U-M hosts U.S. Dept. of Commerce Forum on American Innovation
The U.S. Department of Commerce and its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Economic Development Administration is holding four innovation forums in late June and early July, including one on July 13 on the University of Michigan campus. University leaders and key stakeholders have been invited by the Department of Commerce to discuss the role of universities in innovation, economic development, job creation and commercialization of federally funded research.
“Universities have long been a critical driver of innovation in the U.S.,” Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke said. “We are committed to working with university leaders to increase the economic impact of our nation’s investment in research and development to help drive economic growth and job creation.”
“The Obama administration recognizes and supports the pivotal role our nation’s universities play in technology commercialization and economic development,” said Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Technology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “The upcoming innovation forums are sure to advance the valuable dialogue already underway among administration officials, university leaders, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders as we work together to implement the President’s innovation strategy.”
“How well America moves ideas out of the research lab and into the marketplace will determine whether thousands, perhaps millions, of good jobs in high-growth industries like clean energy, biotechnology and IT will be created here in America for the benefit of our workers,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez.
Forum participants will discuss the capital needed to move an idea from the lab to the marketplace, university strategies to support commercialization, university and regional economic development, and entrepreneurship education.
In February, Locke hosted a forum on “Catalyzing University Research for a Stronger Economy” with university leaders and key stakeholders in Washington, D.C.
The other forums are being held at the University of Massachusetts-June 29, UCLA-July 8 and Georgia Tech-July 15.
Agenda
10:00 – 10:10 am
Welcome Remarks
Mary Sue Coleman, President, University of Michigan
10:10 – 10:20 am
Keynote Address
Hon. Gary Locke, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
10:20 – 11:20 am
Open Discussion on the Role of Universities in Innovation, Economic Development, Job Creation, and R&D Commercialization
11:20 – 11:40 am
BREAK
11:40 am – 2:30 pm
Breakout Discussions
- Topic #1: From the Lab to the Marketplace – Crossing the Valley of Death
- Topic #2: University Strategies to Support Commercialization
- Topic #3: Universities and Regional Economic Development
2:30 – 2:45 pm
BREAK
2:45 – 4:00 pm
Summary of Breakout Discussions / Open Discussion
4:00 – 4:15 pm
Closing Remarks
David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce
Stephen Forrest, Vice President for Research, University of Michigan
4:15 – 5:30 pm
Reception