Samsung chief urges soft technology, top talent, patents

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee Friday stressed the importance of soft technology, “super” talent and patents as the three core tasks for the company.

In a speech at an annual exhibition held at Samsung`s headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, he said Samsung must secure top-quality soft technology, a talented workforce and patents to prepare for the next five to 10 years. The company has held the event at its headquarters since 1993, displaying cutting-edge electronic gadgets side by side with Samsung products.

Lee`s attendance at the event on Friday was his first since 2007.

The three core tasks suggest what Samsung’s future depends on and indicate the key areas the company must focus on amid the rapidly changing environments of technology and management.

Stressing the importance of soft technology, Lee urged his executives to secure required technologies “at any cost.” Soft technology is a comprehensive concept including software, design and customer service.

Apple is the world`s most famous company in soft technology. Though Samsung did not mention which of its products were compared against those of its competitors, it is said to have displayed a number of Apple products, something which the Samsung chief watched with great interest.

Lee also said creating a good working environment for top talent is more important than recruiting them. With his emphasis on the need to recruit and nurture top-quality software staff, the electronics giant is expected to focus on securing software talent.

The chairman said Samsung should secure patents not only for the present but also the future, as the company is waging legal battles against Apple, Osram and other global companies. Samsung has been putting great effort into securing patents by establishing an intellectual property center, which has gone from 250 workers in 2005 to 450 this year.

Lee’s latest declarations are expected to accelerate Samsung’s patent management.

jaeyuna@donga.com