How can we build the courage for moving faster towards a regnerative econony? (Aart de Geus)

🎥 Dec 30, 2021 📺 Regenerative Alliance ⏱ 4m 👁 2 views

Aart de Geus shares that the regenerative economy is still a concept that is not well understood, and hence we need alot of courage to move forward with it. This courage can be fuels with 3 things: make sure that is it evidence based idea have the personal courage to start with yourself build alliances

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About Aart De geus

Aart de Geus, co-founder and executive chair of Synopsys, has been a prominent voice on the evolution of the semiconductor industry, particularly the rise of "SysMoore"—a term he uses to describe systemic complexity with a Moore's Law ambition. He has stated that the industry is on track to reach $1 trillion by 2030, driven by the convergence of AI, multi-die architectures, and the need to "augment and scale the human brain." De Geus has also emphasized the growing importance of energy, noting that the industry's increased compute demands must be met without catastrophic CO2 emissions. In his 2024 Robert N. Noyce Award acceptance speech, he urged the industry to have "the courage to act" on climate change, highlighting that half of the trillion-ton increase in atmospheric CO2 occurred in the last 40 years. De Geus has discussed Synopsys's expanding role beyond traditional semiconductor companies, noting that 45% of its revenue now comes from system companies. He has also spoken about the company's use of AI in design tools, describing how AI-driven optimization can achieve results in weeks that previously took months. Reflecting on Synopsys's founding, he recounted how General Electric's decision to exit semiconductors led to the spin-out that became Synopsys. De Geus has also promoted the "Yes, IF!" mindset as a leadership principle, encouraging teams to reframe challenges as opportunities for collaboration.

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Transcript (5 segments)

✨ AI-enhanced transcript with speaker attribution

Aart De geus0:02

A regenerative economy is a relatively new concept, so we should not underestimate that it could be overwhelmed by some of the existing systems. And it takes a while before it is a common good. So the regenerative economy is a concept, if you adhere to it and if you think that this is the way forward, that you need to overcome a lot of moments that are setting you in the other direction. And therefore, the personal courage and the conviction that this is the way to go needs to be fueled by, I want to say, maybe three things.

First, the concept in an analytical way and in an evidence-based way is really the case for change. So it should be correct, so to say. And therefore, some people are too fast to think this is the right idea, but are you really convinced that it is a sound and solid and future-proof, evidence-based idea? So that is one thing. And summits like this, you can be fed for that, but you also have to do some of the research because without evidence, you just have another opinion. But with evidence, you can say, 'Aha, this is the right way to go.' And I'm convinced that the regenerative economy is the right way to go because, as I said in my contribution to the discussion, planet Earth is striking back. We have exhausted the planet, and we should get a new balance between planet and mankind. And therefore, a regenerative economy is the right concept. So I think that's right.

The second thing that we need is maybe the personal courage to say, 'Okay, what can I do in my job? What can I do in my role?' And then you have to be inspired. What do others maybe, what can I do? And so to be inspired to do the thing that you may think is a good thing, but that you would not do if you are not inspired.

And then the third is to build alliances which go a little bit beyond a conference like this one, but it's to keep you on the right pathway even after this conference. Because this conference also could—the downside risk of such a conference is that it's a nice shot. 'Oh wow, it was so nice to be there, I was inspired. Oh, unfortunately now I have to do with the day-to-day business.' No, this inspiration should continue. And it should inspire you to do the, maybe also in the, what we call in German, the 'Murat', which is the difficulties on the day-to-day life, to keep up the right spirit. And therefore, you also need alliances. And in these alliances, it's important that you meet people with whom you feel connected and with whom you can continue to exchange information but also inspiration.

So I think these three—the factual-based evidence, the inspiration to take the right compass, and then the alliances to keep you in the right pathway—I think these three for such a summit is excellent.