one approach (called ‘virtual water’ policies, where water shortages are also resolved through trade and sound political networks). Technological changes have also come: metering and prevention of wastage, reuse of treated wastewater and better control of water disposal are other options. But the most important for changing circumstances is also better dialogue and negotiation with users over their services, and their involvement in choices about future services. Australia and South Africa are both countries where a proportion of the water tariff charged for water goes directly to fund research, and representatives of those who pay for water also help to pay for this research. ‘Developing counties’ have also found ways to share available scarce water better and prevent wastage and theft: there are alternative paradigms to high infrastructure investment and new charges to commercial users. For example, Thailand has had a major programme in the past to diversify its agriculture, which also changed water use patterns. In India, programmes have included watershed management that reduces runoff and environmental degradation, new community institutions that manage local water rights better, and better control of electricity supplies and introduction of smaller decentralised power supply units that may restrict excessive pumping of groundwater. Rural water has to be shared by growing cities. How can we achieve greater efficiency in the use of water and fair allocation? Linden Vincent: I think it’s important not to make sweeping generalised statements about stresses between rural and urban water supplies. Growing cities often have to import their water supplies, and it is local areas sharing these abstraction areas, and also absorbed by peri-urban growth, that face the biggest challenges if water is really inadequate for all. Not all rural areas are threatened by growing cities. Some of the designs and procedures in use in areas with reticulated supplies (piped systems) across urban and rural areas that face water supply limits have included: lower allowances per capita (while ensuring quality is good); rationing access times; changing policies across the year as levels of scarcity change with available water supply, in system modernisation to limit losses and modulate peaks and demands of supply, and education to change consumption patterns (never leave a running tap!) and use water-saving appliances in our homes. Being downstream of major urban and irrigation developments can also bring risks for rural areas. Then projects do have to look into upstream-downstream relationships, to see if they can build new institutions that help people share water in stress periods. There are examples of’ spatial water institutions that operate ‘ad hoc’ to broker actions between upstream-downstream users during scarcity periods (in Bali for example). Elsewhere, there are discussions of how users in upstream and downstream areas might share or trade rights, some do not use rights in bad years and gain more benefits in good years. Australia and Mexico are good examples of countries facing periodic insufficiencies of water, that have worked to build spatial water institutions that can encompass urban-rural dilemmas and weather sequences of dry and wet years between users. Efficiency is not a magic word, and I do not think it is the most important performance criteria for system operations. Saving leaks and reducing any wastage is important, but technologies will also need some surplus water to run with, and costs and operational needs are important too. Over-high efficiencies can be a sign that there is a problem in a network – that water is not getting through properly to an area! It is important to actually think about the service you want to provide, and what demand is prioritised to supply. The entitlements that communities feel they have to local water sources are fundamental in determining how water sources can really be shared. Reliability, safety, adequacy, equity and accountability are also other criteria for water supply systems that water users also look for, increase community pride and involvement in their water services, and that people are often prepared to pay more for. UN-HABITAT estimates that in 2001 there were 924 million slum dwellers in the world and that without significant intervention to improve access to water, sanitation, secure tenure and adequate housing this number could grow to 1.5 billion by 2020. Are there positive scenarios? Can you give as an example? Can you confirm? Linden Vincent: These estimates are real, and alarming but there are positive scenarios. For eample you can look on the internet for projects in Bangalore in India, Dacca in Bangladesh, and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, to mention only a few cities where agencies, local and international NGOs, civil society groups and UN organisations (like WHO and UNICEF) are working for better water services in slums. Actions can often involve linkages with community representatives, means to recognise the presence of people who may not otherwise have land rights or formal addresses – for example through ration cards, identity cards etc, and ways to cut through bureaucracy to get connections at good prices for groups. These programmes are also integrated with hygiene education in schools and user groups. The poor can pay a lot for their water to be carried in and to get illegal connections, and they will make good connections if they can. Also, there have been some innovative projects to access local water – often mega-cities depend on large reticulated supplies from distant reservoirs that can exclude non-registered users. So in many towns – like Delhi for example -, people have also looked to reuse local water, treat it, or tap local groundwater through tube wells to supply ‘slums’, with water sourced through communal stand pumps. This local provision also can be better supported by local committees. Sewerage is a bigger challenge, but also people are active to share designs and find new ones – of course historically design from rural Africa on latrine and septic tanks have had a big influence but now engineers from America – particularly Brazil – have looked to see how designs for ‘simplified sewerage’ can serve more densely populated areas. While local designers are central in helping solve problems, international agencies and NGOs like WaterAid, and WHO and the World Bank have helped in stimulation of new local practices as well as transfer and adaptation of known designs locally in slum areas. Again, a lot depends on how the local government sees and accepts urban growth to recognise ‘slums’ and give access to better, recgonised low-cost housing. One important approach is to see urban growth as inevitable and dynamic, as bringing in migrants that, while they are poor and face many problems, also are vibrant, have local livelihoods that generate income, will contribute their time and labour in support, and are interested to work on their problems for their own future. Slum dwellers are not passive problem groups. There are drivers for change with groups in slums via local action and group representation, and new technological options locally, as well as finding ways to meet bureaucratic requirements to connect to supplies. news about the future Rinspeed SensoThe Rinspeed designed the Senso concept car with Rinspeed and Bayer MaterialScience.This project also involves a sophisticated system of sensors developed by the Universities of Zurich and Innsbruck. Smart Surface Technology, a new 3D-formable electroluminescent film from Bayer MaterialScience and Lumitec, uses biometric data and other information to create an appropriate level of light for the driver, thereby having a positive effect on him/her. Fish-farming BreakthroughJapan has spent decades developing and refining highly advanced fish-farming techniques. Many of those efforts came to fruition when the first consignment ever of farmed bluefin tuna, a fish that fetches extremely high prices, was shipped commercially. In a related development, a major supermarket has announced plans to sell flounder that has been farmed without the use of antibiotics. The technology of fish farming, a practice that offers advantages in terms of food safety and conservation, is advancing rapidly. Next Event: Wednesday, March 30 the future of WaterWednesday, March 30, 2005reception: 18:30-19:30, conference: 19:30-22:15location: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Prins Bernhardplein 200, Amsterdam [next to Amstelstation], free parking. Linden Vincent: Water as a commons, water management as a public causeDaco Enthoven: Investing in Water IndustryMaria Arce: Engendered or endangered: what is the future of water resources management?Moderated by Homme Heida Ecological House of the Future Ecological House of the Future Architect, Eugene Tsui (AIA, NCARB, APA, Ph.D.), has been called, “the seminal architect of the 21st century”. Why? Through many years of research and application Dr. Tsui has developed an all-encompassing applied philosophy based upon the profound study of nature’s processes, organisms, structures and materials at a multitude of levels, from sub atomic particles to the kineseology of insect and animal anatomy, to the ecological relationships of living habitats, and then applies this knowledge to the design and construction of our built environment. The results are a dimension of design unlike anything in previous history. Eugene Tsui: “The world has far too few dreamers and far too many ambitious conformists. If we are to fulfill our destiny and become all that we can become as individuals in the family of humanity, then we must listen to our inner voices and consider the source of our life on earth. We must never forget that as we heighten and deepen our understanding of ourselves and of nature, so shall we raise and strengthen the consciousness of the whole of humanity.” Impressions from the Summit for the Future 2005 The Summit for the Future turned out to be a fantastic event. With delegates from than 30 countries, 22 partners, 40 high quality speakers – a great athmosphere producing inspiring discussions, interdisciplinary insights or simply energy for innovation! Summit for the Future 2005 Video Recommended Book The Hidden Messages in Waterby Masaru Emoto The Hidden Messages in Water is an eye-opening theory showing how water is deeply connected to people’s individual and collective consciousness. Drawing from his own research, scientific researcher, healer, and popular lecturer Dr. Masaru Emoto describes the ability of water to absorb, hold, and even retransmit human feelings and emotions. Using high-speed photography, he found that crystals formed in frozen water reveal changes when specific, concentrated thoughts are directed toward it. Music, visual images, words written on paper, and photographs also have an impact on the crystal structure. Emoto theorizes that since water has the ability to receive a wide range of frequencies, it can also reflect the universe in this manner. He found that water from clear springs and water exposed to loving words shows brilliant, complex, and colorful snowflake patterns, while polluted water and water exposed to negative thoughts forms incomplete, asymmetrical patterns with dull colors. Emoto believes that since people are 70 percent water, and the Earth is 70 percent water, we can heal our planet and ourselves by consciously expressing love and goodwill. Office of the Future Ars Electronica FuturelabThe Ars Electronica Futurelab is developing prototype components for everyday use in the telematic office of the future. The primary objective of this multi-phase research project is to integrate currently available technologies into ergonomically and beautifully designed scenarios. An integral part of this is subjecting conventional concepts and visions to tests of their viability. Objects and pieces of furniture have been custom-designed for the purpose of evaluating these concepts and visions, and thus offer exhibition visitors a demonstration of current possibilities. Digital Corporation Finland: Office of the FutureFinland is about one and a half times the size of Britain with a population of five million. Technically it is advanced, having more homes connected by cable network than anywhere else in Europe, and the highest density of mobile phones. Digital is one of the world’s leading computer manufacturers. Their office in Helsinki was originally designed along traditional lines, with dedicated office space surrounded by high partitions. It was overcrowded, and people could neither see nor talk to each other. The Office of the Future is modelled on a television news room. The centre is busy and exciting with information flowing round giving a creative atmosphere. There are quiet pools, and ‘the best four person conference room’ – a garden swing. Participation in the design process and a free flow of information to and from the project team were critical in making a success of the project. The metamorphisis room. A room where anything can be changed.Martela-Lab can quickly be transformed. In less than an hour the room can be converted from an open-plan office to a cellular office or conference room. By moving walls and ceilings, and changing colors and lighting, you can create a number of brand new rooms. “The lab is a brand new concept and we feel it’s fun to offer our customers this service. We also believe that the lab is a great help and benefit for architects, a crucial target group for us. At this time the lab is only available in Stockholm, but if it works well we may also build labs in our other countries within the Group,” says director of marketing Bengt Flint Persson. Club of Amsterdam Agenda Club of Amsterdam Season 2004/2005 February 23, 2005 the future of the Service Industry March 30, 2005 the future of Water April 27, 2005 the future of Branding June 1, 2005 the future of Robotics June 29, 2005 the future of Philosophy Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club
Club of Amsterdam Journal, February 2005, Issue 42
Content Services – a future in The Netherlands? News about the Future Next Event The Future of the European Union Summit for the Future: VideoRecommended Book Ocean Arks International Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club AgendaClub of Amsterdam SearchSubmit your articleContactSubscribe Services – a future in The Netherlands? Sjirk van der Goot, Executive Consultant and Founder, Perceive commercial management services Every person that has ever enjoyed the average service level in bars, restaurants and clubs in The Netherlands and particulary in Amsterdam will have experienced first handed that the Dutch personality and the Dutch mentality are not yet famous for their true service attitudes. Nevertheless some of us are learning rapidly that the service industry might be our only option left to generate at least some level of economic and social prosperity in The Netherlands in the years to come after the closing and/or outsourcing of almost all Dutch farming and manufacturing industries. Nowdays we hear a lot about the knowledge society and that The Netherlands should develop towards a knowledge society. But what is the value of this knowledge when we have no industries left to test the actual value of all our newly developed knowledge and to benefit from it when this knowledge really proves to deliver the added value and increased competitive advantage that we expect from it? And why should other countries be interested in our “non-tested” knowledge when they have the opportunity to test their own newly developed knowledge in their own industries on a day-to-day basis? Therefore the service industry might present a better alternative for future economic development in The Netherlands than the knowledge society does. Sjirk van der Goot is the moderator at our event about the future of the Service Industry: In this session we will look at three perspectives on the service industry in The Netherlands. Frank den Butter will look at the history of The Netherlands as a trade nation and point out how the Dutch might even strengthen their traditional position as global traders in our new world of globalization and rapidly evolving information & communication technologies. Bob Stumpel will look at the use of new technologies in the service industry so far and the lessons learned from these approaches. Buddy Kluin will show a video with various examples of customer services provided by mobile phone and then discuss the impact of mobile communications on the service industry, both business to consumer and business to business. After the coffee break there will be an open discussion about the future of the service industry in The Netherlands between the three speakers and all participants in the audience. News about the Future AquacultureAquaculture is the fastest growing food production system in the world and it accounts for approximately one-third of global fisheries landings. In addition to the production of fisheries products, aquaculture also consumes more fishmeal and fish oil than any other industry. Thus, the combined production and consumption of aquaculture accounts for about half of all fisheries’ production in the world. The rapid expansion of the industry has focused attention on the need for effective management strategies. Such strategies are needed to enhance the positive contributions that shrimp farming and other forms of aquaculture can make to economic growth and poverty alleviation, while controlling negative environmental and social impacts that may accompany poorly planned and regulated developments. Several hundred different species are farmed around the world both for sale on the international market and for subsistence food production. Global production of farmed aquatic animals and plants in 2000 reached 45.7 million metric tons with an on-farm value of $56.5 billion. Like agricultural farms, aquacultural farms range from small-scale operations for local food production to intensive, mechanized operations geared towards export. Farmed species that are traded in volume on the international market include oyster, tilapia, catfish, trout, mussels, and scallops. Shrimp and salmon, two of the most valuable species, are also traded widely. Concept-Foods“The food industry needs new shapes, new textures, new styles”, said Edouard Malbois, who heads the world’s self-proclaimed first designer food consultancy firm, Enivrance. “Our job is Imaginary Foods, a new discipline linking the real world and the world of fantasy.” Enivrance, which is developing designer foods for the likes of McDonalds, Lavazza and Barilla, and has worked with top stores such as Harrods of London and Galeries Lafayette in Paris, unveils its latest creations: The “Earth Egg” prototype has a crusty cereal-like shell with a green creamy substance posing as the white and soja-sprouts and other veggie featuring as the yolk. Next Event: Services – a future in The Netherlands? the future of the Service IndustryServices – a future in The Netherlands?Wednesday, February 23, 2005reception: 18:30-19:30, conference: 19:30-22:15location: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Prins Bernhardplein 200, Amsterdam [next to Amstelstation], free parking. Frank A.G. den Butter: The future of trade and servicesBob Stumpel: The anti-service paradox of the service industry’s interpretation of serviceBuddy R. Kluin: The Impact of Mobile Communication in the Service IndustryModerated by Sjirk van der Goot The Future of the European Union The Future of the European UnionBy Dr Patrick Dixon Try to imagine what historians will write about Europe in the year 2100. Did integration succeeed in preventing a Third World War – as was the hope of the founders of the European Union? How stable was the Union after expansion to include many former Eastern bloc nations? What was the outcome of major showdowns between The Federal States of Europe and America through 2020-2030? How did the Union cope with massive influx of foreign nationals? What happened to national parliaments, laws, markets, languages and cultures? Major challenges to the future of Europe lie ahead. If the great experiment succeeds, it will create an economic, political and military force to pose real challenges to the United States, with its enlargement to 25 countries and a population approaching 500 million. Expansion will add 23% to the EU’s land area and bring in 75 million additional citizens, with a combined economy of $9.3 trillion, approaching that of the U.S. The Most Likely Future for EuropeThe most likely scenario for the future of the EU over the next decade and a half will be slow but steady progress towards integration, held back by the rich diversity of cultures and economic situations. A Greater Europe cannot be built without strong EU governance and visionary leadership, yet these are the two issues which are notably missing at present. The European Parliament does not command the same sense of respect as national Parliaments, nor the connection with ordinary people. This is a serious problem. Who makes decisions in Europe anyway? Is it EU councils of Ministers who are appointed by their own governments? Is it elected representatives of the people (MEPs)? And that is the heart of the problem. […] Impressions from the Summit for the Future 2005 The Summit for the Future turned out to be a fantastic event. With delegates from than 30 countries, 22 partners, 40 high quality speakers – a great athmosphere producing inspiring discussions, interdisciplinary insights or simply energy for innovation! Recommended Book The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts, and Culturesby Frans Johansson Why is it that so many world-changing insights come from people with little or no related experience? Charles Darwin, after all, was a geologist when he proposed the theory of evolution. And it was an astronomer who finally explained what happened to the dinosaurs. Frans Johansson argues that breakthrough ideas most often occur when we bring concepts from one field into new, unfamiliar territory. In this space – which Johansson calls “the Intersection” – established ideas clash and combine with insights from other fields, disciplines, and cultures, resulting in an explosion of totally new ideas. The Medici Effect – referring to a remarkable burst of creativity in Florence during the Renaissance – shows us how to get to the Intersection and how we can turn the ideas we discover there into path-breaking innovations. From the insight that created the first Cherokee written language to the ideas that enabled scientists to read the mind of a monkey – The Medici Effect is filled with vivid stories of intersections across domains as diverse as business, science, art, and politics. Johansson reveals the core principles – including breaking down associative barriers, routinely combining unlike concepts, and executing past your failures – that can enable individuals, teams, and entire organizations to create their own “Medici effects” in any arena of work and life. Frans Johansson is a writer, consultant, and entrepreneur residing in New York City. Ocean Arks International Ocean Arks International “We work on the premise that it is possible to create a sustainable society in the early 21st century. Such a society would be embedded with an Earth stewardship ethic. We believe it is possible to reverse today’s loss of soils, forests and water quality as well as to slow or even arrest the wide spread loss of species.” Treating Wastes and Protecting WatersFor over a decade Ocean Arks International has been developing floating ecological technologies to enhance water quality and restore polluted bodies of water. These Restorer technologies can accomplish a variety of tasks in both natural and constructed bodies of water. They have the ability to purify wastewater, maintain pond health or restore stressed natural bodies of water. Recent developments include Restorers treating food-processing and agricultural wastes in constructed lagoons. Other examples include protecting and upgrading secondary drinking water supplies and reducing algae in brackish water. In natural ponds, they rejuvenate water badly impacted from landfill and septic tank lagoon wastes and reduce the impact of eutrophication, or nutrient enrichment. Applications in the developing world, particularly in urban areas, are endless. They have the capability, when integrated with other natural systems technologies, to treat sewage to advanced wastewater and water reuse standards. Impact on Water QualityRestorers support a wide spectrum of treatment processes and the organisms responsible for the treatment, creating an economical and effective system. They can reduce organic loading or Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), improve water clarity through Total Suspended Solids (TSS) reduction and lower fats, oils and greases (FOG) in the water. Ammonia, nitrate, TKN and fecal coliform levels are also reduced. They have the capability of removing pathogens, priority pollutants and heavy metals from the water. They also can decrease nutrient levels, including nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrification is enhanced and denitrification can be incorporated into Restorer designs. Restorers function in many ways like conventional waste treatment systems but also enhance the dynamic ecological cycles within the lagoons, ponds, lakes and canals in which they reside. Purified water can be polished for non-potable reuse such as irrigation, toilet flushing, agricultural wash down, industrial clean-in-place (CIP) routines or cooling tower influent. The Water Stewards NetworkThe Water Stewards Network is our vehicle for disseminating the practices of water stewardship that can empower communities to retain, or regain, their autonomy and integrity amidst the tides of globalization. This grassroots initiative was launched in the summer of 2003 in response to the current state of global water politics. Corporations, international trade and development agencies, and governments are forcibly turning water into a commodity and placing its management in the hands of the free market. This approach is leaving a path of ecological, economic and cultural destruction in its wake. There is a mounting international campaign, however, rising in opposition to these trends in policy – peoples’ movements emerging from every region of the globe demanding that water remain in the commons as a human right. There is no doubt that we are on a sure path to a freshwater crisis in the near future. In order to turn this situation around it is imperative that we begin to implement sustainable solutions to our water problems immediately. The issue of corporate control is, of course, highly important, yet we feel the global dialogue is deficient in the area of alternatives. The Water Stewards Network is building and distributing a ‘toolbox’ of information on the many facets of water management that will enable people to take responsibility for the local water resources. We cannot wait for governments to come to agreement on the issues surrounding the privatization of ‘the commons’. The people of the world need to act now to ensure a water secure future. Advanced Farm EcosystemsAquaculture Research and Development: Our aquaculture program is centered on systems that are self-sustaining and do not rely on feeds containing ocean harvested fishmeal. The goal is to create efficient recirculating systems that produce high quality fish, shrimp and hydroponic produce without the need for energy intensive waste treatment. Mycology and Mushroom Research and Development: Our mycology and mushroom program is focused on the establishment of a comprehensive native culture library as well as the cultivation of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. The native culture library is used to match valuable species to available substrates, as a source of native biological material to remediate damaged ecosystems and to investigate unknown ecological and medicinal properties. Cultivation of mushrooms in the ecological food production system is accomplished using waste organic materials directly or in the form of compost. Neighboring industries, such as breweries, and farms supply suitable materials for mushroom growth. Club of Amsterdam Agenda Club of Amsterdam Season 2004/2005 .February 23, 2005 the future of the Service Industry .March 30, 2005 the future of Water .April 27, 2005 the future of Branding .June 1, 2005 the future of Robotics .June 29, 2005 the future of Philosophy Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club
the future of the Service Industry, February 2005
Club of Amsterdam Services – a future in The Netherlands? pdf version SupporterPricewaterhouseCoopers The future of trade and services Ever since the 17th century, known as its Golden Age, the Netherlands succeeded remarkably well in keeping its leading position in world trade. Even today a considerable part of its welfare stems from trade. In this context trade should be seen as exchange of property rights. Many people in the Netherlands earn, directly or indirectly, money by conducting and enabling such transactions in trade. A major part of the service sector is directly or indirectly engaged in facilitating and creating value in these trade transactions. On the one hand it is necessary to keep the costs of the transactions as low as possible: lower transaction costs lead to more trade. On the other hand it is obvious that the transactions should be profitable and create value. Globalisation and information technology bring about rapid changes in the way trade transactions take place. It creates new opportunities for trade and services. Therefore it is necessary that one should be aware of these changes and opportunities, and know how to react and invest in knowledge on transactions. For instance, formal barriers to trade, such as transport costs and import restrictions, will gradually disappear. It makes informal trade barriers such as cultural differences, legal infrastructure, rules and regulations of local governments, red tape and especially trust between trading partners of more importance. The more knowledge we have on these aspects, which are partly tacit knowledge, the better we can strengthen our position as traders. This is one of the main massages of the report on “The Netherlands as a trading nation” published by the Scientific Council for Government Policy in 2003. Prof. Den Butter was the director and initiator of that project of the council. Now he is engaged in founding the Amsterdam Trade University which is an institute of highest international standards for research and education in the fields of legal, technical, financial, cultural, administrative and business knowledge related to trade transactions. Frank A.G. den Butter The anti-service paradox of the service industry’s interpretation of service Many service providers have been heavily disappointed by CRM and other contact management technologies. Why? Because they hoped that they could reduce their service efforts. Where their motivation should have been to improve their service levels. Because that is what customers expect and demand nowadays. Bob Stumpel The impact of mobile communication in the service industry Buddy Kluin will discuss the impact of Mobile Communication on the business of a professional football club. He will show us “a day in the life of an Arsenal football supporter”. We will see Tommy Lee travelling from his home town to Leeds using his PDA. We will see how modern technology provides him with information, and also changes his life as a football supporter. Arsenal as a professional football club in England transformed their organisation and their business model to manage doing business in a new way. Today we are in Amsterdam, hometown of Ajax also a famous professional football club. Does modern communication technology also affect the business of Ajax? And their football fans, what’s in it for them? Buddy R. Kluin 19:30 Welcome by our Moderator Sjirk van der Goot, Executive Consultant and Founder, Perceive commercial management services 19:45 Part I: Frank A.G. den Butter: The future of trade and services Bob Stumpel: The anti-service paradox of the service industry’s interpretation of service Buddy R. Kluin: The Impact of Mobile Communication in the Service Industry 20:45 Coffee break 21:15 Part II: Panel with the Speakers and our Moderator Sjirk van der Goot The panel is followed by an open discussion. Frank A.G. den Butter Professor of Economics, Vrije Universiteit and former member of the Scientific Council for Government Policy Present affiliation: Professor of Economics, Free University (1988- ), Amsterdam, The Netherlands Major previous affiliations: Research Fellow Econometrics and Special Studies Department, de Nederlandsche Bank (1973-1988, from 1979 deputy director of the department); Director Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam (1989-1996); Vice Dean and Director of Research, Free University, Amsterdam Member of Scientific Council for Government Policy (at the Prime Minister’s Office; 1998- 2002), The Hague, The Netherlands; Chairman Royal Netherlands Economic Association (1997-2003); Founder and director of Applied Labour Economics Research Team (ALERT: 1988-2002); Head of Department of Economics, Free University, Amsterdam; Member Board European Association of Labour Economists (EALE); Member Social Economic Policy Committee of Social Economic Council (1992-2002); Consultant for OECD and Dutch Ministeries of Finance Ministries of Finance, Economic Affairs, Social Affairs and Employment, Spatial Planning, Housing and Environment, and Infrastructure. Major other present functions: Chairman Supervisory Committee Economic Institute for the Building Industry (EIB); Member of Central Statistical Committee (CCS), Member Royal Dutch Society of Sciences, Various other governmental and scientific committees. Major present research interests: Futures studies, interaction between policy and research, institutional organisation of policy analysis, applied labour economics, flow approach to labour markets, technology and employment, economic models of the environment, time series analysis, macroeconomic modelling, monetary economics. Publications include several books and articles in e.g. Journal of Econometrics, Journal of Monetary Economics, Applied Statistics, Empirical Economics, Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, Economic Modelling, Journal of Policy Modeling, Environmental and Resource Economics, Social Indicators Research, Open Economies Review, Energy Policy, Economics Letters, De Economist, European Journal of Political Economy, LABOUR, Applied Economics, Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv. (1948; married, two children) http://www.feweb.vu.nl Bob Stumpel (in business since 1978) Bob started his career as a copywriter and concept maker, later developing into a business strategist and consultant. He built two advertising agency groups in The Netherlands, developing both to a level of ‘biggest independent agency in the Benelux’, and then merging them into international agency networks. He is a long time pioneer in helping marketers to use or integrate new technologies, new media and new channels to enhance or revive more traditional marketing and communication routines. Bob is a co-founder and board member of Result, an international growth consultancy, and a co-founder and managing partner at Cellspace, a radical marketing communications agency. Bob works or worked for clients like Nivea, Kimberly Clark, Courvoisier, Balantine’s, Mazda, Toyota, Lexus, Lotus, Robeco, Rodamco, Cisco, LogicaCMG, Microsoft, KPN, Sonera, Mindport, Irdeto, Compuserve, Sony, Philips, Cannon Films, Cannon Movie Theaters, UIP, Universal, Sony Music & Entertainment, VNU, Sanoma, RTL, several governemental bodies, and many NGO’s. He’s a co-founder and board member of DDMA, the Dutch DMA. He recently launched Cellspace, his third marcom agency adventure. As an international account co-ordinator he is presently responsible for the roll-out of the successful social software provider Open Business Club (OpenBC.com) in 6 countries, taking the role of country manager for OpenBC in The Netherlands. http://www.cellspace.nl http://www.result.com http://www.openbc.com Buddy R. Kluin Co-founder and lead strategist, Y-now As of summer 2003 Buddy started Y-now, the network agency for rephrasing and implementing corporate, commercial and connected strategy. The business of Y-now value networks is making our clients more valuable. Y-now is founded on the principle that our clients should get delivered results – not just reports. We advice and guide senior management in the development of their business strategy. Given the complex environment in which most companies find themselves today, it is essential not only to formulate a good strategy, but first and foremost to implement it. To really make this work, it is important to implement change with the right speed. Going to fast, the organization will not be able to follow and adopt the changes. Moving too slowly, the momentum is lost and targets will not be achieved. We measure our success by our client’s results. For more than four years now, Buddy focuses on the opportunities related to the mobile & wireless medium. He helps his clients to master the complexities of using new technologies as a key enabler for competitive advantage in emerging ecosystems. The clients are able to make the best possible strategic decisions about their future needs and understand how to maximize the value of current IT operations. While implementing mobile & wireless technology he helps his clients to capture real and measurable advantage. Previous employment includes Capgemini, where he worked as a principal management consultant and Cambridge Technology Partners, where he has been responsible for the set up and expansion of the Digital Business Strategy Group in Europe acting as director. He and his DBS Group helped many companies using the Internet possibilities. At that time working in Boston (MA) he also gave lectures at Harvard Business School and MIT. Buddy brings more than 20 years of thorough industry experience. His experience stresses a unique combination of marketing & sales, management consulting, program- and change management covering several industries such as financial services, public service, telecommunications, the process industry, energy & utilities. Many assignments have addressed the overlap of Business- and Technology Strategy and Organisational Development. He has been particularly skilled at working with senior and executive management on complex business problems, and in facilitating complex organisational issues towards strategic decisions and directions. His extensive experience in managing complex projects, translates into a strong ability to assess and address organisational, human resource and management issues. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Amsterdam, and as of the spring of this year Buddy will join the Asian Centre for Consulting Excellence in Singapore, acting as Executive Vice President Consulting. Buddy holds a MSc. in Psychophysiology from the Catholic University in Tilburg. http://www.buddykluin.nl http://www.y-now.com Sjirk van der Goot Executive Consultant and Founder, Perceive commercial management services Sjirk van der Goot is Executive Consultant and Founder of Perceive commercial management services, the professional services agency that empowers its customers to be more successful with their customers, employees, business partners and shareholders by supporting: 1. the renewal and improvement of their commercial management strategy, process & behavior and 2. a professional introduction of their new brands, products and services in the market. Perceive commercial management services provides research, advice, coaching, training, business development and interim management in the areas of branding, marketing, sales and communications. Sjirk has 20 years professional experience in a variety of commercial, management and consulting roles at major multinational companies like Hewlett Packard, Time Warner, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young and Cogent IPC. He graduated in Communication and Law from the Radboud University in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Next to his work for Perceive Sjirk is also a popular party DJ and resident lecturer at the HAN University in Arnhem and Nijmegen. http://www.perceive.nl
Club of Amsterdam Journal, February 2005, Issue 41
Content Club of Amsterdam Community Projects News about the Future Next Event VISH&CHIPZ check out the Club of Amsterdam NanoWater Conference Impressions from the Summit for the FutureRecommended Book NanoRobotics Lab 2050 Future Shock Agenda Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club Club of Amsterdam SearchSubmit your articleContactSubscribe Club of Amsterdam Community Projects Fernanda Ibarra, Member of the Club of Amsterdam Expert Group For the past decade rules have changed, little is predictable or repetitive, we have seen completely different organisational forms unfolding across space and time, we have come to the recognition that profound transformation is an imperative, a time of redirection, on all levels, from individuals to organisations to communities. We are leading to a state of consciously participating in a larger field for change, this shift is a collective phenomenon which is about collectively cultivating the capacity for this shift. In order to meet the challenges of managing in an increasingly technology-based economy, we are all considering ways to improve our efforts in a continual process to adapt to change, avoid imposing old frameworks on new realities and positively impact our communities and personal lives. For this purpose, the internet is clearly one of the technologies of choice, due to its potential in creating and nurturing social ties, which enable us to reach beyond towards a more genuinely integral and embracing culture of sustainability. In this context, the main source of value creation is shared knowledge and collective intelligence, not land, labour or capital. It is that shift in the basis of value creation, what propelled virtual communities in the limelight as collective players with largely untapped potential for radical innovation. Non-organisational online communities benefits and horizonsPower doesn´t longer reside primarly within organisations, but power resides in network relationships, so it is a whole new geometry of power we need to deal with. Business leaders around the world have identified that online community offers the most profound potential when communities inside an organisation are actively and deliberately brought together with external clusters of communities where conversations among people of different organisations and backgrounds may take place in one space. Club of Amsterdam Project’s purpose is to design, implement and facilitate a community of professionals with interest in the same domains, or fields, representing different firms or organisations, different sectors within a given field and often living in many different countries. The purpose of the Club of Amsterdam is to develop a ‘centre of gravity’, where knowledge can be shared between colleagues, meaning negotiated, awareness of the potential of collective intelligence developed and where an entirely new set of opportunities can emerge. The opportunity for being in real time contact with a network of constituencies, and for these, to be in conversation with each other, would give people the capability to sense and respond that conventional organisational structures cannot offer. Interacting with external communities helps filter out the noise and deal with information overload, bounce off new ideas, get knowledgeable feedback, and keep in touch with leading thoughts, techniques, and tools. Club of Amsterdam’s communities will facilitate professional exchange, allow members to establish a bond of common experiences and challenges online, and build networks of relationships which will be leveraged at offline events and meetings. In a bussinesswire article Martin Reuf, a faculty member from Stanford Graduate School of Business wrote an article called ‘What leads people to establish organisations that employ radically new routines’ where his overall recommendation is nothing groundbreaking – “Broaden your social horizons, and you might come up with the next crazy idea that sparks an industry” – in other words, expose yourself to more outside influences to inspire more “dynamic moments”. What is far more interesting however – is the difference that Ruef found in the effects of different depths of relationships. Using data from 766 entrepreneurs and Stanford Alumni, Ruef concluded that the most creative entrepreneurs spend less time than average networking with business colleagues who are friends and more time networking with a diverse group that includes acquaintances and strangers. Reuf explains: “Weak ties — of acquaintanceship, of colleagues who are not friends — provide non-redundant information and contribute to innovation because they tend to serve as bridges between disconnected social groups,” he says. “Weak ties allow for more experimentation in combining ideas from disparate sources and impose fewer demands for social conformity than do strong ties.” The knowledge economy presents an additional challenge. Knowledge markets are globalizing rapidly. What someone knows in Turkey could make or break your business in London. What a competitor’s team is learning in South America can be the undoing of your project in Massachusetts. For instance, a sales team at Siemens in Malaysia was able to get a large telecommunication contract because of the experience and material developed by their peers in Denmark. Success in global markets depends on communities sharing knowledge across the globe. Besides contributing to the success of organisations in global markets, these communities have another benefit. In the globalizing knowledge economy, companies are not just competing for market share. They are also competing for talent-for people with the expertise and capabilities to generate and implement innovative ideas. One company found that employees belonging to world-class communities of practice exploring cutting-edge issues were much more likely to stick around. Finding and keeping the right people can make a big difference in an organisations ability to become a leader in its market and to gain access to venture capital. Some results of belonging to non-organisational communities are: Increased compentency, better connected (contacts), increased visibility, increase capabilities and innovation in both individuals and their organisations. News about the Future Can Europe Build a NATO for Africa?Africa’s ongoing crisis — from the genocide in Darfur to civil conflicts in other countries — continues to defy easy solutions. Richard Gowan of the Foreign Policy Centre argues that the EU should partner with the African Union to provide security and stability. He outlines how an organization modeled on the role NATO played during the Cold War could get the job done for Africa. African Countries Sign Treaty to Protect Rain ForestSeven Central African countries signed a landmark treaty Saturday to establish cross-border partnerships to help save the world’s second largest rain forest.We are gathered here to ensure the preservation of a priceless heritage, the greatest wealth of the Congo Basin, the forest,” said Chirac, speaking to an audience in Brazzaville’s parliament house, where giant colorful paintings of elephants, cheetahs and monkeys hung from the vaulted walls. “The protection of these forests cannot wait.””You’re finally seeing a commonality in what people are saying that was unthinkable 10 years ago,” said Claude Martin, head of the World Wildlife Fund. “The leaders here are seeing how the exploitation of their forests will not contribute to their economies, poverty reduction and future prospects.” Next Event: Services – a future in The Netherlands? the future of the Service IndustryServices – a future in The Netherlands?Wednesday, February 23, 2005reception: 18:30-19:30, conference: 19:30-22:15location: PricewaterhouseCoopers, Prins Bernhardplein 200, Amsterdam [next to Amstelstation], free parking. Frank A.G. den Butter: The future of trade and servicesBob Stumpel: The anti-service paradox of the service industry’s interpretation of serviceBuddy R. Kluin: The Impact of Mobile Communication in the Service IndustryModerated by Sjirk van der Goot VISH&CHIPZ check out the Club of Amsterdam NanoWater Conference VISH&CHIPZ check out the Club of Amsterdam NanoWater Conference by Mathijs van Zutphen & John Grüter Nanotechnology is not some abstract sci-fi future fantasy. Nanotechnology is simply engineering on a scale slightly smaller than usual, and it can provide simple and useful solutions to very real problems that concern all inhabitants of this planet. One of the areas where nanotech can realize some breakthrough technical applications in the near future is the production of clean water, a scarce commodity already, water shortage is set to produce pressing problems in the near future. On this conference it became obvious however that solutions are at hand; effective, cheap, and available as we speak. On Monday September 30, 2004, The Club of Amsterdam and Cientifica together hosted the first international conference on nanotechnology and water “NanoWater”, at the RAI Congress Center in Amsterdam. Nanotechnology and water, an unlikely combination? Not really. In fact most of the technology presented at the conference can be defined as a solution to the following assignment: construct a really fine-grained way to sieve water. Water is the essence of life. Most water on this planet (>95%) is seawater. Most of the drinkable fresh water is frozen on the North and South Poles, and much of the remaining available fresh water is polluted or simply in the wrong place. 75% of global precipitation occurs in areas containing less then a third of the world population. With over 20% of the world’s population having no access to safe drinking water, there is a shortage of clean fresh water now, and as developing countries raise their standard of living, this shortage will increase. Global water consumption, doubling every 20 years, is increasing much faster than the population. So if you find a smart (and cheap) way to sieve out anything from micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses to salt ions, you solve a lot of problems for a great many people, and you can make a lot of money in the process. Research into nanotechnology is receiving significant government subsidies in the US and Europe, and the total global market for clean, drinkable water is an estimated 400 billion dollars annually. This is the theme of the day: nano filtration to clean up water. There are several competing methods for filtering water. Clean water is expensive in the third world, where, in real terms, people actually pay more money for clean water than citizens of developed countries like the USA. One of the bleak ironies of our modern world is that an essential product, virtually free to us rich citizens, is very expensive for the poor of the world. They pay up to 25% of their real income to have access to clean water. The first speaker is Kevin McGovern of McGovern Capital LLC. Mr. McGovern explains how his investment firm is trying to spearhead the nano revolution. One of his ventures, KX Industries, is producing nano-scale filters that will filter out items as small as bacteria and viruses, for the specific purpose of eradicating waterborne disease, one of the main killers in developing countries. The product is cheap, and effective; KX Industries has actually received an FDA approval for its filters as an antiseptic. It seems that the poorest, most destitute regions of our world will benefit from nanotech’s impact first. Are local conditions in developing countries changing their role from daunting problems to innovation drivers? “In some cases, Yes”, replies McGovern, who sees a huge market for KX Industries’ products in developing countries. The nano filters by companies like KX Industries are very likely to change that, by providing abundant, cheap water. One method is purely mechanical, meaning that a filter with cavities (“pores”) smaller than the undesirable particles can extract those. Aquamarijn Research BV, a Dutch firm, uses semiconductor production technology, where patterns are etched into thin wavers of silicon, to make filters. The pores of these filters are small enough to sieve out most particles and bacteria, but too large to extract viruses and synthetic pollutants like pesticides, but the development look promising. Another way to filter water is by reversing the naturally occurring process called ‘osmosis’. Osmosis occurs when a concentrated solution, a fluid like water with a large amount of other atoms or molecules floating around in it, is separated from a less concentrated solution (less atoms and molecules) by a semi-permeable membrane. Nature has a tendency towards equilibrium, so water is drawn through the membrane towards the side with the higher concentration. This reduces the difference in concentration between the two sides of the membrane. Reverse osmosis is the process whereby pressure is applied to a concentrated solution (dirty water), forcing the fluid through a very fine membrane, resulting in a (virtually) pure fluid. The pores in these membranes are so small that reverse osmosis can be used for desalination, i.e. turning seawater into drinking water, by taking out the salt. Reverse osmosis is slow and expensive, since applying the pressure requires large amounts of energy. Professor Raphael Semiat, Grand Water Research Institute of the Israel Institute of Technology, explains that significant cost reductions are being achieved in his research department. The latest desalination plant (in Ashkelon, Israel) produces drinking water from the Mediterranean basin at a cost of 50 dollar cents per cubic meter (1000 liter). It is also possible to use osmosis as a process of filtering polluted water. The US military has a plastic bag containing a sucrose solution separated from the outside world with a membrane. When this bag is submerged into any quality of water after 18 hours the concentrated solution in the bag will draw about 2 liters of clean water through the membrane. Since osmosis is only effective when you start from a concentrated solution, the end product is lemonade, not water, which is not always what you want. However, for military purposes (or camping and trekking) this is ideal since the process can provide a nutritional broth. The challenge to use osmosis to provide pure water is being met by the British research organization NanoMagnetics, which produces small magnetic particles encapsulated by natural enzymes that set the same osmotic process in motion, but in the end all particles can be taken out from the fluid by applying a simple magnetic field. Elegant and effective, NanoMagnetics now faces the task of up-scaling the production of these Nanomagnets. The effectiveness of filters is by and large a function of the size of the pores. Smaller holes mean better filtration. But that is not the only possible solution. Many particles, organic and synthetic, are sensitive to an electrical charge. Fred Tepper of the US company Argonide explains how his company has created a filter comprising oxidized aluminum nanofibers, on a glass fiber substrate. These alumina fibers are positively charged, which enables them to filter bio-organisms such as bacteria and viruses from the water flow. Even though the pores in this filter are relatively large, the end result is extremely effective, because the process provides a much higher flow rate than traditional membranes. The filter retains up to 99.999% of viruses, is in production as we speak, and can be used to clean water by applying muscle force. No extra energy needed, ideal for rural contexts. Filters based on nano-technology are a very practical application, providing a low-cost – less than $0,25 per liter – solution. As more people in the third world die for lack of clean water than from any other cause, nano-technology can be said to provide genuine benefit to mankind. Not just in the third world, but also in the developed world many situations exist where this type of technology can make a substantial difference. Impression from the Summit for the Future The Summit for the Future turned out to be a fantastic event. With delegates from than 30 countries, 22 partners, 40 high quality speakers – a great athmosphere producing inspiring discussions, interdisciplinary insights or simply energy for innovation! Recommended Book Doing Business in Emerging Europeby Francois-Serge Lhabitant, Yahia Zoubir The transformation which is unfolding in emerging European countries is a unique historic event. In several countries, the transition has been quite positive; most analysts anticipate continued real growth in the coming years. Doing Business in Emerging Europe is a user-friendly guide to doing business in Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Brief overviews of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Macedonia, and Serbia/Yugoslavia are also included. NanoRobotics Lab NanoRobotics LabMechanical Engineering Department, Carnegie Mellon University, USA. Projects:Water WalkerA miniature water strider robotGoal: To develop a microrobot that can maneuver on water with power efficiency and agility.Approach: To understand the physics of water striders to model their characteristics of floating on the surface of water. We are using micro-actuators to simulate water striders’ movements. We are also investigating different materials to improve the robot’s ability to float on water.Benefits: Water strider robots will be small and relatively efficient. Because it is on the surface of water and light, the robot will be highly agile and can reach inaccessible areas for many different applications. Gecko Hair ManufactureSynthetic Gecko Hair Fabrication for Dry Adhesion Introduction: Nature can be an inspiration for innovations in science. One such inspiration is comes from the gecko lizard which can climb on walls and ceilings of almost any suface texture. Rather than using it’s claws or sticky substances, the gecko is able to stick to the walls through dry adhesion which requires no energy to hold it to the surface and leaves no residue. The dry adhesion force comes from surface contact forces such as Vanderwaals forces which act between all materials in contact. […]Goal: Develop techniques for producing synthetic gecko foot hairs with nano/micro hair heirarchy. Refine these techniques into processes which will alow for cost effective mass production.Benefits: The new synthetic adhesive will have countless uses from space exploration robots to surgical applications to post-it notes. This reusable, self-cleaning adhesive material can be thought of as a one sided velcro which can stick to almost everything. nanoFiber AssemblyCreating nanoFibers from polymers Goal: Fabricate 3D polymer micro/nano fibers and develop a network of such fibers.Approach: Besides imaging and characterization, proximal probes are used as three-dimensional (3D) nanoscale manipulation and manufacturing tools.Benefits: One of the most significant barriers for enabling the breakthroughs promised by nano-technology is mass production of nano-scale structures, devices, and systems. Therefore, novel manufacturing processes at the micro/nano-scale are indispensable for the commercialization of future nano-scale devices, circuits, man-made materials, sensors, etc. This micro/nano-fiber pulling technology would have wide applications in nano-circuit interconnects by using conductive nano-fibers, prototyping novel nano-electronic devices by using conductive/semi-conductor/non-conductive polymer fiber structures, 3D polymer fiber-based nano-actuators, photonic devices, novel bio-nano-sensors, smart materials, etc. 2050 Future Shock 2050 Future ShockBy Douglas Belkin, The Boston Globe Your sport coat is checking your pulse and blood sugar; your micro-compact car is communicating with retail stores and parking meters; and your medicine chest is reminding you to take a pill. Also, while entering the golden age of biotech, Boston is on the brink of class warfare.[…]With the mapping of the human genome, medicine will become increasingly preventative. David Elvin, a pediatrician who teaches at Harvard Medical School, says infants today are tested at birth for genetic diseases, but these tests primarily screen for ailments that appear in infancy and early childhood. Elvin predicts that in 10 to 15 years, children will be routinely tested at or before birth for the common diseases that tend to manifest later in life. If a child shows a predisposition to a disease, he or she could be treated with specific drugs before any symptoms occur. A child not prone to obesity but predisposed to lung cancer, Elvin says, might be told, “Don’t worry too much about Ben & Jerry’s, but don’t ever pick up a cigarette.”[…]But the biggest changes in what we wear will come from the technology we expect our clothes to contain. The technology we now carry we will eventually be wearing, says Ned Thomas, director of the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at MIT. Clothes designed to protect, connect, and monitor the military will start emerging on the backs of special-forces soldiers in a decade and will filter down to police officers, extreme athletes, business executives, and finally, everybody else.[…]Expect to see implanted microchips become de rigueur. Sound spooky? Someday soon it won’t. The technology has existed for years and is starting to enter the marketplace. Last March, the Baja Beach Club in Barcelona started giving members the option of having a small chip implanted in their upper arm so they could pay for drinks without having to take a purse or wallet to the club. Club of Amsterdam Agenda Club of Amsterdam Season 2004/2005 .February 23, 2005 the future of the Service Industry .March 30, 2005 the future of Water .April 27, 2005 the future of Branding .June 1, 2005 the future of Robotics .June 29, 2005 the future of Philosophy Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club
Club of Amsterdam Journal – Special Issue, January 2005, Issue 40
Content Club of Amsterdam Summit for the Future Speakers at the Summit Quotes from the Summit Exhibitions Music at the Opening Event Live Music Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club Upcoming Events partners Club of Amsterdam SearchSubmit your articleContactSubscribe Speakers at the Summit for the Future Quotes from the Summit for the Future 2005 Kevin Dean, Managing Director – Public Sector Healthcare, Internet Business Solutions Group, Cisco Systems, Inc.: “The potential of e-health is therefore huge. At one point e-health touches active surgical intervention, with surgeons controlling robots over an IP (Internet Protocol) network to perform specialist operations on patients far away, thus scaling the specialist’s ability to provide care beyond their own hospital. At another point, e-health involves providing potentially millions of health professionals with ongoing education via online learning through video-on-demand and web-based interactive teaching. Still further are the use of smartcards, home monitoring and tele-consultations within the world of healthcare provision.” Tamsin Rose, General Secretary, European Public Health Alliance: “Europe’s population is older, but not healthier. Our lives involve living long periods with health conditions and illnesses. We depend heavily on pharmaceuticals and medical devices to survive, we pay 25 % of our income for healthcare costs. Mental health problems are widespread, suicide levels are high. Socio-economic inequalities reflect starkly in differences in longevity patterns. Scientists are in a permanent race to respond to mutating viruses and emerging new diseases. Mental health problems affect the majority of the population. – How likely is this scenario? What current trends were used to predict this situtation and what can we change?” Vladimir Petrovskiy, former Director-General of the UN in Geneva: “Promotion of the knowledge-based societies which should be conceives as plural, variable and open to democratic choices makes it necessary to answer the questions what is to be done and how. The European experience should be used together with the recommendation of the UN, UNESCO, ILO and other international bodies. Millennium Development Goals (MDG) are of particular importance.” Mathijs van Zutphen, philosopher, educator, artist and creator of VISH: “It is important to understand that our reality is constantly changing. The elements of success today may be the causes of failure tomorrow. We have to evolve as life itself does.” Thomas Schael , Management Consultant with Butera e Partners: “We have to understand that the traditional face-to-face work practice is decreasing. New ways of social interaction have to be put into place. Communities of practice become more important than before, allthough we cannot design and manage them like research teams in the laboratory. Mobility and cross-site teams generate new requirements for support technology.” Graham May, Futures Skills: “As we know from experience assuming that the future will be like the past is just that, an assumption; that may or may not be true. The negotiations over GATS make it abundantly clear that both the interpretations and the expectations of “free and fair” diverge significantly.” Natalie Yacheistova , Head of the Russian Trade Representation in The Netherlands: “Taking in mind the core role of innovation for the economic development and competitiveness, additional efforts shall be paid in Russia to the creation and well-functioning of high-tech technologies and knowledge society. But how, by which means can this goal be achieved?When analyzing the international experience in this area, it may be seen that the countries with the more effective knowledge sector – Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Japan, Denmark – have at the same time the highest international competitiveness. These countries are marked through high amounts paid for research, while the most part of these expenses is taken upon themselves by private companies.” Pascal Kerneis, Managing Director, European Services Forum: “EU Member States, companies and citizens (consumers and workers) must embrace the Internal “Single” Market to increase the cross-border supply of services between the 25 countries. The recent Proposal for a Directive on Services in the Internal Market encourages the EU member states cut “red tape” and facilitate the cross-border provision of services. Europe will certainly benefit from increased competition in the professional services. Mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications and eliminating of corporatist rules should aid in this. We expect improvement in all aspects of business-related services (ICT, consulting, after-sale services, advertising, etc.) for its own sake and also for the knock-on effects these sectors add to the economy at large.” Tom Lambert, Chief Executive, Centre for Consulting Excellence: “People can be generous, but the total aid given by the rich part of the world to our poorer neighbours totals some $50bn annually. A considerable sum, but with 5 billion people living in the countries receiving this support this amounts to just ten bucks per person each year. It is hardly enough to make a difference. Trade can make that difference.” Valeri Souchkov, Director, ICG Training & Consulting: “The processes of automating of manufacturing and global outsourcing push European enterprises to seek new ways to sustain and increase their value and increase competitiveness rather than increasing production volumes and implementing cost cutting programs. It becomes clear that the future will be defined by those companies that would be capable of not only product manufacturing, but capitalize on creating and distributing Intellectual Property (IP). With strong historical and cultural traditions in science and technology, Europe still has a chance to become the world-leading “brain centre” which will focus on massive creation of high-quality IP in every branch of business.” Exhibitions at the Summit for the Future 2005 Agenda 21 and Rio + 10 Development Targetsby Bayer CropScience Who is prepared to read a document of several hundred pages if he or she does not have to for professional reasons? Hardly anyone. Nevertheless, the United Nations Program for Action for Sustainable Development in the 21st century – “Agenda 21” for short – is such an important document that as many people as possible should know its contents. For this reason, Manfred Kern, Head of Bayer CropScience Technology Communication, together with illustrator Peter Schäfer, has selected the principles and tasks most relevant for Bayer CropScience, e.g. effective and efficient management of resources or ICM (Integrated Crop Management) or green biotechnology. World Summit AwardThe World Summit Award will be present with its WSA Roadshow at the Summit for the Future as four categories of the World Summit Award are overlapping with the interest areas of the Summit: e-Business, e-Health, e-Entertainment en e-Science. The WSA Roadshow consists of 40 applications, which were selected for the UN Summit on the Information Society as best-practice examples of e-Business, e-Health, e-Entertainment, e-Science, e-Culture, e-Learning, e Government and e-Inclusion.The World Summit Award, a global project, held in the framework of the WSIS, seeks to demonstrate the benefits of the Information Society in terms of the new qualities in content and applications, by selecting, presenting and promoting the best products from all over the world with a special emphasis on bridging the digital divide.InfolutionINFOLUTION provides scalable knowledge management solutions that utilize the power of new semantic technology to enhance the performance and intelligence of enterprises. The solution seamlessly integrates into information domains, which allow customers to instantly source and manage any business critical information. Infolution is unique in that it processes, comprehends and retrieves concepts in the same way as humans do.With large and small clients including ABN Amro, The Boston Consulting Group, Dutch Policeforce and others world wide INFOLUTION has the products and the recognition to ensure higher return on information and investment from your corporate information. Visualisations by Job RomijnJob is an artist pursing the line between art and practicality. As he is an idea generator, he’s setting up a structure to enable him to live of his ideas. Music at the Opening Event Marcus WeissProfessor of saxophone and chamber music, Music Academy in Basel Switzerland Marcus Weiss is born in 1961 in Basel, studied saxophone with Iwan Roth at the city’s Music Academy, and subsequently with Frederick L. Hemke at the Northwestern University in Chicago. He received the Soloist Prize from the Swiss Musicians’ Association in 1989. He performed with various European orchestras and as a chamber musician with Trio Accanto and Xasax Ensemble. Georges Aperghis, Aldo Clementi, Beat Furrer, Stefano Gervasoni, Vinko Globokar, Manuel Hidalgo, York Höller, Toshio Hosokawa, Michael Jarrell, Hanspeter Kyburz, Helmut Lachenmann, Detlev Müller-Siemens, Giorgio Netti and Salvatore Sciarrino have written works specially for him. The recordings of some of them are available on cd. His discography also includes pieces by Schönberg, Berio, Webern, Wolpe, Cage, Scelsi, Netti, Ablinger and Sciarrino. Live Music Russian singer Marynka Nicolai and her band ‘Some Lovely Girls’ perform during the Summit for the Future on Wednesday evening and Friday afternoon. See also: Leisure Evening Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club Summit for the Future: Opening Event Attent the Opening Event of the Summit for the Future – meet with global thought leaders! Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005, 09:30-12:30Location: HES Amsterdam School for Business, Amsterdam, The Netherlandshttps://clubofamsterdam.com/2020/10/27/summit-for-the-future-2005/ Recommended Book The Future of Musicby Dave Kusek, Gerd Leonhard For the next generation of players and downloaders, a provacative scenario from a music industry think tank From the Music Research Institute at Berklee College of Music, comes a manifesto for the ongoing music revolution. Today, the record companies may be hurting but the music making business is booming, using non-traditional digital methods and distribution models. This book explains why we got where we are and where we are heading. For the iPod, downloading market, this book will explain new ways of discovering music, new ways of acquiring it and how technology trends will make music “flow like water”, benefiting the people who love music and make music.Publication date: March 2005 Club of Amsterdam Upcoming Events Special Events January 26-28, 2005 Summit for the Future 2005 Club of Amsterdam Season 2004/2005 October 27, 2004 the future of ICT November 30, 2004 the future of Developing Countries February 23, 2005 the future of the Service Industry March 30, 2005 the future of Water April 27, 2005 the future of Branding June 1, 2005 the future of Robotics June 29, 2005 the future of Philosophy . Partners of the Summit for the Future
Club of Amsterdam Journal, January 2005, Issue 39
Content Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club News about the Future Summit Highlights Summit for the Future: Opening Event Recommended Book Digital music ‘niche’ market for foreseeable future, won’t replace CDs The new healthcare-ICT marketplace in England Upcoming Events Club of Amsterdam SearchSubmit your articleContactSubscribe Club of Amsterdam Open Business Club News about the Future Summary Of The World: Googlezon And The Newsmasters EPICBy “Robin Good” “By the year 2014, what I call newsmasters will be the most sought-after and highly rewarded professional media creators the world has ever seen. Newsmasters are an emerging group of news editors which utilize new tools and techniques to create unique content streams on specialized topics by tapping largely into the RSS content universe as well as in other openly reusable sources of news and information. In the fascinating scenario explored in this story, newsmasters will be the key news directors and producers of the future. They will be able to connect, filter and prioritize information for every media-consumer on the planet, using a single source of media content that contains everything that anyone could possibly ever want to know about. That single source is called EPIC: The ‘Evolving Personalized Information Construct’. A nation demands the right to existBy Rupert Cornwell The Inuit peoples of the Arctic have launched a dramatic legal action against America. The charge? That US emissions of greenhouse gases have made their very survival impossible. Their ancient way of life is in unprecedented peril. Their very land is melting beneath their feet. Even the endless night of the Arctic winter, which should be one of nature’s most immutable constants, may be changing. It too appears to have fallen victim of the abrupt warming of the global climate which almost every one on earth – apart from the government of the United States – believes is exacerbated by the polluting industries of the modern world. Summit Highlights Pascal KerneisManaging Director, European Services ForumAn energetic advocate of services liberalisation on behalf of European firms. Summit for the Future: Trade / Service Industry Representing the interests of the European services companies in the GATS Negotiations The European Services Forum is an organisation representing the services sector across the European Union. ESF represents more than 80% of the European exporters of services in more than twenty sectors. World trade in commercial services accounts for about 25% of world exports, but services account for 60% of annual flows of foreign direct investment (FDI). More importantly, the services sector provides more than 60% of jobs in developed countries, and the trend is growing in the developing countries. To unleash its potential for growth, the services sector requires market access and national treatment within a clear regulatory framework; hence, the absolute necessity of substantial new commitments in the current WTO services negotiations in the framework of the Doha Development Agenda. The European Services Forum strongly supports and encourages the movement to liberalise service markets throughout the world and to remove both trade and investment barriers. However, it has to be clear that liberalisation needs to be accompanied by a good regulatory infrastructure that encourages transparency, competition and fairness.Pascal Kerneis will focus on: increasing market access for European services companies outside the EU 25,allowing speediest movement of high skills business personnel that have to be able to go quickly to their subsidiaries or clients around the world,increasing the possibility in moving data on a cross-border basis in a legally secure environment. All these three aspects might be accomplished through multilateral, regional or bilateral trade agreements by getting commitments in mode 3, 4 and 1 of the GATS. Katie BeggPrincipal Lecturer, Institute of Energy & Sustainable Development, De Montfort University Summit for the Future: EnergyShe was an official expert on JI (Joint Implementation) and the CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) from 2002-4 and has published widely in this area in peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and having co-edited 2 books (Flexibility in Climate Policy, 2001, Earthscan and The Business of Climate Change, 2004, Greenleaf). Wim van de DonkChairman of the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy.Professor, Faculty of Law, Tilburg UniversityAs chair of the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy, Wim van de Donk spends his time thinking ‘out of the box” and encouraging others to do likewise. Summit for the Future: Media & Entertainment A new Map & Compass Discussion about the future of Dutch media, both commercial and public, have lost their way. It has become focussed on issues affecting broadcasting, when the future will bring us many more platforms that traditional broadcasting. The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy will publish a report on its recommendations for the future at the end of January 2005. Wim van de Donk believes some fundamental changes in approach are needed in order to revitalize creativity and investment in Dutch media. This is important for the position of companies operating both in The Netherlands and in the rest of Europe. Thomas SchaelResearch Manager, Institute irso (Istituto di Ricerca e Intervento sui Sistemi Organizzativi)Management Consultant, Butera e PartnersIndustrial sociologist, organisational designer and change management consultant. Summit for the Future: Science & TechnologyThe evolving workplace and the future of face-to-face Knowledge is inseparable from people and work is a form of social interaction. The place of work is only part location it is a venue and for work related communication and social interaction. What does this mean in the case of research and innovation? The laboratory of the future – is it a place or a shared state of mind? Geoff RoystonHead of Operational Research, Department of Health, England Summit for the Future: Healthcare Dr. Geoff Royston has been responsible for a number of “futures” exercises in the health field and is particularly concerned with ensuring they add maximum value to organisational and business decision making. Summit for the Future: Opening Event Attent the Opening Event of the Summit for the Future – meet with global thought leaders! Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005, 09:30-12:30Location: HES Amsterdam School for Business, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Recommended Book Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Centuryby Michio Kaku Take it easy: that’s Michio Kaku’s motto. Given the extraordinary advances science has thrown up in time for the millennium, the only way you could possibly fit them into a single volume is by a correspondingly massive simplification. Subtitled How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century and Beyond, Visions assumes that, by and large, scientists get to do whatever they like, that all technologies are consumer technologies, and that consumers welcome anything and everything science throws at them. Kaku gets away with this frankly dodgy strategy by dint of sheer hard work. He has based his predictions on interviews with more than 150 renowned working scientists; he integrates these interviews with a huge body of original journalistic material; and, above all, he roots that mass of information on an entirely reasonable model of what the purpose of science will be in the third millennium. Up until now, science has expended its efforts on decoding most of the fundamental natural processes – “the dance,” as Kaku puts it, of elementary particles deep inside stars and the rhythms of DNA molecules coiling and uncoiling within our bodies. Science’s task now, Kaku believes, is to cross-pollinate advances thrown up by the study of matter, biology, and mind – modern science’s three main theaters of endeavor. “We are now making the transition from amateur chess players to grand masters,” he writes, “from observers to choreographers of nature.” Then again, he also believes that “the Internet … will eventually become a ‘Magic Mirror’ that appears in fairy tales, able to speak with the wisdom of the human race.” Kaku, in short, deserves a good slapping – but he also deserves to be read. – Simon Ings Digital music ‘niche’ market for foreseeable future, won’t replace CDs Digital music ‘niche’ market for foreseeable future, won’t replace CDsby Leigh Phillips While digital music revenues will grow to be eight per cent of the total European music market by 2009, the CD will remain the bedrock of music sales, according to a new report by market analysts Jupiter Research. By 2009, the researchers forecast that digital music revenues will grow to €836m, up from €10.6m at the end of 2003, representing eight per cent of the total music market, and will be a significant alternate distribution channel. The report highlights a quadrupling in digital music revenues, from €10.6m in 2003 to €46.3m at the end of 2004, driven largely by new market entrants such as Apple’s iTunes Music Store and Napster, and by sales of digital music devices such as the iPod. However, despite the improved consumer choice these services bring, catalogue availability and prices remain inconsistent while incompatible audio formats add further confusion. The analysts also argue that the interoperability of audio formats and digital rights management would aid consumer adoption. The new healthcare-ICT marketplace in England The new healthcare-ICT marketplace in England: an overview of some recent trends In its two years of existence, the National Programme for IT in the NHS in England has been radically changing the way in which NHS organisations procure their ICT systems. It has, undoubtedly, achieved discounts on a scale previously unknown in NHS procurements, but the resulting new marketplace, at present, is almost universally considered bewildering. Rightly or wrongly, its controllers are perceived as ruthlessly pursuing the introduction of a ‘one-system-for-all’ policy, at all levels, and thereby reducing the number of suppliers from the current some 2000 to possibly less than 100 in the next two to five years. […] John Higgins, Intellect’s Director General, said: “The UK healthcare-IT sector has changed dramatically, and will continue to evolve, leaving many SMEs with some difficult times ahead. Intellect wants to ensure that UK healthcare-IT SMEs are able to make informed strategic business decisions about entering new markets and have all the support they need.” How research and innovation differ How research and innovation differBy Franco Malerba, TEARI PROJECTInnovation in servicesWhat about innovation in services? […] Similarly to high tech, or LMT sectors, services encompass a wide variety of sectors. As a consequence, a first step is grouping them in a taxonomy based on physical services (transport), human services (welfare state services- pensions, waste disposal services…) and information services (consultancies). In all three groups, adoption of information technology is very important. In addition, similarly to what experienced for LMT, a reverse product cycle may take place in that changes in existing processes (due to IT) lead later on to changes in service products (Barras,1986). However this has to be qualified because many innovations are non-IT based.In any case several service sectors have inertia and are slow in becoming highly innovative-a heritage form the past, because then firms did not pay that much attention to innovation strategies, nor had links with universities, government laboratories and so on. There are some exceptions: rail, broadcasting and telecommunication services (closely related to manufacturing). Also financial and retailing services (such as supermarkets) and business services (such as consultancies and training services) have been rather innovative. In general, from surveys one finds that service firms tend to stress human resources and acquisitions rather than formal R&D. When formal R&D is undertaken it tends to be done on a project basis rather than being organized through R&D laboratories. Technological innovation is not important but organizational innovation is. The sources of innovation are both within the firms and from interaction with customers. Innovation in supporting services such as knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) is becoming more and more relevant. KIBS are problem solvers and are very active in the innovative activities of their client firms and sectors: as coproducers of innovation (with the client), as orchestrators of innovation (contract R&D services), as orchestrator of innovation networks (developing long lasting collaboration between different firms) and as brokers to facilitate distributed innovation processes (mechanical test for companies). KIBS are different from research and transfer organizations which also supply services: they are more academic, have more applied research oriented projects and have a more public good type of functions – standards, metrics, awareness programs. Club of Amsterdam Upcoming Events Special Events .January 26-28, 2005 Summit for the Future 2005 Club of Amsterdam Season 2004/2005 October 27, 2004 the future of ICT November 30, 2004 the future of Developing Countries February 23, 2005 the future of the Service Industry March 30, 2005 the future of Water April 27, 2005 the future of Branding June 1, 2005 the future of Robotics June 29, 2005 the future of Philosophy . Partners of the Summit for the Future