Featured Roundtable: Innovation Economics

"Obama's Techonomics Program"

Teleconference Host:

March 24-25, 2009
Arlington-DFW, TX
www.wbtshowcase.com

The U.S. House of Representatives leadership has moved quickly to increase funding for key scientific and engineering agencies as part of the latest economic stimulus package, now called the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009.  A vote is expected as early as this week, perehaps Thursday, January 22.

Very significant increases over FY 2009 Continuing Resolution amounts are proposed for key science agencies.  These include:

• $3 billion for the National Science Foundation
• $1.9 billion for the Department of Energy's Office of Science
• $300 million for the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)

Both the R&D and education provisions of the new House initiative harmonize with President-elect Obama's promise to enhance innovation by providing short-term stimulus spending where it is needed, while providing a long-term basis for economic growth.  Click for details and then CLICK HERE for ASTRA's letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Issues:

·         The new funding could easily create a “gold rush” for science and technology funding.

·         Funding priorities may only stimulate an increase in the supply of intellectual “raw materials”.

·         Economic stimulus proposals may push out funding without clearly defined outcomes such as new product launches, improved value propositions for raw IP and technology and captal targetted at “high impact” SMEs, older companies that create the most jobs.  

This Roundtable Teleconference features live call-in Q & A.  All questions are first-come first-serve. 

Don’t delay, send your questions now to: 

dloague@cfi-institute.org