Santa Clara University
Silicon Valley Business Outlook

Verbatim responses, October 2002

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What industry, products, or strategies do you see as the "leading edge" of future growth for the Silicon Valley?
  • Automation
  • Bio tech
  • Biomedical and Biotechnology fields...
  • biometrics for financial services
  • Biotech
  • Biotech and services
  • Biotech, Networking, and SoftwareBiotech, Photonics
  • Biotech; wireless person to person devices that access the internet.
  • Biotechnology (3 mentions)
  • business integration
  • computers developed from the biochemistry sciences.
  • For the first time in quite a while, I feel a little more optimistic about the near future.  As I have mentioned in previous months, the consumer has kept the economy going the last 2 years by using stock sale proceeds, refinancing money, and credit debt.  It is now up to the corporate segment to start making investments that will stimulate the economy.  At this point, it is my opinion, that if we fall into another recession dip, the consumer will be so tapped out (notice the increase in credit debt, the decrease in wealth, and the increase in foreclosures) that a depression will have an increased probability.
  • Frankly, I don't see any "killer applications" on the horizon, which is what discourages me most.  The semiconductor encouraged a flood of innovation and desirable consumer products spurring econ growth; then the PC did; then the Internet.  I see nothing equivalent now to bring us out of this hole.
  • Hasn't been developed yet.  Currently wireless technologies.
  • I work for WorldCom. Thus some of the poor marks,
  • information/data security, biotech
  • Life sciences is providing the growth.
  • Managing cost & quality.
  • Micro development companies
  • military
  • Nano technology
  • New products using MEMs and nanotechnology which are on a wireless network.
  • Optimization software: biotech
  • peer-to-peer computing
  • Product: Telecommunications.
  • semiconductor device future applications, flat panel displays, software applications-virtual technology-voice recognition etc.
  • Tech will lead growth and I'm not in tech so I can't be specific.  I do feel that many companies need to manage their resources better, seek to attain long term profitability which will equate to viability and the area needs a better balance between tech and non-tech business to soften downturns in tech business.  Seems to be very overbuilt right now.
  • Technology, construction, medical and public transit.
  • Telecommunication will drive growth in the future, both from the standpoint of new technologies - video, data, wireless, and the expanding globalization of access to the internet through wireless devices.
  • There is a huge potential market for voice recognition and activation (as in, using for an interface for a pc, in-car navigation system, etc.)
  • User friendly electronic equipment.  Current technology requires too much know-how to use it effectively.  Too many electronic glitches cannot be understood by the users or explained by the technicians.  Any one who can take out the "mysteries" will be a winner.
  • Wi-Fi & voice
  • Wireless connectivity
  • wireless, biotech
  • wireless?          

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