Invented Here, Sold There. Commentary by Thomas L. Friedman, NYTimes, September 16, 2009. "Applied Materials is one of the most important U.S. companies you've probably never heard of. It makes the machines that make the microchips that go inside your computer... In 2004 Mike Splinter, Applied Materials's C.E.O., decided to add a new business line to take advantage of the company's nanotechnology capabilities -- making the machines that make solar panels... The company's Silicon Valley facility... 'war room,' maintains a real-time global interaction with all 14 solar panel factories it's built around the world in the last two years... Not a single one is in America... Five are in Germany, four are in China, one is in Spain, one is in India, one is in Italy, one is in Taiwan and one is even in Abu Dhabi. I suggested a new company motto for Applied Materials's solar business: 'Invented here, sold there'...
"Regulatory, price and connectivity certainty, that is what Germany put in place, and that explains why Germany now generates almost half the solar power in the world today and, as a byproduct, is making itself the world-center for solar research, engineering, manufacturing and installation. With more than 50,000 new jobs, the renewable energy industry in Germany is now second only to its auto industry... China now understands that. It no longer believes it can pollute its way to prosperity because it would choke to death. That is the most important shift in the world in the last 18 months. China has decided that clean-tech is going to be the next great global industry and is now creating a massive domestic market for solar and wind, which will give it a great export platform. In October, Applied will be opening the world's largest solar research center -- in Xian, China. Gotta go where the customers are. So, if you like importing oil from Saudi Arabia, you're going to love importing solar panels from China."
No comments:
Post a Comment