Today’s innovators will be the winners in tomorrow’s new economic system

Maastricht, The Netherlands, 3 December 2008 — “The present economic downturn, including the implosion of large parts of the international banking system, is just the beginning of a new economic system. The company or organization that understands best and earliest the direction in which the new system is heading, and is able to innovate in that direction, will be a winner in the next upward cycle.”

This was the thrust of the message delivered today by Rein Willems, former President of Shell Netherlands, at the Van der Grinten Lecture, named after the founding fathers of Océ, an international leader in digital document management. The annual event is hosted by Océ, the Venlo City Council and the University of Maastricht, where the Van der Grinten Lecture was held today.

Addressing approximately 300 captains of industry, academics and other guests on the perspectives for a successful future based on lessons learned from public-private partnerships, Willems commented on global innovation spend. “In 2006, global R&D spend was approximately USD 478 billion. Of that amount, almost 44% was invested in North America, 29% in Europe and 21% in Japan. That meant that the rest of the world, China and India included, accounted for just 6%.”

Innovation is crucial

Sometimes innovation can offer compelling consumer experiences, Willems said: “Think of the internet and its unlimited applications, the mobile phone and the introduction of ICT technology. However, the credit crunch and banking crisis have taught us that not all innovations - consider asset-backed securities and collateralized-debt obligations - are a blessing for mankind. Many novelties should therefore not be labeled innovations but merely aberrations.”

As a former member of the Dutch Innovation Platform, Willems spearheaded the campaign to improve the country’s competitive position and to put innovation at the forefront of society. “Sustainable innovation can only flourish when government offers a long-term stimulus,” Willems said. “Too often it is a stop-and-go policy, while sustainable innovation is intrinsically a long-term play.”

About Océ

Océ is one of the world's leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. The broad Océ offering includes office printing and copying systems, high speed digital production printers and wide format printing systems for both technical documentation and color display graphics. Océ is also a foremost supplier of document management outsourcing. Many of the world’s Fortune 500 companies and leading commercial printers are Océ customers. The company was founded in 1877. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 90 countries and employs some 24,000 people worldwide. Total revenues in 2007 amounted to € 3.1 billion. For more information on Océ, visit the corporate website. 
 
For more information, please contact:

Nick Gale
Manager Media Relations
Telephone +31 77 359 5628
E-mail nick.gale@oce.com