A Dialogue on Accelerating the Innovation Economy

For the past day and a half, several Senior Administration officials and I joined leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to discuss the role of innovation in achieving sustainable economic growth and quality jobs. We wish to extend our thanks to the Aspen Institute, Intel, the PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer, and Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, for bringing people together on this important Presidential priority, reflected in President Obama's Strategy for American Innovation. Much of the discussion centered around our national investments in the building blocks of innovation - increased support for basic research & development, a world-class educational system focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and a modern infrastructure that includes broadband alongside roads, high-speed rail, and airports. Demonstrating our commitment to this conversation, I was joined by six colleagues - National Economic Council Director Larry Summers, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, Staff Director of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board Austan Goolsbee, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and his Executive Director for the national broadband plan Blair Levin.