Abstract: China’s participation in venture deals financing is at a record level of 10-16% of all venture deals (2015-2017) and has grown quite rapidly in the past seven years.  Technologies where Chinese firms are investing are foundational to future innovation:  artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, augmented/virtual reality, robotics and blockchain technology. Moreover, since these technologies are dual use--designed for commercial use but also equally applicable for military applications, these are some of the same technologies of interest to the U.S. Defense Department.  

Investing is itself only a piece of a larger story of massive technology transfer from the U.S. to China. China has a long-term, systematic effort to attain global leadership in many industries, partly by transferring leading-edge technologies from around the world.

U.S. military superiority since World War II has relied on both U.S. economic scale and technological superiority. If we allow China access to these same technologies concurrently, then not only may we lose our technological superiority but we may even be facilitating China’s technological superiority. 

Speaker bio: Michael Brown is a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow in the U.S. Defense Department. He is the co-author of a Pentagon study on China’s participation in the U.S. venture ecosystem which served as key input for the proposed Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) being reviewed with bipartisan support by both the House and Senate.

Michael is the former CEO of Symantec Corporation, the global leader in cybersecurity and the world’s 10th largest software company with revenues of $4 billion and more than 10,000 employees worldwide. During his tenure as CEO, Michael led a turnaround as the company developed a new strategy focusing on its security business.

Michael is the former Chairman & CEO of Quantum, a leader in the computer storage industry specializing in backup and archiving products. After leaving Quantum, Michael served as Chairman of EqualLogic, a storage array company. 

He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, received his BA degree in economics from Harvard University in 1980 and his MBA degree from Stanford University in 1984.  

Abstract: In this talk, based on his new book “Experience on Demand: What Virtual Reality is, How it Works, and What it Can Do,” Bailenson draws upon two decades spent researching the psychological effects of virtual reality (VR) to help people understand this powerful new tool. ​He describes the profound ways this technology can be put to use—not to distance ourselves from reality, but to enrich our lives and influence us to treat others, the environment, and ourselves better.

Speaker Bio: Jeremy Bailenson is founding director of Stanford University’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Thomas More Storke Professor in the Department of Communication, Professor (by courtesy) of Education, Professor (by courtesy) Program in Symbolic Systems, a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, and a Faculty Leader at Stanford’s Center for Longevity. He earned a B.A. cum laude from the University of Michigan in 1994 and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Northwestern University in 1999. He spent four years at the University of California, Santa Barbara as a Post-Doctoral Fellow and then an Assistant Research Professor.

Bailenson studies the psychology of Virtual Reality (VR), in particular how virtual experiences lead to changes in perceptions of self and others. His lab builds and studies systems that allow people to meet in virtual space, and explores the changes in the nature of social interaction. His most recent research focuses on how VR can transform education, environmental conservation, empathy, and health.

He consults pro bono on VR policy for a wide variety of government agencies, has published numerous papers and opinion pieces, and has produced three VR documentary experiences which were official selections at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2016 and 2017. His new book, “Experience on Demand” will be published by Norton in January.

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In China, Japan, and Korea, large companies have historically played predominant roles in their economies. However, with startups often driving disruptive innovation in the current digital global era, the question is how incumbent large firms can adapt, adjust, and harness the power of small firms while making use of their existing resources. This panel brings together perspectives from China, Japan and Korea. 

In China, we have seen the explosive growth of information technology firms such as Alibaba and Tencent, who are now at the technological forefront of several areas such as using data and artificial intelligence for financial tech (Fintech) offerings. What are the key features of China's entrepreneurship ecosystem and how do large firms work with new firms?

In Japan, a major challenge is how to unleash potential innovations currently held by large companies who are unable to capitalize on them. World Innovation Lab (WiL) is a Palo Alto and Tokyo based company structured as an investment fund, designed to assist large Japanese companies carve out potential intellectual property into startups, and to harness Silicon Valley startups through investments and partnerships. ANA is a large Japanese airline company that has partnered with WiL to find new strategies for driving its next wave of innovations.

South Korea is home to some of the most competitive firms in the high tech areas, and the question is to how to remain at the forefront of high value added activities in rapidly commoditizing offerings. Samsung Research America is focused on harnessing Silicon Valley through development of software, user experience, and services for the next generation of products. 

Panelists:

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Li is widely believed as an innovative visionary and highly strategic entrepreneur. Before founding APUS Group, Li served as senior Vice President of Qihoo 360 (QIHU NYSE), a major internet company player known for its antivirus software. Prior to that, Li has involved with several well-known companies like Datang Telcom, 3721. He is an internet expert with expert internet knowledge, distribution channels and marketing experience. Mr. Li is an active venture capitalist that has invested in dynamic startup companies from media and VR technology to video advertising companies, both domestically and abroad. Li received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Zhengzhou University in 1998. Currently Li is a Finance EMBA student in Tsinghua University.

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Mr. Koto enjoys working with visionary entrepreneurs in frontier tech such as VR/AR, Bitcoin, IoT, and Autonomous Driving as the investment partner. He is also passionate about WiL’s corporate innovation efforts to bring WiL’s corporate partners’ organizational and corporate cultures more in line with Silicon Valley’s ethos. Through his facilitation of the Design Thinking Workshops and mentorship of the workshop facilitators, he has deepened his relationships with corporate executives which are influential in opening up business development opportunities between corporations and startup companies.

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Mr. Matsumoto is in charge of researching and creating new business, service, and process innovation models. Currently, he is investigating new business paradigms in the areas of education and sports that fully leverage ANA's brand, assets, and strengths. He is actively researching startups and cutting-edge technology related to these two fields both in Japan and around the world. Prior to ANA, he worked in the R&D Center at Canon and was responsible for developing new recognition technologies like OCR, form recognition and face recognition. He holds both a BS and MS from Kyushu University.

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Pranav Mistry is a computer scientist and inventor. He is currently Head of Think Tank Team at Samsung Research America and is best known for his work on SixthSense, Samsung Galaxy Gear and Project Beyond. His research interests include Wearable Computing, Augmented reality, Ubiquitous computing, Gestural interaction, AI, Machine vision, Collective intelligence and Robotics. The World Economic Forum honored Mistry as one of the Young Global Leader in 2013. Prior to his current position, he has worked with Microsoft, Google, CMU, NASA, UNESCO and Japan Science & Technology, to name a few. Pranav was a PhD candidate at the MIT Media Lab and earned his MA in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT, MDES from IIT, Bombay and a BS in Computer Science and Engineering.

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Kushida’s research interests are in the fields of comparative politics, political economy, and information technology. He has four streams of academic research and publication: political economy issues surrounding information technology such as Cloud Computing; institutional and governance structures of Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster; political strategies of foreign multinational corporations in Japan; and Japan’s political economic transformation since the 1990s.

Abstract: As the orbital space around earth becomes increasingly crowded, there is an increasing need to capture and manipulate objects ranging from satellites and antennas to “uncooperative” space debris. Robots have been proposed as a solution for clearing debris and manipulating objects in space. However, many of the traditional techniques used for robotic grasping and manipulation will not work. Gecko-inspired adhesives are promising technology, as they work in vacuum, at high and low temperatures, and do not require special hand-holds or other fixtures. Tests in microgravity and in the International Space station have shown that “gecko grippers” are a viable option for eliminating space debris in low Earth orbit and for enhancing missions in space.

Speaker Bio: Professor Mark Cutkosky applies analyses, simulations, and experiments to the design and control of robotic hands, tactile sensors, and devices for human/computer interaction. In manufacturing, his work focuses on design tools for rapid prototyping.

GROW is an automated solution to evaluate job candidates, developed by Tokyo-based people analytics startup, Institution for a Global Society (IGS). GROW was developed with the idea that the hiring process is often a missed opportunity to collect, utilize and exchange feedback that could change people’s behaviors for the better. The solution has developed into a tool that both helps students to understand their strengths and weaknesses, while at the same time assists HR in hiring based on competencies and personality traits. GROW uses artificial intelligence learning algorithms to analyze assessment data from both candidates and evaluators, looking for patterns to improve its ability to accurately screen candidates over time. In place of human intuition, GROW uses big data to develop a scientific, objective, and constantly-improving engine to recruit, screen, and develop human capital. In his presentation, Founder and CEO of IGS, Masahiro Fukuhara will speak about founding IGS, developing GROW, and the opportunities and challenges that its widespread interest has presented. 

Bio

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Masahiro Fukuhara is founder and CEO of Tokyo-based people analytics startup Institution for a Global Society (IGS), which he started in 2010. Prior to founding IGS, Fukuhara was managing director at asset management firm Barclays Global Investors (BGI) where he made investment decisions based on computer-driven models. Fukuhara earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Keio University and MBA from INSEAD. He holds Master’s degree (with Honors) in International Finance from Grandes Ecoles HEC and Ph.D. from Tsukuba University Graduate School of Business Sciences (Ph.D. in Business Administration). He is currently a Visiting Professor at the center for FinTEK (Finance, Technology, and Economy) at Keio University as well as adjunct professor at Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy.

Agenda

4:15pm: Doors open 
4:30pm-5:30pm: Talk and Discussion 
5:30pm-6:00pm: Networking

RSVP Required

NOTE: This event takes place during Stanford’s Homecoming Weekend. The parking slots in front of Encina Hall will not be available that day, and there may be higher demand than usual for parking on campus. Please take that into consideration when planning your travel.