The shorter-term projects connect us to product development and marketplace needs. The longer-term projects connect us to new innovative technologies being created around the world. New technologies often come directly from our own internal exploratory programs. Many of the highlights in this issue of Research magazine are technologies or products that started out as exploratory programs. In all of these areas we have a technology lead, and in all cases it came from programs that were not aimed at a specific product.
Exploratory programs play another very important role.
No company can create all the technology that is critical for its future. In essence they are a conduit for technology flow that can provide us with the opportunity of speed to market. We will not succeed with just developmental or just explor-atory programs. In a world where you need to be fast to win, a balance of programs with strong internal communication channels is a recipe for success. This recipe has worked in the past.