By Bob Bouyea
Executive Editor

COLUMBIA -- Google doesn’t have and doesn’t need a research and development department, said Paul Froutan, the company’s director of operations who oversees Google’s global data center operations.

“R&D happens everywhere,” he said. Google has created the atmosphere that encourages each employee to innovate. “It is happening everyday across the world.”

Froutan was the keynote speaker at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Foundation’s 16th annual Townes Award Dinner held Wednesday in Columbia. Google is currently constructing a $600 million data center on 500 acres in Berkeley County.

Showing a slide of all the products Google currently offers, from its Google search engine to Froogle, its online shopping, Froutan said that its products are a result of employee innovation.

“This is a result of someone that had a problem and created something to solve the problem. If you have an idea, no one will stop you,” he said.

Even the construction of the data centers involve innovation, Froutan said. There are no two alike as employees constantly look for better ways to design the facilities.

Innovation is the key to growing business, Froutan said, as he encouraged the audience to involve their staff in the process.

“Do you encourage innovation? Do you create an environment that allows people to take risks?” he asked.

Steve Swanson, president and CEO of Automated Trading Desk in Mount Pleasant, received the Townes award. Swanson was honored for his pioneering of automated technology in the stock trading industry and for creating an innovative culture at the company.