Conference 7.286::digital

1001.0. "who reviews outside technologys?" by KYOA::BAUMAN () Fri Jan 05 1990 12:59

                                                                              
        
    Does Digital have a department that looks outside the company for new
    ideas, technologys or  business for aquisition. I know we recently be
    came involved with MIPS and RISC. We also get into a great many agree
    ments with external manufacturers of complementary products for the
    benifit of DEC and our customers. Are we DEC looking for whats new and
    potentially profitable in the free market place? If we are than perhaps
    in the travels of our day we will run across such companys, products
    that may make sense to look at and evaluate. The reason I ask is this. 
          
    Digital has invested in Case tools/ Technology heavily. I read in a
    previous note that there are concerns about the products being
    developed by Digital that are writen by "engineers and for engineers".
    That customers often want something different but they don't know what
    it is they want. The case envrionment is perhaps still being defined by
    the market place?
    
    If thats the " CASE " then is Digital interested (Attn Case Engineers)
    in seeing a unique and quite (as it appears to me) interesting approach
    in design methology. It encompases conception of a project, code
    developement , documentation, implementation, on the fly design
    specchange, design the speck on the fly,  final code generation, and
    simulation for the imbeded processor project... Tools for real time 
    use! 
    
    I know of someone who is involved with a start up company that is
    centered around the above. They are looking for start up funds. One
    individual I understand is  PHd who is a dean (?) of the computer sci
    department in a large west coast university. He has worked on an
    methods to to accomplish the above for about 10 years. 
    
    I have a general non priority description of what it is they are doing. 
    I have permission to share it with those who are interested internal to DEC.
    I am there for looking for whoever it is in the company who looks at 
    leading edge inovative ideas  ( or maybe clunkers) that may benifit the
    company or provide a jump on gaing market share in new and upcomming areas.
    At a minimum it is interesting to to see a something that may be a 
    competative product in the future. 
    
    So if you know who the internal venture capital (new ideas) folks are
    or are involved in Case type work and are interested in a general
    overview of the above , then reply to me at KYOA::BAUMAN  OR CHARLES BAUMANN
    @SAD.
    
    At a minimum I would like to find out who to direct this start up
    company to so " they " could send an overview to these appropiate people. I
    realize there are proper procedures and channels that must be followed
    and am also interested in knowing what if any they are. For the record
    I was not solicited to do this. I asked for some general info out of
    curiosity and became interested after asking a few questions. I also
    will hold off on forwarding any thing to any one until there is some
    discussion on the guidelines. I will however hold on to your name if it
    becomes clear that it is allowable to forward an shch info.
    
    Regards
    
    Charlie
     
    

Perhaps you might want to put this in a mail message and send it to 
social::involvement. There is a good chance that it will get forwarded to
someone who can do something with it....

You might also try sending information to Al Olson, the CASE Marketing manager 
in ESG.  He is in MRO4.  George Van Treek is also in that group and may be 
able to help.

It seems that the money for these kinds of ventures comes after there is a 
sponsoring group backing it.  In other words, find someone who is responsible 
for the activity covered by this new potential company and then they have to 
sell it internally.  That is how the MIPSCO and some other deals I am familiar 
with have worked.  There may be a general pool of cash for this type of 
activity, but I have not seen anyone own up to that.

If the funding is to a University then there is quite a bit of funding 
available, but once again you need sponsorship.  Al would be a good place to 
start.

Matt Haley

Also try asking in the FULTON::CASE notes file.  A number of the people 
involved with basic CASE marketing participate in that conference.

   Gary

    Just read your note, am new to this conference.  Beleive it or not,
    there IS a group in DEC who reviews technologies going on in other
    companies!  They are a part of Manufacturing I think.  Try Bob DiFazio
    in Chelmsford I think.  I designed a presentation for him on Technology
    Transfer last year.  That's his bag.