Innovation Engineers

Last week I espoused on skills engineers need to be successful. Of course I was thinking of standard engineering disciplines—electrical, mechanical, chemical, civil, architectural, and industrial. But if we were to wipe the proverbial slate clean and define what “brands” of engineers are needed moving forward, what would they be? Obviously we still need some of the basics listed above, but we would also needed some of the more recent additions—biotechnology engineers, genetic engineers, programming engineers, and I’ll even include computer science/technology.

But what other technologies are crying out for engineers—with a specialty in that particular field? The obvious answer for those who would find their way to this site would be automation engineers. Most of us working as automation engineers probably have a degree in something else—if we have a degree at all—but as companies try to compete in a global market, with tapped out resources and a under-trained workforce, automation is going to become more important than ever before. Of course that assumes automation professionals can be found to do the job!

But are there others? I just read an article talking about “sustainability” engineering—designing buildings, factories, and processes that will have a minimal impact on the environment, be sustainable, and use minimal resources. Think along the lines of designing buildings that produce more energy than they consume and discharge minimal refuse. Some schools are starting to provide courses in this topic, but a degree in such a field certainly doesn’t exist that I am aware of. Then you have sciences that are emerging but would be considered boutique technologies, like nanotechnology or green fuels. When the science becomes more established there will no doubt be a need for engineers with a specialty in these disciplines. And then there are the complete unknown—technologies we haven’t even thought about yet.

Sure, you could pigeonhole just about any science into an existing engineering or science discipline, but is that the right thing to do? As information, science, and technology increases, engineers are being expected to know and do more—perhaps too much more. What really needs focus is production of a new generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors. Joe Bordogna, Dean Emeritus, the University of Pennsylvania notes: “Civilization is on the brink of a new economic world order. The big winners in this increasingly fierce global reach for leadership will not be those who simply make commodities faster or cheaper….Rather, the winners will be those who develop talent, techniques and tools so advanced, that reaching a dimension of innovation beyond competition is assured.” Reaching a dimension of innovation beyond competition is assured...it was worth repeating.

Whether you are a person, a company, or a country, if you plan to keep up in our ever changing world, innovation will be the key. So as we consider changes that need to occur in our education system, we might consider adding Innovation Engineering to the mix. The problem is, how do you teach innovation?