AS MALTA joins the European Union, another big step for Malta is the current establishing of Dr Edward de Bono’s initiative, namely the World Centre for New Thinking.  Villa Bighi has been identified, with the full support of the Maltese government, for the fulfillment of the centre’s major role as a platform for new ideas on a global basis.

Edward de Bono, born in Malta and author of 70-odd books translated into 38 languages, is known worldwide for his design and teaching of the formal creative tools of lateral and parallel thinking.  One must acknowledge that the concept of the World Centre for New Thinking is unique.

Its setting up in Malta, may perhaps be regarded as Malta’s contribution to Europe and the World while being Dr. de Bono’s personal legacy to his homeland.

Dr. de Bono spoke to The Sunday Times on what led to the setting up of the World Centre for New Thinking.

“There is an absolute mathematical need for new ideas,” he said.  “This arises from the nature of self-organising systems like the human brain and also from Goedel’s theorem.  There is no mechanism for providing such new ideas.

“Representative bodies like the UN or democracies cannot easily put forward new ideas because they are new, not representative of current thinking and therefore high-risk.  The purpose of the centre is to provide an international mechanism to make available new ideas.

“The centre will act both as a platform for new ideas and also as a mechanism for generating new ideas.  Our usual thinking is based on analysis and judgement.  But there are times – as in conflicts – where you need to design a way forward and not seek to judge a way forward.  This does not happen at the moment.”

Asked which fields are most likely to benefit from the centre’s work, Dr. de Bono said:  “The centre will be able to offer ideas in all fields.  There is a need for new ideas in international politics, conflicts etc. There is also a need for new ideas in fields such as economics, industry, education and social policy.  Ideas in all these areas would be additional to existing thinking. Once an idea has been thought it can never be unthought.  The new idea will contribute to decisions, design and paths of action.

“The centre will act as an organizing body to set up ‘task forces’ to collect and generate ideas in specified areas.  The centre will also provide creative facilitation for meetings and training in formal creativity (lateral thinking).”

But what can ‘new thinking’ contribute to world affairs?
“New Thinking can contribute greatly to conflict resolution (Middle East, Kashmir, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and other problem areas),” Dr. de Bono insists.  New Thinking can contribute to economic progress.  New Thinking can contribute to policies in ecology, trade and so on.

“In the beginning the main focus of the centre will be on major issues.  As the centre develops and gets funded, the activities may spread to other issues and smaller organizations.  It is a matter of resources.”

But why did Dr de Bono choose Malta for this project?  Were its EU accession and its geographical position related to this decision?

“ As a small neutral country, Malta is never going to contribute by way of political power, economic power or military power,” Dr de Bono explained. “But Malta can contribute through idea power. For this purpose the small size is actually an advantage.

“The centre will be a major contribution from Malta to the EU which also needs new thinking.  The Centre  will provide a similar contribution to world affairs.  This is an ideal way in which Malta can contribute to world affairs.

The location of the centre has been discussed with government officials in Ireland and in Australia.  France was also a possibility.  Malta was chosen because of the action possibilities, Dr. de Bono said.

He added that no financial assistance has been provided by the Malta government.  The government has, however, made it possible to use the Bighi site as a base and has also offered Ricasoli when funds become available to renovate that site.  “Discussions have been held with government ministers who have been very supportive,” he said.

The centre will initially be located within the former Villa Bighi in Kalkara, which now houses the Malta Council for Science and Technology offices. “As more funds become available more of that site can be renovated.  We are grateful to the MCST for making the site available.  It may also be possible to move to Ricasoli if funds become available to develop that site to host international ‘intellectual ambassadors’ from different countries,” Dr. de Bono added.

Asked what were his immediate plans for the centre in the coming months, Dr. de Bono said the first step is to make the centre known and to act as a platform for new ideas.  The centre will periodically issue ‘idea papers’ putting forward new possibilities.  It will also offer to host ‘new thinking meetings’ on various issues as required.

“The centre will react to requests but also launch initiatives of its own.  It is not intended that the centre should exercise a judgement function.  The importance of having a platform and organizing focus for new thinking will gradually become apparent.  This process will take time,” Dr de Bono said.