Societies and the Imperative of Innovation

Dr. E. William ColglazierScience and Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State

Chief Scientists and Opinion Leaders MeetingInternational Economic Forum of the Americas

Conference de Montreal, June 10, 2014

Most Popular Topic in All My Diplomatic Engagements

• How Science and Technology Can Stimulate Innovation and Economic Development

• Every Country has Ambitious Plans to Compete on a World-Class Level

• Willing to Modify Policies and Investments to Build a Knowledge-Based Society and Innovative Nation

• Fundamental Pillars are Well-Known, but Challenging to Implement and Sustain

National Academy of Sciences and National Intelligence Council Reports• Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing

and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future (NAS,2007)

• Rising to the Challenge: U.S. Innovation Policy for the Global Economy (NAS,2012)

• S&T Strategies of Six Countries (NAS,2010)• SBIR Reviews (NAS,2004-9)• Global Trends 2030 (NIC,2012)

“Global Trends 2030” (2012)

• Unclassified Study Produced Every Four Years by U.S. Intelligence Agencies with Input from Many Countries

• Examines Megatrends, Game Changers, and Potential Worlds out to 2030

• Biggest Megatrend: Individual Empowerment Accelerated by IT Revolution and Other Tectonic Shifts

• Growth of Global Middle Class with Drop in Poverty and Rapid Urbanization

• Widespread Exploitation of New Enabling Technologies that are Transformational and Disruptive

Innovation Metrics and Rankings

• World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index

• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Innovation Index

• World Bank Knowledge Assessment Methodology Innovation Index

• World Bank “Doing Business” Report

Typical Challenges Countries Face• Inadequate Investment in Education, Infrastructure,

and R&D• Only “Top-Down” Strategy• Universities and Private Sector Not Connected• Viewing Fundamental Research as a Luxury• Cultural Impediments (bureaucracy, corruption,

deference to authority, etc.)• Missing Elements of Innovative Ecosystem (IPR,

immigration policy, bankruptcy policy, FDI, etc.)• Weak Institutions with Little Autonomy• Lack of Incentives for Entrepreneurs

President Obama’s Advice

“The first step in winning the future is encouraging .. innovation. None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be or where the new jobs will come from. Thirty years ago, we couldn’t know that something called the Internet would lead to an economic revolution. What we can do … is spark the creativity and imagination of our people.”