Passion, a key ingredient for success

One of the 20 most read papers from the Molecular Cell website last month was Dr. Alon's article, from the Weizmann Institute of Science, on how to build a motivated research group. The author draws on psychology studies to conclude that a motivated or self-determined behaviour “shows high performance, is enjoyable, and enhances innovation”. Psychologists have found that competence, autonomy and social connectedness are conditions linked to motivation, and Dr. Alon translates these concepts to the context of research groups with the goal of enhancing self-determination.

Using a simple model called TOP, he suggests that people are motivated when involved in good projects, defined as those found at the intersection of Talents (related to competence), Objectives (which enhance social connectedness when shared), and Passion (an active ingredient of autonomy). In other words, it is personal talents and passion intersecting with the group’s objective/scientific interests what makes a project good.

What is particularly interesting is that a similar picture also fits an apparently very different context: the business world. Two weeks ago, a selected group of successful companies from various sectors were asked to reflect on adaptation of businesses during uncertain times, within a Business Strategic Conversations Forum. The participants shared the common view that, having talent (competence in the people working in a company and the domain of the technology involved), the design of a good strategy (with well identified objectives) is a prerequisite, while the quality of the implementation of the strategy is key for success. Most interesting, it was unanimously considered that passion, reflected in commitment with the project, is a critical ingredient that affords the competitive edge. This factor was deemed essential to enhance the growth of the company in thriving times but particularly to better withstand a crisis.

If the TOP model and its ingredients suit science and business, could it also be extended to economic sectors, or even regions or countries? In a very recent talk about Regional Systems of Innovation, experts in the field explained that success, measured in terms of competitiveness, is dependent on the design of a singular strategy, adapted to each specific system of innovation with each particular set of policies and structure regarding education, science and technology, technology transfer, employment, etc. The Basque Country itself could well be an example, as its forecasted growth for 2010 and the current unemployment rate, similar to the European average, are probably far from fortuitous.

In this framework, talent /competence and objectives/social connectedness/strategy can be reasonably identified; but, what about passion? It may seem difficult to link this intangible concept to an entire population group, which is, by definition, diverse and heterogeneous. But the challenge becomes more tractable if we examine specific sectors and circumstances. So, let’s talk about biosciences in the Basque Country.

The growth and consolidation of the Life Sciences sector is a recent and ongoing endeavour, guided by a specific strategy (the first in its kind in Spain). The strategy is also singular, as it responds to particular objectives related to the diversification of the Basque economy. People (scientists and entrepreneurs), infrastructures (science, technology, exploitation of results) and processes (collaboration, translation, internationalisation) are essential, sine qua non, ingredients for current and future success. Actually, several interesting examples of science and business are available in this Newsletter, which reminds us of the successful combination of talent and clear objectives.

But perhaps most striking is that, when third parties visit the Basque BioRegion, they nearly always mention the freshness, vigour and passion they sense. Perhaps the youth of the sector is partly responsible for this feeling, but the answer may also lie somewhere else. Life Sciences are about passion for life, and obtaining results that advance our current status, either if it’s a scientific milestone or a novel product commercialised, is simply... addictive.