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Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) CEO Craig Barrett is urging China to use information technology to transform and advance the region's competitiveness in an expanding global digital economy.
In a speech before business, government and education leaders in Shenyang, Barrett said deploying and maintaining a modern IT infrastructure will improve efficiency and employee productivity, provide access to new markets and promote long-term economic growth.
"Technology use throughout China is growing, and companies that want to compete globally are implementing technology to gain a competitive advantage," Barrett said.
"Digital technology and the convergence of computing and communications are transforming the way business is conducted and how information is delivered and consumed worldwide," he added. "In the coming years, the world's leading economies will depend on the Internet to conduct commerce, communicate, and manage information and rich media."
Computing and Communications in China
To achieve a more prosperous future, Barrett said, Northeast China will need to invest in its computing and communications infrastructure, government policies, research and development programs, and education.
"Technology drives productivity, which enables growth," he said. "Business leaders that make IT investments a national priority can quickly establish their countries as strong new players generating economic growth and adding value through technology."
To illustrate Intel's belief in Northeast China's future, Barrett pointed to a memorandum of understanding with Neusoft Group, one of China's largest software providers. The memorandum outlines the companies' plans to establish a Beijing Solution Innovation Center and a Shenyang Product Research Laboratory.
According to Intel, these facilities will focus on building a trusted-computing environment, developing key technologies for the next-generation Internet and supporting modernization of the region's manufacturing industry.
Investing in Emerging Industries
"Intel's R&D collaboration with Neusoft will create innovative new hardware and software solutions, bringing our common vision of a digital world built upon converged computing and communications technology closer to reality," Barrett said.
He praised government officials for investing in emerging industries, commercializing new technologies and developing research and technology centers, calling them critical first steps.
"The build-out of the Internet goes on, and the pace of technology is not slowing," Barrett noted. "In this environment, Northeast China must have the infrastructure in place to sell products, communicate with customers and employees, and deliver information electronically around the clock and around the world. This is the key to growth for Northeast China."
To accelerate deployment of a robust technology infrastructure, he added, open architectures, international standards and cross-platform software are key.
"The fastest way to move into the rapidly growing digital economy is to adopt standards, which will enable government and businesses to maximize their investments and obtain industry-leading performance at lower cost and with greater choice," he said.
Creating a Pipeline of Capabilities
Barrett also noted that a transformation based on information technology deployment will create a pipeline of new capabilities for the region, including wireless network connectivity, collaboration capabilities, business analytics and strong security.
"Education is also a key factor in competitive readiness," he said. "Investing in education and training with an emphasis on developing math and science expertise will create a highly skilled workforce inspired to invent the next-generation technology solutions.
"Technology innovation ushers in enormous change for people, businesses, governments and societies," Barrett said. "By accelerating its investments in IT infrastructure and education, China can take better advantage of the market-making opportunities being created in the expanding global economy."
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