9262 patents in a year – 27th year of IBM US patent leadership. Brilliance that advances the world in Blockchain, Cloud, Quantum, AI, Security and Homomorphic Encryption. The powerful list goes on and the pace of innovation continues to accelerate and reach unprecedented levels, especially in IBM’s Labs!
“Technology advances will all contribute to solving the biggest challenges facing business and society,” said Dr. John E. Kelly III, Executive Vice President, IBM. “Businesses around the world, and across virtually all industries, rely on IBM technology for mission critical applications and sustained innovation. We are very proud of the talented individuals across IBM who change the world through their inventions.”
The question I seek to answer is how does IBM consistently do this? Having led teams in Europe and Asia Pacific at one of the greatest companies in the world for 5 years, 2 answers strike me!
Firstly, brilliant leadership that lives and breathes technology that can assist the world. Men like Dr. John E. Kelly III, 40 years at IBM who nurtured Watson, started Cognitive Solutions where IoT and Security start-ups were founded, and a leading global force in semiconductors and Healthcare. His wonderful developmental leadership style and ability to make awesome technology simple and saleable is legendary and he has led not just an extraordinary team of technologists but also the finest patent lawyers in the world who pave the way for protection. His DNA and IBMS are interwoven in this critical area of technology for 40 years.
Secondly, the extraordinary Research Team at IBM who are pioneering the most promising and disruptive technologies. This team has been led by Dr. Kelly, Arvind Krishna (now CEO), and most recently by Dr. Dario Gil – a brilliant leader and Quantum powerhouse! IBM Research has expanded its global footprint, with 12 labs located across six continents (including IBM’s first in Africa, South America and Australia), creating a network of approximately 3,000 researchers driven to transform industries and society through AI, Quantum computing and Blockchain (IBM Research, 2020).
What is unique I think about the secret power of this group and IBM’s technology leadership, is the parallel track of the great engineers who innovate and support all businesses as leaders, managers and success partners. As they expand their craft and become distinguished engineers and fellows, they are as integral to business success as the great sales and marketing drivers.
As an example, when starting the Watson IoT business, I was privileged to be partnered with the Head of the Zurich Labs, one of the smartest people in the world, Alessandro Curioni, and the incredible John Cohn, an IBM Fellow and Distinguished Agitator – who both guided, coached and partnered with me as we forged a new business together!
One of IBM’s core values is: Innovation that matters – for our company and for the world. This Technology Leadership and the Global Research Teams DNA is at the heart of IBM’s culture – and so are the wild ducks, whose passion to relentlessly reinvent and dare to create original ideas is unrivalled.
“Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the danger of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of ‘crackpot’ than the stigma of conformity,” Thomas J. Watson Sr.
And in closing what an amazing next step and extraordinary gesture this World IP Day, IBM will continue to celebrate its talented individuals whilst sharing its patent success with the world by granting free access to the entire patent portfolio!