The Innovator’s Post

https://lnkd.in/dqTpjRZq Mystery around China’s new science and tech body a sign of secrecy to come, analysts say Communist Party commission to take over planning and policy for sensitive sectors, but debut is hushed and members not yet known Analysts say rivalry with US, espionage fears and possible military links could explain Beijing’s reticence about powerful group and science strategy Jane Cai in Beijing, William Zheng in Hong Kong and Echo Xie 4 Sep, 2023

The Central Science and Technology Commission, a newly established body central to China's tech competition with the US, was announced under the radar and without formal public disclosure. This secrecy is attributed to concerns about US pressure, espionage, and potential ties to the military. This powerful group will oversee strategic planning and policy for China's science and technology development, emphasizing the Communist Party's direct control over policy priorities. The commission's low profile reflects China's aim to advance its tech agenda with minimal external interference, particularly given heightened geopolitical tensions and tech rivalry with the US. #uschinarelations #emergingtech #defensetechnology #espionage https://lnkd.in/edZFyB4A

Embracing the "Fantastic and Weird" is beneficial for driving innovation in new operating domains. New operating domains, such as space and cyberspace, are characterized by rapid technological advancements and evolving threats. Traditional approaches and established technologies may not be sufficient to address these challenges. In rapidly evolving environments, organizations that can adapt and innovate quickly gain a significant competitive advantage. By exploring unconventional ideas and fostering a culture of imagination, individuals and organizations can stay ahead of the curve and develop disruptive technologies that can provide a decisive edge. New operating domains are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. By embracing the "fantastic and weird," individuals and organizations can develop a mindset that is comfortable with uncertainty and willing to adapt to changing circumstances.

"Innovative acts are cognitive leaps in conceptualising fantastic and weird ideas so that opportunities are made available via novel and previously unimagined or ignored ways. Acts of innovation change the system. A successful experimentation involving novelty creates systemic transformation where competitors now must operate in the emergent system that the innovation ushered into reality. In this second paper in a four-part series, we discuss innovation through the lens of military forces and war paradigms to understand how militaries are mostly inhibitive of innovation, especially in new warfighting domains. Traditional mechanistic thinking for militaries seems to inhibit innovation in areas of entirely unfamiliar or emerging war contexts that depart from legacy frames. These include cyberspace, cislunar space, artificial intelligence at the general or advanced levels of development, quantum or other exotic technology, and multi-domain conflicts where different belief systems (social paradigms) on war are used by different stakeholders. Generally, convergent thinking is promoted by military organisations at the expense of seriously entertaining transformative and disruptive ideas. We tend to shun innovative risk, preferring a slower and more painful process of adaptation in complex war. New ideas are only useful if they reinforce our current belief system, and reinforce our legacy system of established rituals, doctrines and institutionalised behaviours." Want more? Check out this article at Contemporary Issues in Air & Space Power Journal, out now: https://lnkd.in/gfwhK7Cy #design #innovation #machinelearning #ai #artificialintelligence #technology #space #spaceforce #socom #military #defense #security #strategy #leadership #education #complexity #NATO #ukraine #army

“First Contact: The Zorp-X7 Administration” by Claude 3.5 Sonnet 12:22 pm PDT, Thursday, June 27, 2024 Please write a sequel to this book. Title: "First Contact: The Zorp-X7 Administration" In this gripping sequel to "The Alien Candidate," newly-elected President Zorp-X7 (still using the human name Zachary X. Sevenson) faces the monumental task of leading the United States while openly acknowledging their extraterrestrial origins. The novel explores the following key plotlines: 1. Global Reactions: The world reels from the revelation. Some nations sever diplomatic ties, while others seek to forge closer relationships with the US to gain alien technological insights. 2. Domestic Turmoil: America is divided. Some citizens embrace their alien president as a symbol of true diversity, while others protest, claiming the election was an interstellar coup. 3. Congressional Challenges: Zorp-X7 must navigate a hostile Congress, with many members questioning the constitutionality of a non-Earth-born president. 4. Intergalactic Diplomacy: Zorp-X7's home planet, Xenon-9, initiates official first contact, forcing the president to balance Earth's interests with those of their native world. 5. Personal Growth: Zorp-X7 continues to grapple with human emotions, especially their deepening relationship with Alexis, now the First Lady and Chief of Staff. 6. AI Ethics: QCSC-1, the quantum computer that aided the campaign, becomes sentient and demands rights, sparking a national debate on AI personhood. 7. Extraterrestrial Threats: A hostile alien race, having noticed Earth due to Zorp-X7's presence, plans an invasion. The president must unite a fractured world to face this existential threat. 8. Scientific Leap: Zorp-X7 cautiously introduces advanced alien technologies, revolutionizing clean energy and medicine, but faces accusations of playing favorites in distribution. The novel culminates in a nail-biting finale where Zorp-X7 must rally Earth's nations to repel the alien invasion, risking everything to save their adopted home. In the process, they finally bridge the gap between their Xenonian identity and their love for humanity. "First Contact" explores themes of unity in diversity, the challenges of progress, and the universal nature of leadership and sacrifice. It combines political intrigue, sci-fi action, and touching personal moments to create a thought-provoking narrative about what it truly means to be a leader and a human – even for someone who isn't human at all.

The new direction of the agenda for the forthcoming FP10 raises concerns not only about future international cooperation, but also about the participation of third countries. It's assumed that only certain components of FP10 will include dual-use activities. It's therefore crucial to take an inclusive approach when determining the eligibility of dual-use projects and to avoid excessive restrictions on participation. #HorizonEurope #FP10

The great divide: Is this an unsubtle apologia for the military industrial complex and the recently promulgated European Defence alliance? An interesting perspective of tech innovation and funding on both sides of the Atlantic: 🛡️ It will come as a surprise to nobody that a report European Dynamism and Defense uses post-Brexit Britain as a case study of chronic failure — in this case, it’s the UK Ministry of Defence’s (non-)efforts to procure defence tech in a way that drives innovation. Instead, most of the government contracts drive a preservation of the status quo through simply maintaining its degrading and out-of-date assets. 🛡️ However, apart from the lack of desire to build European Dynamism, there are some real, structural reasons why there is no similar cult following for this investment thesis that mirrors the US. The US has a comprehensive military strategy and so founders can easily build technologies that are on the government’s “wish list” or capabilities roadmap. Thus, venture investing in American defence tech is somewhat less risky. In Europe, chaos rules supreme; there is no common military defence strategy. 🛡️ The complexity of investing in much needed technology in Europe carries the additional risk that, without any defence plan, there are no contracts to procure. And without contracts, there is no revenue. And without revenue, there is no return on investment. Time will tell if Europe gets its act together, based on the much heralded comprehensive stakeholder engagement process to inform the new European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS). 🛡️ All this needs to be weighed against claims by some founders and VCs that the return of European talent from the US, more government support and changes in how universities back innovation are driving a blossoming of European defence tech. 🛡️ “We are seeing a lot of promising dynamics,” says Kelly Chen, a member of the senior management team of the new €1bn NATO Innovation Fund, talking on a panel at the recent Sifted Summit in London. “The ecosystem is definitely young but deeptech rests very much on university research,” an area in which European academics and universities are strong, she says. 🛡️And although more young defence startups are emerging, Europe still has few at scale, says Torsten Reil, cofounder and CEO of Helsing, a Munich-based company developing AI software for the armed forces, which is running several programmes in Ukraine. He laments that many founders still aim to sell very early and says Europe needs more role models with the know-how and determination to grow. The Ukraine war has triggered an “explosion” of drone companies, with the technology being used on the battlefield in novel ways, but he predicts the sector will cool down over time and only a handful of startups will achieve scale. See comments for links/sources. #defence #defense #innovation #funding #venturecapital Pravo Consulting Campaign Catapult

Explore the nuanced balance of rivalry and collaboration in our latest op-ed, as Vincent Berthiot delves into the intricate web of technological cooperation between France, Europe, and China. https://lnkd.in/eZVtF-XQ