Our Mission
We want to give every business, large or small, the ability to keep pace with technology. If you can’t afford an extensive strategy division, our analysis services will keep you on top of developments that alter your industry’s fundamentals. Even if you can, our State of Science reports provide invaluable information to your planning staff, and our headhunting services help you find the right individuals for specialist technical positions. Everyone has 20-20 hindsight; with Prokalkeo you can enjoy the benefits of 20-20 foresight.
The technological environment is in a constant state of flux. As scientific discoveries are converted into practical applications whole new industries may spring into being while older ones die. Some companies are perceptive or lucky enough to ride the winds of change to market dominance. Others are destroyed by them. Just to survive, businesses must remain agile in the face of accelerating technological progress. However, an organization can’t shift gears efficiently without careful preparation, and an institutional attachment to existing methodologies can stall necessary adaptations.
In the early 1970s, Kodak designed and prototyped the first digital cameras, but their inflexible marriage to the film paradigm caused the company to dismiss the possibilities of this new technology. They licensed the capability to other corporations and decades passed before they invested heavily in digital photography. Even then, Kodak attempted to extend their film-based business model. The result was a downhill slide to bankruptcy.
Successful industry leaders adapt, shifting into new markets and modes of production. Combining pre-existing dominance with early entry can allow these companies to define a burgeoning field. To give some examples:
- General Electric has adopted the use of additive manufacturing for its turbines, saving $25,000 per unit.
- Google is launching Google Glass next year, the first major augmented reality headset release.
- IBM’s work in expert systems (Watson) will revolutionize the acquisition and analysis of knowledge.
- Microsoft is improving gesture tracking (Kinect) to serve as a key component of ubiquitous computing.
- Apple is working to seamlessly integrate a voice-recognition virtual secretary into your life: Siri.
These companies’ foresight distinguishes them: by helping develop not only the technologies but the markets for those technologies they ensure a continued position of strength. For the first time, though, you don’t need the resources of IBM or Microsoft to take advantage of these opportunities.