Goodyear Chairman Urges Cultural Evolution to Further Technological Development

    AKRON, Ohio, May 3 Encouraging a cultural evolution within
the global tire industry to further technological development, Goodyear
Chairman Sam Gibara, spoke Thursday at the spring symposium of the Akron
Rubber Group.
    In his keynote address The Tire Industry, a Product and Cultural
Evolution, Gibara referenced the microscopic scrutiny under which the tire
industry has been placed during the past year.  He noted that this is the same
industry, which over time, has made quantum leaps in tire safety, performance
and durability.  Gibara said tire manufacturers have a very strong history of
dedication to product evolution and technological progress most of which has
emerged through internal R&D.
    He believes the reason for this is that the tire industry has been slower
than other industries to venture beyond the confines of its own R&D.  He also
acknowledged a historic mistrust among those in the tire industry and said
there are compelling reasons for the industry to pool some of its
technological resources.  "The success of our industry as a whole depends very
much on the strength of its technology.  Where industry progress can be made
or consumer safety can be enhanced I think we should strive for a more open
attitude than we have in the past," he said.
    "We are an old industry and not one of fast growth.  Joint ventures with
partners from within and outside of our industry can promote cross-
fertilization across multicultural lines, allowing technological advancement
to occur much faster," he added.
    To those concerned that a company's success might be sacrificed in the
wake of technological joint ventures, Gibara emphasized the importance of each
company to "fiercely maintain" its own propriety R&D investments and
discoveries and to protect intellectual property through patents and trademark
secrets.  He noted Goodyear's deep commitment to make technology a top
internal priority, which he said lead to the quest for outside technological
partners and resulted in agreements with Michelin, Sumitomo, Sandia National
Laboratories, Cycloid Systems and Phase IV Engineering.
    Gibara said Goodyear would continue to take a major role in technological
development.  He noted that in recent years the company has filed record
numbers of new patents and is recognized as an industry leader in worldwide
rubber patents.

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