Dear Reader,


Eyes in Issue 8 has traveled through the dreams of many global, innovative creators … again. If there were any borders, we removed them. Borderless innovation seems to stimulate cultural diplomacy. Respect for countries and cultures is seen during fairs, conferences and cultural manifestations we have visited around the world. During our travels, it felt as if there was more being laid on the table — not only the global, positive economic impact of innovation, but also its influence on social well-being, aesthetics and optimism within a country’s population.


The Innovation Union that was established in 2010 by the European Union (E.U.) was reviewed not long ago. This economic policy focused on promoting a world-class science base through public-private partnerships and the removal of bottlenecks that prevent ideas from reaching the marketplace. While innovation is not always measured in the way we label features in our Eyes in categories, we should not forget that books, art, design, architecture, etc., are a reflection of innovation in research and science — and the other way around.


According to an interview in the New York Times with Mark English, spokesman for Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, the European commissioner for research, innovation and science, findings from a recent survey, revealed that the E.U. is failing to close the innovation performance gap with its main international competitors: the U.S. and Japan. Although the trends in most E.U. member states are promising despite the economic crisis, progress is not fast enough. Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden came out as the top scorers, while Central and Eastern Europe lagged. Slovenia scored highest in the region, joining countries like France, the Netherlands and Britain with grades close to the 27-member E.U. average.


But the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia scored below average, while Bulgaria and Romania joined Lithuania and Latvia on the bottom rung of the scale, well below average. The main reason for this is that these countries had an enormous amount of catching up to do post-1990. Many have had considerable successes since then, but there is much more work to be done.


According to Gabor Szabo, a professor at the University of Szeged and president of the Hungarian Association for Innovation, the challenge for would-be innovators is more difficult. “First, the country needs a forum where all aspects of innovation policy can be discussed and harmonized,” Szabo said, as quoted by the New York Times.


Second, R&D and innovation have to be one of the main priorities of the country, based on full political consensus. The main problem, he said, is the lack of innovation by small- and mid-size enterprises. Szabo added, “We have to find ways and incentives to strengthen the human resource base, increase collaboration between companies and research institutions, and last but not least, facilitate networking” among small- and mid-size businesses. More than 80 percent of innovation in Hungary comes from a few large companies. Then Szabo said, “By better pooling our efforts and focusing on excellence, and by creating a true European Research Area, the E.U. can enhance the quality of research and Europe’s potential for major breakthroughs.”


On the other side of the pond, as quoted in the New York Times, we encountered Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist. Thiel’s 20 Under 20 program is a nonprofit initiative that grants $100,000 to students under the age of 20 who drop out of college and pursue their interests for two years. The budding entrepreneurs also have access to an extensive network of technology mentors. From more than 400 applications, the Thiel Foundation — Thiel’s philanthropic arm — whittled the field down to 24 individuals (groups were allowed to apply).


Disturbed by what he saw as a lack of innovation in society and the rising cost of college, Thiel, a Stanford graduate, declared a “great bubble” in higher education. Although he knew he couldn’t short the higher education market, he started to think of ways to move the dialogue forward and encourage students to find alternative paths. Investing in young, promising individuals is nothing new for Thiel, who was the first outside investor in Facebook, the social network founded by Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard University dropout. In another part of the world, under reforms by President Raul Castro, a new entrepreneurial class is developing — and with it some new ways of thinking in a country that has long resisted economic change. The government reported recently that 310,000 Cubans are working legally for themselves, of whom 221,000 have received their licenses for self-employment since last fall, when Castro announced an expansion of the private sector. It was reported that this new self-employment group uses innovation in their start-up companies.


From E.U. Initiatives, the American 20 Under 20 Innovation Program, Cuba’s new entrepreneurs, and the Asian Innovation Awards last summer, it shows us that it does not matter how big or small the innovation initiative is, it is a way of thinking that we can’t ignore anymore. Looking at Maslov’s hierarchy of needs, safety falls on the second tier hierarchy. It would seem that innovation might fit there as well, as it has seemingly become just as important to us in order to keep employment, resources and health at an acceptable level.


Wherever we are in the world, innovation also seems to be a natural driver of positive energy, the need to be challenged, and overall survival. Innovation is the trendsetter for civilization and is not limited to the arts. On the contrary: Innovation often starts within the arts that push into other industries and sciences, allowing for continual forward momentum, which ultimately leads to major inventions. Collaborations between the different Eyes in disciplines (architecture, art, beauty, books, design, culinary arts, culture, fashion, film, health, photography, real estate and travel) are often the initiators of large innovations or inspirations and motivators for government and institutions to embed innovation initiatives further into society. For example: The Arc of Dreams project in Hungary will challenge and motivate innovation globally; Author Jodi Picoult combines music composition with a written book to inspire the audible communication of the written word; Artist Cesar Arechiga paints social problems that have alerted Mexican authorities to establish more innovative approaches to solve them; the combination of materials that designer Matthew Shively uses for table designs inspire architects in combining more innovative materials for big building projects; and Textile designs by Alicia Ross show us that art in a different medium allows for great innovation — like the strength of some textiles being used in industries we had never thought of before. Enjoy reading!


Eyes in Magazine works with DesignHowYouThink & Nealberhood Design Cheryl Knight - Editor Pamphil Kin Author Erin Korniyenko - Editor & Magazine Manager Amanda Rinker - Editor & Social Media Manager Tony Roemer - Editor Neha Dey - Editor Andy Boehm - Web Designer/Editor Jay Hogben - Videographer & Editor


Vivian Van Dijk Editor in Chief Art Director & Editor Eyes in Magazine


contact: info@eyesin.com www.eyesin.com


Table of Contents


Eyes in Culinary Arts – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Nobu Cooking Classes


Eyes in Travel – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The Palm after Atlantis


Eyes in Artists – Spain - Rodolphe Rambaud Eyes in Books – America – Jodi Picoult Eyes in Artists – Berlin – Andreas Golder


Eyes in Real Estate & Design – New York – Deborah Berke


Eyes in Photography – New York – Giuseppe Mastromatteo Eyes in Artists – Mexico – Cesar Arechiga


Eyes in Music & Culture – New York – Music by Playwright Catherine Filloux Eyes in Artists – New York – Alicia Ross


Eyes in Fashion – New York / London – Alexander McQueen


Eyes in Artists – New York – Painter Shanna Waddell


Eyes in Music – California – David Drake & Sanguindrake


Eyes in - Design – Kentucky – Furniture Designer Matthew Shively Eyes in Artists – Austria – Dorothee Golz


Eyes in Books – The Netherlands & Curacao – Esther Jacobs


Eyes in Architecture – Holland / China – Jacob van Rijs & The Comic Museum


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Artist duo Comenius & Ado from www.theinvisibleheroes.net & Vivian van Dijk


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