Expectations of Industry in Education of Physics

Requirements and Opportunities DR. HORST SOBOLL Chair EER ROMA - March 30, 2010 University La Sapienza

Educated in physics - working in industry

Which are the key issues today in industry ?

What does business expect especially from physicists ?

What is recommended for higher education in physics ?

Education

If you plan for a year, sow a seed If you plan for a decade, plant a tree If you plan for a century, educate the people.

Chuang Tzu (Third Century, B.C.)

Wilhelm Hanle Physics at University of Giessen Dipl. Phys. 1969 Dr. rer. nat. 1973 Arthur Scharmann

CONTROL DATA ( 1973 - 1989 ) System Analyst Programming computer systems Consultant Computer systems and networks District Manager Software and consulting Manager Data Services Applications software Manager Software support Engineering applications Manager Marketing Supercomputer Chemical Applications

Research and Technology ( 1989 – 2004 ) 1989 Manager Strategic Projects Information and Communication Technology 1992 Manager Strategy Information Technology 1995 Director Technology Policy 2002 Director Research Policy and Communications

Activities / Memberships

1994 - 1996 Chairman European Research Cooperation for Automotive Industry (AIT) 1999 - 2002 Member Advisory Group of the European Commission ( Sustainable Mobility) 1999 - 2004 Member of the Research Committee of German Industry Association (BDI) 2000 - 2006 Chair of Research,Technology and Innovation Working Group within UNICE now BusinessEurope

2000 - 2006 Member Advisory Board of the German Physical Society ( DPG )

2001 - 2005 VicePresident - since 2000 as Board Member - European Industrial Research and Management Association (EIRMA) 2006 - 2007 Chair EURAB - since 2001 as ViceChair - European Research Advisory Board 2003 2004 2005 of the European Commission Member of Board " Foundation of German Rectors Conference" (HR) Member of Editorial Board of the Journal "Wissenschaftsmanagement " Chair ERA Group ERTRAC European Road Transport Research Advsory Council 2008 2008 2009 Chair of International Advisory Group EITplus - Wroclaw Chair European Entrepreneurial Regions a.i.s.b.l. ( EER ) Member of MODERN Advisory Group ( Higher Education Modernisation Platform )

Vacancies for physicists in Germany

( % of total ) 2007 2009 Research and Development Universities / Research institutions Manufacturing - Optics/Measurement Services - Timework Consulting Engineering / Architecture office Health Public administration Software development 25.5

23.5

9.0

12.5 27.4 21.3

10.2 7.9

2.5

1.1 3.0 2.3 2.5 2.0 3.5 5.0 2.0 2.0 source - Schroeter DPG Physik Journal 2008

Felix Bloch and Edward Purcell demonstration of nuclear magnetic resonance 1946 Physics in 1952 Medicine in 2003 Paul Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield demonstration of NMR imaging in early 70ties

SOURCE: NOBELPRIZE.ORG

PASTEURs QUADRANT - Basic and Use Inspired Research

Research and Innovation

Money Research Innovation Knowledge

Kommunikation Nobel

Research, Market and Society

Research Market Society

The Innovation Process

from a linear model in the past towards a network between stakeholders

The Knowledge Triangle

Contribution to the Lisbon objectives: economic growth, employment creation, environmental protection, societal challenges: fight poverty, improve human health and quality of life (GSM, remote working, safe roads, etc.)

Physicist in industry

There has never been a "physics industry" compared to disciplines like chemistry or engineering A growing share of physicists don t go in R&D but to non-technological functions, services, consulting Physicists are are often not recognized / visible, since they are not hired because of their physics studies only

Industrial Research

IBM Rueschlikon BELL Laboratories

Technology Strategy - example for automotive industry Driving Forces Society Regulatory Customers Competition Technology Resources Megatrends Sustainable mobility Accident-free driving Miniaturization Interconnected world Key Success Factors Costs Reliability Reduction of Emissions Protection of Resources active / passive Safety Comfort Driver Assistence Infotainment for Passengers Driving Fun Core Technologies Propulsion Technologies Vehicle Concepts Materials Technology Manufacturing Technologies Traffic Engineering & Telematics Information & Communication Technology Electronics, Mechatronics & Control

Five key criteria for passenger cars

Costs

Reduced production costs Reduced operation costs Reduced recycling costs

Non stationary behavior

High dynamic performance (driving pleasure)

Power density Light weight

Small and light

The current market

Who is willing to buy it ?

New markets have to be established !

Efficiency

Reduced energy consumption Reduced fuel consumption 

Vision "Accident Free Driving“

Passive Savety Integrated Safety Active Safety Driver Assistence

Vision of ‘ accident free driving ’

Driver Assistance Systems

Expectations on Universities

Education - Priority activity trained people for research and management scientific methods - in depth analysis cooperation interdisciplinary teams Research - Knowledge generation basis for new products, services, processes knowledge transfer via agency or people patents - licences as financial source „Third Mission“ link to grand challenges of society regional clusters - support a specific profile

Risk and Innovation

The greatest risk for research and innovation is to stop taking risks !

Culture to accept failure

Acceptance of New Technologies

Market Penetration

Examples of Information Technology Java Smart Cards World Wide Web Virtual Reality Personal Digital Assistent Desktop Conferencing Workflow Speech Recognition

Time Doubts Starting Phase Fascination Disillusionment Consolidation

Incremental innovation

Specific Expectations on Universities

Cooperation - join forces and resources Mutual understanding of science / industry Efficiency in collaborations Strategic partnership - PhD programs Link to business / society challenges Industry needs - align research strategies High risk in frontier research Complement industry portfolio Communications of research community Towards business / public Justification needed - proportional to budget

Recommendations to universities

Strengthen education role of universities

aim for excellence / reputation in education as well competition, incentives, awards adapt to new demands

Open University more for non standard students

age above 25, part time, mixed backgrounds flexible entry criteria - life long learning

Cooperation with business

flexible collaborations in research ( IPR, bonus ) common strategies ( research themes, boards ) exchange of people ( in both directions )

Employment of physicists in German sectors

finance-commerce health energy 8.9% R&D 4.4% 1.2% 10.3% other manufacturing 7.1% 15.3% university public administration 3.7% other knowledge based services 8.9% vehicle manufacturing-engineering 8.5% 7.3% other education 12.3% IT 12.0% manufacturing source: Schroeter DPG study to be published 2009

I

mportance of job skills and capabilities (%) work techniques / teamwork application specific capabilities negotiation skills / leadership international exchange / experience 0 20

Quelle: VDE-Studie „Young Professionals“ 8/2003

40 60 80 sehr bis ziemlich wichtig im Beruf 100

Clarity Carat Colour Cut

Diamond market in Amsterdam

Success factors in business

Clarity Communication Commitment Championship

Leadership

Lead a team towards a common goal If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

Antoine de Saint - Exupery ( French writer 1900 -1944 )

Customer Orientation

The customer isn ’t only king, he even becomes dictator.

Flexibility

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin

1809-1882

Accept defeat

We gather strength with each success, and we grow with each defeat

The future can not be predicted... but may be influenced

Marketing Study in 1900

The worldwide demand of passenger cars is thought to never exceed one million, partly due to a

… limited availability of chauffeurs.

Key Expectations in Education of Physics

Generate a sound basis - content knowledge of physics as a general discipline Strengthen the broad spectrum of the discipline incl. less known application of physical principles Detail in some fields up to current key issues / questions e.g. early involvement in frontier research Avoid limitation to currently fashionable themes sharpen the specific niche / profile of the faculty

High passion for physics

Key expectations - besides physics itself

Methods and analytical tools of physical research independent of content or specific field Analysis of complex situations and problems fast familiarizing in new fields Translation of physics in real life situations towards application of physical principles Independent, target-oriented work preferably in a team or in an expert network Communication capabilities in all forms oral, written, presenting, convincing etc.

"I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better"

Georg Cristoph Lichtenberg German physicist 1742 - 1799