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Dossier SolvayInnovationTrophy2006
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Since 2000, Intel has been practising a radically new
approach to exploratory research. Realizing
that collaboration with universities is essential
for exploration and that the issue of intellectual
property rights was introducing tension into universitybusiness
company relations, Intel had
to come up with something new. Intel’s solution
is to collaborate as peers by creating a small lab
on or close to campus and allowing research freedom
under a broad Intel-Research vision and agenda.
A daring piece of folly? Whilst admitting an occasional
hick-up inherent to the nature of the labs, Intel
is continuing with this approach which creates a
fantastic working atmosphere and generates much
more interesting results.
Intel is known across the world as the number one producer
of integrated circuits and semiconductors. The little “Intel
inside” sticker on your laptop tells you that it is fitted with an
Intel processor - Pentium, Celeron, Xeon, Core or Dual Core.
This is a very fast-moving market, in which manufacturers
maintain leadership only by remaining at the sharp edge
of technology.
Intel was born in California in 1968, and grew rapidly under the
leadership of Andrew S. Grove, Gordon E. Moore and Robert W.
Noyce. In 1991, with the advent of personal computers (PCs)
based on x86 processors, Intel climbed to first place among electronic
chip manufacturers. It is still there, employing 100 000
people worldwide, with 11 production units and six dedicated
assembly and testing facilities. The one European production
unit is at Dublin, in Ireland.
Innovation at the heart of the corporate mission
Innovation is a central concept in Intel’s mission. Intel employs
around 7 000 people in R&D. Technology Director Justin Rattler
directs the R&D strategy. In inter-networked laboratories across
the world, his teams are working hard on short and medium-term
operational development projects in close liaison with the various
parts of the business. Intel also has a technology marketing
centre. Finally, six years ago Intel launched an exploratory research
department with a radically new angle. Intel has developed its
OCR (Open and Collaborative Research) model to reduce
Intel laboratory at Cambridge University (England).
Intel: researching in a
of openness and coo
conflicts around intellectual property, a legal concept that acts as
a brake on cooperation between industries and universities. “We
want our researchers not to be worrying about intellectual rights”,
explains Intel Research Associate Director Hans Mulder. “This
approach has enabled us to attract the most brilliant brains and to
allow them to really develop their ideas. In our university laboratories
you won’t see a researcher whispering to another scientist in a
corridor and then shutting up when a student passes within earshot!”
Intel has set up four university-linked laboratories: three in the
United States (Berkeley, Pittsburgh and Seattle) and one in Europe
(Cambridge). The reason is clear: world-class universities, very
smart people, collaborative in nature, and because of their excellence,
places where good ideas from other universities pass through
by means of visitors, new faculty, presentations, etc. Located in the
immediate proximity of university campuses, these small laboratories
are staffed by 12-18 researchers, but have space for 40 to
50. This allows them to take in university students and interns
who provide key brainpower for particular projects. These laboratories
are directed (except at Cambridge) by a university professor
employed by Intel to develop a specific project. Intel offers this
professor a laboratory, a team and space for students. The result
is an effective research tool, with both equipment and brainpower.
The quality of the professor and his or her commitment to
successfully carrying through the project are obviously decisive