I’ve just returned from one of my most interesting and challenging speaking engagements.

I served as a the kickoff, keynote speaker at the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Innovation Business Symposium in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where I was asked to identify the critical ingredients for breeding innovation, and challenged to convince key government officials, corporate executives and academic leaders in the underdeveloped country that they can become a center for innovation as a catalyst for faster economic growth.

As you’ll see in my presentation, I started by defining innovation and showing how technological innovations can have significant business, social and cultural effects. I used a series of iconic innovators and their inventions to illustrate this point:

• Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb inspired the broader distribution of electricity and changed the business landscape by allowing manufacturers to move away from waterways.
• Henry Ford’s invention of mass production enabled businesses to scale their manufacturing processes to serve larger consumer markets.
• And, Steve Jobs’ conversion of computers from a highly centralized corporate system to a user-friendly tool for everyone, along with the digitization of entertainment and transformation of the telephone.

I also discussed key technological innovations which have changed the way technology and software are developed, delivered, consumed and shared as a result of the Open Source movement, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Cloud Computing, Mobile Devices and Social Networking.

I then identified the environmental ingredients that are necessary to breed innovation – density, proximity and energy, combined with education and investment capital.

In order to convince the attendees that innovation can emerge anywhere, I listed a series of countries that have become vibrant technology centers, ranging from China, India and South Korea to Ireland, Israel and Vietnam.

I was pleased with the positive response my presentation received from the audience and hope that it helps to stimulate more innovation and economic progress in Trinidad and Tobago.

Click here to see my presentation, and contact me if you’d like to talk further about these ideas or have me present my views to your group.