Geoff Parker, Professor of Engineering, Dartmouth College

Geoff Parker, Professor of Engineering, Dartmouth College

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The mindsets regarding technology and data use on both sides of the Atlantic couldn't be more different: an (almost) unlimited power of the market, technology and innovation on the one hand, and a very strong awareness of governance and regulation on the other. This is precisely why the USA and Europe could benefit from cooperation in building global data ecosystems, such as the one International Manufacturing-X is striving for, says Geoffrey Parker, professor at Dartmouth College (USA).

Learn from Europe

At the Leaders' Dialogue organized by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the Hannover Messe 2024, Parker, who is also a fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Initiative on Digital Economy, is working on important arguments for the transatlantic (and global) collaboration on International Manufacturing-X.

International Manufacturig-X: Interview mit Geoff Parker
Geoff Parker, Fellow am MIT und Professor of Engineering am Dartmouth College zum US-amerikainschen Blick auf International Manufacturing-X (English only)

Europe, said Parker, is world leading in thinking about secure data management and the necessary technical infrastructure for effective data exchange. This unique approach to a digitalized industry and data-driven value networks enables seamless collaboration and innovation within and between different sectors right from the start. In the USA, however, such cross-sector cooperation between different economic participants does not play such an important role. Rather, individual performance and the value creation of individuals are the focus of data-driven business models.

So how do US players evaluate initiatives like International Manufacturing-X? Where can actors on both sides of the Atlantic find common starting points for successful cooperation?

USA: Dare to look beyond your own horizon

Collaborations in global interoperable data ecosystems, such as those that Manufacturing-X will enable internationally, offer a unique opportunity for mutual learning and deeper collaboration, says Parker. Even if the USA traditionally focuses more on the functioning of a technology in the sense of an individual business model that creates added value and discusses less about connectivity for third parties, the right balance between technology and business should not be ignored. As they develop new technologies, U.S. companies should ensure that their innovations contribute to broader economic goals. According to Parker, the USA could adopt European data governance models and thus improve data exchange among each other.

IMX: Platform for global standards

For Chris Saldaña, US Department of Energy, the advantages of international collaboration are also obvious: US companies largely have strong connections to Europe and also operate internationally. Uniform standards, particularly with regard to the handling and protection of data when different economic actors work together, are essential. International Manufacturing-X is a great platform for developing global concepts and standards.