No 139: Your smart phone is a product of war.

Professor Mariana Mazzucato is a feisty, opinionated and blunt American. She is a professor at the University of Sussex, has written numerous books on 'entrepreneurialism', and advises governments around the world (not least the UK's own opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn) on how they can deliver 'innovation-led growth'. She is articulate, intelligent and informed. One cannot hear her speak without being whipped along by the confidence with which she declares her convictions. 

She gave the key note speech today at the European Innovation Platform (EIP) event in Leurwaarden, The Netherlands. Despite having no knowledge of the water sector she kept an audience of c800 water industry professionals absolutely captivated with her stark yet engaging prognosis.  A key theme of her thesis was that many of the innovations which we commonly regard as successful private sector products (eg smart phones, the Internet) actually only exist because of substantial public sector support. 

She claims that the vital role of public sector support in the genesis of many successful innovations has been cruelly overlooked, partly because it is not in the interests of Apple or Google to share the limelight (let alone the financial benefits), and partly because society has a mistaken belief that governments and regulators should 'just provide a policy framework to avoid markets failing'. It is a myth, she argues, that only the private sector can deliver commercially successful innovations.  

According to Professor Mariana the modern smart phone would not exist without the 20 or so major public sector research budgets that were vital to the development of each component part. And that these component parts were only developed because governments were keen to fund anything that would help with surveillance or defence. The touchscreen technology was apparently developed by the CIA. Who knew. Wash your hands before you next use it, you never know who is watching you. 

 Following her key note speech I had the honour of chairing a panel discussion which included Professor Mariana, along with 4 other highly influential members of the water glitterati. I had anticipated it might be a challenging session to chair and I confess to feeling like a circus ringmaster trying to control a group of caged and hungry lions. Strong views were aired and shared. The private sector supporters made a valiant attempt to counter Mariana's 'public sector is best' mantra but I don't think anyone changed their views. If nothing else, the audience was entertained at least. 

Like I say, Professor Mazzucato is feisty, opinionated and a just a little bit scary. I have no doubts that she would regard this description as a compliment. She may know precious little about the water sector that I love, she may be 10 years my senior, I may disagree with many of her ideological stances, she might regard me as little more than pond scum.... 

None the less, I think I am developing a schoolboy crush.