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How Stanford feeds Silicon Valley's innovation machine

How Stanford feeds Silicon Valley's innovation machine

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A piece from The New Yorker gives an insightful look at the culture and methodology of technology innovation at Stanford University.

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Ken Auletta of The New Yorker has taken a hard look at how Stanford has become a leading incubator for tech industry talent. While this may seem like a dream-come-true for students and faculty alike, the sheer amount of money at stake has left some blood in the water. At one point Auletta goes so far as to describe Stanford as "the farm system for Silicon Valley" describing the lack of separation between the industry and the university where venture capitalists circle overhead, eagerly waiting for the next big idea to rise to the surface.

The article is packed with insight into not only the university's methodology, but also into how the industry is pressuring the administration, whose members often share their time in the boardrooms of industry giants. Conflicts of interest are becoming an issue of rising import, as faculty members often invest seed money into their students' endeavors. Auletta traces the rise of tech industry veteran John Hennessy, now president of Stanford and director at Google, and his effort in securing a bid for a New York City technology campus, which was ultimately retracted due to conspicuous demands from the northern city. For a complete look at the high-stakes-game of technology education, grab a cup of coffee and comfortable chair and give this eye-opening article a thorough read.