The Takeda Award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions
to scientific and technological achievements that enhance the value of
human life and lead to an increase in wealth, richness, and happiness of
life for humanity.
In the so-called "second industrial revolution," local economic
systems developed into national economic systems. Now, in the "third
industrial revolution," national economic systems are transforming
into an international economic system. In this process, the way in which
markets respond to the needs of people will be the key to prosperous development.
The creation and application of engineering intellect and knowledge, as
well as growth in techno-entrepreneurial spirit, are indispensable for
its realization.
The Takeda Award will be given to exceptional individuals who have made
significant contributions to the creation of engineering intellect and
knowledge. Engineering intellect and knowledge can be generated through
combinations of various types of knowledge, including the establishment
of new scientific knowledge, the formation of new algorithms, the use of
new ideas, the proper management of organizations, and the capture of market
needs.
For example, the 2001 Takeda Awardees in the field of Social and Economic
Well-Being have created new engineering intellect and knowledge in the
form of open development models for system software. Their achievement
enabled a free and open method for development of software, resulting in
an expanded and improved market.
Wealth and richness in this context do not refer solely to money. In the
20th Century, the world experienced vicious cycles of over-investment that
created economic bubbles and resulted in long-lasting economic recessions.
The world has seen many economic bubbles and recessions, such as the recession
in the United States in the late 1970s, the bubble in Japan experienced
in the late 1980s, and the information technology related bubble and new
recession that occurred worldwide at the turn of the century.
It turns out that mere money games never produce real wealth and richness
for people. Wealth and richness in this context means a happy life itself
that people can lead and can be obtained through technological innovations
created by engineering intellect and knowledge. However, wealth and richness
cannot be achieved automatically by the creation of engineering intellect
and knowledge alone. Ultimately, it is techno-entrepreneurship that brings
wealth and richness to people. For this reason, the Foundation focuses
on techno-entrepreneurship.
Engineering intellect and knowledge needs first to be provided in a form
that is usable in the market, then to be tested in the market, and finally
to produce wealth and richness through transactions in the market. In this
way, techno-entrepreneurship forms a bridge between engineering intellect
and knowledge and the market. In other words, techno-entrepreneurship is
the driving force behind engineering intellect and knowledge, the challenging
spirit to overcome risks.
In the first half of the 20th Century, the world witnessed many wars, including
two World Wars that destroyed many lives and an enormous amount of wealth.
However, through deep reflection and a sincere search for peace, people
throughout the world strived to develop their countries, and as a result,
growing prosperity can be seen in many countries and places.
During the process of post-war recovery, the world saw a long lasting conflict
between two economic systems - capitalism and socialism. Through this conflict,
people have learned that the latter does not produce wealth for people.
In the era of a global society, people, money, and information can and
must transfer freely from country to country despite the existence of geographical
borders. In addition, true wealth and richness can be produced only in
nations that possess a mature market.
Techno-entrepreneurship is shared by those who provide social bases for
technological innovations without making a profit for themselves, as well
as by those engaged in profit-making enterprises. Examples of the former
include the Takeda Award recipients in the Environment Well-Being field,
who have provided practical ways to resolve environmental problems by creating
the concept of an eco-rucksack. Examples of the latter include the Takeda
Award recipients in the Individual and Humanity Well-Being field, who created
both engineering intellect and knowledge and a venture company.
The Takeda Foundation has decided to create awards in fields which people
find especially important - information technology, life sciences, and
the world environment. Our view is that the wealth to be built in these
markets in the 21st Century will be several times greater than that existing
in the 20th Century.
The Foundation hopes that the Takeda Award will promote the creation of
engineering intellect and knowledge and techno-entrepreneurship, thus creating
new markets. Through this process, the Foundation hopes that the award
will contribute to an increase in wealth and richness for people. In summary,
the Foundation seeks to contribute to the happiness of human beings in
the 21st Century by sending a message that promotes engineering intellect
and knowledge and techno-entrepreneurship.
This is my sincere wish and prayer for the remainder of my life.
This year 2001 falls on the centennial year of the Nobel Prize, which was
born in 1901. The date is therefore very meaningful to me. As a last word,
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who participated
in the processes of nominating and selecting the achievements and recipients,
and would I would like to ask our friends and colleagues to foster this
new award in the era ahead.
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