PHILADELPHIA--(December 5, 2012) – How much ground has the U.S. lost in the global innovation race -- and how do we regain our advantage? Robert Atkinson, Ph.D., founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation and co-author of Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage, will share his insights at a special Smart Talk program, Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the University City Science Center in Philadelphia.
In the book, published by Yale University Press, Atkinson argues that a decline in American global competitiveness was a major, yet overlooked, cause of the Great Recession and halting recovery. The United States is not the innovation leader many assume it is, and urgent action is needed to put us back in the lead in today’s global innovation race.
Atkinson’s presentation will be followed by a panel discussion focusing on the role universities can play in developing an innovation agenda. Panelists include: Kenneth Blank, Ph.D., vice president for health sciences, Rowan University; Deborah Crawford, Ph.D., senior vice provost for research, Drexel University; Charles Riordan, vice provost for research, vice provost for graduate and professional education, University of Delaware; and Donald Sebastian, Ph.D., senior vice provost for research and development, New Jersey Institute of Technology. Atkinson, who frequently advises state, national and international policy-makers and was appointed by the Obama administration to the Innovation Advisory Board in 2011, will serve as moderator.
Smart Talk is a quarterly Science Center program that gives startup and growing companies a look at best practices and business strategies from industry leaders in the region. Smart Talk is co-sponsored by Deloitte LLP and the University City Keystone Innovation Zone.
Smart Talk will begin at 8:30 a.m. on December 12 with registration and continental breakfast. The program will run from 9:00 – 11:15 a.m., with an optional tour of the Science Center immediately following. There is no charge for the event which will take place in the Quorum space at the University City Science Center, 3711 Market Street, Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Online registration is available at: http://sciencecenter.cal.basecampbusiness.com/node/260838.
About the Science Center
The University City Science Center accelerates technology commercialization, regional economic development, and the market availability of life-enhancing scientific breakthroughs by bringing together innovations, scientists, entrepreneurs, funding, laboratory facilities, and business services. Established in 1963 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, the Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s Port business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org.
