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Applied Materials CEO Michael Splinter on the outlook for global economic growth, hiring, and the 2012 election.
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They -- the world economic Foreman double Switzerland in our own lives claimant is they're talking to some of the world's leading innovators list.
Supply and Charles when the world population recently hit seven billion.
Everybody Begin to talk about how we need more food we need more energy possibly coming from solar and we need more computers my next guest.
Has two of those areas definitely quarter he is Michael Splinter.
The chairman CEO and president of applied materials -- semi conductor equipment maker.
Yes so computers and certainly solar which one is the head of your focus right now well right now.
Semiconductors because with world population growing more people coming into the consumer class.
The real thing -- mobility they want information when they can get it where they can get it Smartphones are are taking off all over the world tablets are taking off.
This is really where it's at and it's really driving demand for us people are investing in new factory the Euro longtime Davos -- there's always a trend.
Or at topic chatter that what is -- this year.
In its first thing has to be able Europe gets truth the crisis I think talking to a lot of my Europe European colleagues I think they're confident they will.
It's gonna be difficult it's gonna take time.
But they're not going to create a global crisis they know the stakes.
After that you get to the US and Asia in particular China people have a lot of confidence confidence that the US is going to.
Continued to grow and have a solid economy.
Of course -- process to get through the housing issues that underline economy growing.
China growing faster than.
The rest -- growing -- and fortunate to capitalize on China but are you hiring in the United States.
We continue to hire especially high level aren't you people in the United States so we that we have to keep replenishing our -- -- technological base and -- we continue to hire a lot of Ph.D.s masters.
Degrees.
These are very very important capability sub question about our educational system and if it's properly skewed to create real.
Growth in the brains of children to really go into those directions.
Well I I think you know the company is really just ideas for our our company that -- is the basis of it -- intellectual property.
And I still think there's no place like the US.
To have innovative people.
Kids grow up being -- in an innovative environment.
We have to keep stimulating.
And we have clearly keep driving -- forward because that really.
Is -- -- keep us ahead.
-- companies -- rejuvenating their capabilities year after year can't ever stop if you stop.
He gets monetized.
-- of your biggest competitors novellus just.
Merge together with Lam Research what does that mean for the competitive landscape.
Well this is a strategy that we've seen for some time as you know we -- acquired Varian Semiconductor last year.
We had seen in that the landscape in the semiconductor companies as well semiconductor equipment needed to consolidate so.
That move was not surprising.
To us.
There's lot of trends that are requiring more research and development you need a broader base to be able to afford those things how closely are you watching.
The US presidential election.
Well -- that a Watson a lot more closely -- the suburbs.
-- -- You don't -- a -- -- he that this this thing takes too long I think that.
It's really quite interesting to see the changes I want to predicted that it got down to -- Mitt by this time and I think we'll see the real issues come to the four after the conventions.
In the summertime do you.
Have one person whether it's President Obama -- -- or somebody else that you feel would be best for business.
Well I think Mitt Romney would be would be best for business and in this case and he has a background in business understands.
Business better than the other other candidates.
Mike Splinter how many are to be coming to Davos -- this is my -- -- -- -- OK we'll let you go and have your Swiss -- I think I'm gonna have beef Barley soup.
It'll go for that thank you so much for joining us you're welcome this slot in Charles back to you.
