What do you do if you want to stay relevant in emerging fields of R&D?

I research the current needs of society to use emerging technologies in solving problems. Hydrogenation of cars and planes to reduce pollution, use of solid state lithium batteries to electrify cars or increase internet speed by designing frequency bands or working in the field of photonics. For example, I read related articles in the field of mobile networks to understand what parameters will make us go from 5G to 6G and beyond. I carry out the relevant simulations and communicate with the prominent operators and universities of the country and work with its testing devices so that I can implement the project as a pilot in some parts of the country and localize it in this way. I will build and compete in the global market.

I do my best to stay informed. There are countless tools that push new developements in whatever field of interest to you (RSS feeds, paper aggrgators, news sites). I use a variety of these tools to periodically check on new developments in sustainability research, healthcare innovations, biochemistry, etc.

I suggest following these practical steps: 1) Take your time to pick a specific field (a sector in the industry you would like to work in, a market, a country) 2) Select 2/3 courses related to the skills you would like to expand/get/enhance 3) Look for publicly available datasets to practice with while you are taking the course 4) Develop your portfolio of projects you can share during an interview You cannot become an expert overnight, or be an expert in every field, but you can keep investing in yourself!

Everything is constantly evolving, new technolgies, techniques and tools are always becoming more available. I recommend continuous learning to keep up with these advancements. Often a free course is as informative as a long and costly program. Learning through whatever means available is only going to help you develop and grow.

As someone deeply invested in staying relevant in the rapidly evolving R&D fields, I've embraced continuous learning as my strategy. This means routinely updating my skill set and knowledge base through various methods. I regularly attend conferences, participate in specialized workshops, and enroll in relevant courses on platforms like Coursera and Udemy. Engaging with the latest research through journals and online forums also plays a critical role. Additionally, I actively network with peers and experts to exchange ideas and stay informed about emerging trends. This approach has not only enhanced my adaptability but also continuously fueled my passion for innovation.

Wholistic thinking is key to innovations. Being able to think across disciplines or being able to ask questions of experts in various disciplines to be able to tie together different aspects that will help inform you on a much larger picture.

Experiential Learning stays a relevant component while navigating endless possibilities in the realm of R & D. It would compliment Continuous Learning & Continuous Improvement which is far better than Delayed Perfection.