R&D: a Driver of Knowledge ?

Furthermore, we must not forget the importance behind networking. This results from favourable ecosystems often growing around large existing companies, interacting through spill-overs and spin-offs. It is a fact that it has become more difficult to grow without a nourishing structure having already achieved critical mass.

Finally, in the 18^th century, technical advances resulted from the merger between progress in basic sciences and creativity from top-level craftsmen. Perhaps the myth behind the creation of Apple (in a garage) can remind us that, though Stanford University played a crucial role in the development of Silicon Valley, the fundamental innovations were actually created by a number of brilliant craftsmen. Are there any obstacles to the interaction between craftsmanship and research that need removing?