A wide array of leaders representing
business, academia and public service
last week launched a national
campaign to protect and enhance America’s
competitiveness. The effort, which is
part of the Council on Competitiveness’
National Innovation Initiative, kicked off
with an advertising campaign that began
Feb. 8 in The Wall Street Journal, The
Washington Post and several public policy
publications.
Johns Hopkins President William R.
Brody and Intel chairman Craig R. Barrett
co-chair the NII Leadership Council,
a group of private sector leaders who will
guide the implementation of the National
Innovation Initiative agenda over the coming
years.
The ad—headlined "Where in the World
Will the Next Big Idea Come From?"—advocates
a number of policy proposals that will
ensure America remains the global leader in
innovation. It is signed by more than 140
luminaries, including industry CEOs, college
presidents, state governors and former
government officials.
"The individuals and organizations who
joined together in this effort, including many
of the nation’s top minds from industry, academia
and government, have concluded that
the United States faces an unprecedented
challenge to its long-term global economic
leadership and consequently the well-being
and prosperity of its citizens," Brody said.
"We must innovate to compete and, if we
are to innovate, we must first invest in our
people, our infrastructure and our desire for
knowledge."
Said Barrett, "The supporters of this effort,
while diverse in background and perspective,
are united in our call to policy-makers.
The U.S. must choose to compete, and we
must act quickly in order to retain our economic
and technological leadership into the
future."
The ad calls for increased investments in
basic research, improved math and science
education, new incentives for research and
development, and policies that will continue
to attract and retain in America the
brightest minds from around the world.
Chad Holliday, chairman and chief executive
officer of DuPont and chairman of
the Council on Competitiveness, said, "We
are seeing a consensus emerging across the
private and public sectors for action on
a national innovation plan. The government
plays a critical role in creating the
right environment for innovation to flourish,
which, in turn, creates economic growth
and jobs here in America."
In addition to the advertising effort, the
groups involved in the campaign will work
with the administration and Congress to
educate citizens about the importance of
American innovation and will work to support
legislation that will promote competitiveness.
Thus far, the issue has garnered
widespread bipartisan support in both the
House of Representatives and the Senate
and was a central part of President Bush’s
recent State of the Union speech.
For more information on this campaign and
on how America can remain the global leader in
innovation, go to www.InnovateAmerica.org.