03/15/09
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Silicon Valley, the Home of Asian Entrepreneurs |
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| Silicon Valley (SV) has transcended its geographic boundaries and dated
moniker. It has become a symbol of innovations, the Mecca of
entrepreneurship and beacon of hope. SV is where we look for the next ‘big
thing’ that would improve our lives and lead us out of economic debacles.
Silicon Valley, with its outstanding track record, has earned its reputation
and high expectations: The junction transistor was developed (Shockley) here
enabling the integration of transistors (Fairchild Camera) to make
microprocessors (Intel) and other circuitries (integrated circuits)
including memories (Intel). These silicon components in term provided the
building blocks to build personal computers (Apple) that brought computer
power as powerful as a refrigeration-size mainframe (albeit 1970s standard)
to the desks of ordinary people unleashing the creativities of millions
programmers. The computer revolution in term spawned the Internet or
information revolution (Yahoo, Google, Oracle etc.). If somebody ask me where exactly is Silicon Valley, I probably have a hard time to define its boundaries. I think it encompasses the San Francisco Bay Area (not just the southern part). On second thought, does it really matter? SV is a place where global companies as well as small start-up companies have tentacles reaching most technical centers around the world. Its influences are far beyond its locality. What makes Silicon Valley such a special place? The answer is Diversity. Diversity is what differentiates SV from other innovation centers in the world. Diversity means more than the sheer number of ethnic groups and their people. It is the ideology of including people of diverse cultural and religious backgrounds (Wikipedia). It implies tolerance, mutual respect and open-mindedness. You will confront diversity the moment you set foot on SV. You will see and feel diversity as you walk around the different cities in SV. The major universities in SV exemplify the commitment to diversity. In 2008 academic year, Stanford University had 1497 Asian students (23%) out of a total of 6502 undergraduate enrollments. In 2007, University of California at Berkeley reported 42% of its student body was Asian and 31% was white. The Immigration Act of 1965, often referred to as the Hart-Celler Act, abolished the small quotas according to nation of origin. Taiwan and most other Asian countries, was historically limited to a maximum of 100 immigrant visas per year. In 1965, the Taiwan number had increased to 1,321. Changes in the immigration system coincided with the growth of a new generation of high technology industries (1968—Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce founded Intel) in Silicon Valley and in turn transformed the regional workforce. By 1990, 23 percent of the population of Santa Clara County (at the heart of Silicon Valley) was foreign-born. Among them, Chinese and Indian were the majority. In this flat world of globalization (ref.5), the SV Chinese and Indian engineers take advantage of their language, cultural, and technical skills to locate and maintain mutually beneficial collaborations across long distances. The SV-Hsinchu and SV-Bangalore links fostered relationships and established the epoch of Asian Entrepreneurship. Table 1 & 2 shows the statistics for firms started by Chinese or Indians between 1980 and 1998. Table 1. 1998 Sales and Employment of Silicon Valley High-Technology Firms Led by a Chinese or Indian CEO Source: Dun & Bradstreet database, 1998.
Table 2. Chinese- and Indian-Run Companies as Share of Total Silicon Valley High-Technology Start-Ups, 1980 –1998 Source: Dun & Bradstreet database, 1998.
The U.S. and the rest of the world are looking to Silicon Valley again to
bring about the Green Revolution. I am sure Silicon Valley will rise to the
occasion and create opportunities for another wave of Asian entrepreneurs. |
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