ITIF Publication, Events and News Articles

SRII Global Conference 2012

afearon — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Rob Atkinson will speak at the annual SRII conference in San Jose, California.

Time to Start Thinking: A Conversation with Ed Luce

afearon — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:00:00 +0000

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America is sleepwalking into economic and geopolitical decline. That’s the central thesis of veteran Financial Times correspondent Ed Luce’s book Time to Start Thinking, which supports this thesis with interviews conducted with Bill Gates, Admiral Mike Mullen and other key players in politics and business.

Luce explores culprits in this decline such as the deep polarization of American politics, the failure of neoclassical economists to understand the need for a national competitiveness strategy, and a general lack of urgency for action since America is "exceptional." In a world where the pace of change is increasingly set elsewhere, can America come back? Is the “exceptionalism” seen in response to previous challenges, such as Sputnik, missing in today’s broken political system? Or will American pragmatism secure a better future? Join ITIF as we welcome Ed Luce for a discussion of this important and provocative new book.

Leadership Under Threat: Assessing U.S. International Competitiveness in Biomedical Research

afearon — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

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Please join ITIF and United for Medical Research as we release a report benchmarking international competitiveness in biomedical research. The United States’ leadership position in biomedical research is no longer assured, especially as the governments of an increasing number of countries are investing more in life sciences research as a share of their GDP than the United States. This report documents the economic impact of public investment in life sciences R&D, quantifying its impact on innovation, employment, and export levels of the U.S. life sciences industry and analyzes what other competitor nations are doing to support life sciences innovation.

Improved Metrics Should be Primary Goal of FISMA Reform

afearon — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Congress should modify FISMA to require federal agencies to use continuously-monitored, performance-based security metrics.

My Kingdom for a Hertz: Can Washington Keep the Mobile Revolution Going?

afearon — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

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Two years ago, the National Broadband Plan recommended that the government allocate 300 MHz of new spectrum to mobile broadband networks within five years and an additional 200 MHz for various uses within ten years. Since the Plan was published, 20 MHz has been reserved for a Public Safety Network, 40 MHz has been reserved to protect GPS receivers, the Defense Department has asked for 10 years and $12 billion to relocate military applications in the 1755 – 1850 MHz band, Congress has constrained the FCC’s repacking power, and demand for mobile network capacity has continued to grow. Some critics, such as National Broadband Plan chief Blair Levin, say were are moving backward, while others question the wisdom of the goal.

What’s the appropriate spectrum goal, what can policymakers do to meet it, and what are the alternatives in case it’s not achievable? A panel of experts will examine the realistic demand for spectrum, the state of the technologies that make it available, the progress that we’ve made and the setbacks we’ve suffered, and the remaining policy options to meet the nation’s apparently insatiable demand for mobile broadband.

Clean Tech Headed for Stagnation

afearon — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

It’s not too late to avert both short-term clean tech bust and long-term energy innovation stagnation.

Internet or Else, Peasants!

afearon — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The New York Times' Eduardo Porter mangled the net neutrality issue in a recent column about Netflix.

Arun Majumdar Made ARPA-E an Energy Innovation Leader

afearon — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

ARPA-E’s departing director had a strong impact on the national energy innovation ecosystem.

DOE Budget Justification Gone Awry

afearon — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The construction of the FY2013 DOE budget request poses major challenges.

Testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

afearon — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

China has made a strategic decision to leapfrog its current development and the implications for the U.S. economy should be clear.

Getting to Cost-Competitive Solar Energy

afearon — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Cost-competitive – without subsidies – solar energy will take a mix of innovation policies.

Can Wealthy Countries Stay Rich? Manufacturing and ICT-enabled Services in a Changing Global Economy

afearon — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

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Sustaining the growth of employment and productivity to ensure expanding real incomes of citizens is a classic policy problem and political necessity for all governments. To stay wealthy, the advanced countries must find ways to produce high-valued-added goods and services with a high-wage, high-skill workforce. Wealthy countries must escape the commodity trap; they cannot compete on the basis of price alone. How has the problem changed? Information technology has transformed both manufacturing and services—but the task of building on the past and imagining the future remains. Please join us at ITIF on Wednesday, May 9 as John Zysman presents answers to these questions from his forthcoming book A Third Globalization: Can Wealthy Nations Stay Rich in a Changing Global Economy?

Italy Attempts to Move Beyond Boom and Bust

afearon — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Recent policy decisions by the Italian government are promising signs of energy innovation

Crowded Spectrum

afearon — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Article in "The Salt Lake Tribune" misunderstands the spectrum crunch.

We’ll All Float on OK!

afearon — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

U.S.-UK collaboration on floating wind turbine technology development has great promise.

Senate Appropriations Bill for Energy and Water FY2013 Finds Approval

afearon — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Compared to other budget proposals, the Senate bill provides significant support for clean energy innovation priorities, leaving clean tech advocates thinking it could be worse.

Lithium-Air Battery R&D Moves Forward

afearon — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The work of IBM and others highlights promising progress on key clean technology.

Resolved: U.S. Ex-Im Bank Financing is a Vital Component of U.S. Competitiveness

afearon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:00:00 +0000

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Since 1945, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has played a vital role in boosting U.S. exports and competitiveness by providing over $500 billion in financing and insurance for export transactions. In 2010 alone, the Ex-Im Bank provided $24.5 billion worth of export credit financing which backed $34.4 billion worth of U.S. exports, supporting 227,000 jobs at 3,300 U.S. companies.

But with the current Congressional authorization of the Ex-Im Bank set to expire on June 1, 2012—and Congress currently in the midst of deliberation on Ex-Im Bank reauthorization—some have challenged the continued need for the Ex-Im Bank and its mission of providing credit financing to U.S. exporters.

Please join ITIF on Tuesday, April 24 for a debate at the Congressional Auditorium on the future of the ExIm Bank and its continued role as a key driver of U.S. exports and competitiveness. ITIF’s Robert Atkinson and the Lexington Institute’s Loren Thompson will take the “pro” side, arguing that the Ex-Im Bank remains a vital element of U.S. competitiveness and its authorization levels should increase. The CATO Institute’s Sallie James and Andrew Roth of Club for Growth will take the "con" side, arguing that the Ex-Im Bank is an unwarranted intrusion in the marketplace.

We hope you can join us for an exciting and lively debate on this important and timely topic.

The Export-Import Bank Works For America: Responses to 18 Arguments for Cutting Ex-Im’s Authorization

afearon — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Proving the effectiveness and calling for the reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank.

Stick to the Mail: Postal Reform Means Radical Cost Cutting, Not “Product Innovation”

afearon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Saving the postal service doesn't mean USPS providing email, it means radical cost cutting, like 3-day a week delivery.

Spectrum News That’s Fit to Print and More

afearon — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

An article that appeared on the day of the House hearing on spectrum distorted the discussion.

Potential Impacts of ‘Pathway to Prosperity’ on Clean Energy Innovation

afearon — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

There is a risk of serious limitations being put on clean energy with recent legislation.

The Innovation Consensus: Economic Growth in 2013 and Beyond

afearon — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:45:00 +0000

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The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Silicon Flatirons and the Technology Policy Institute host The Innovation Consensus: Economic Growth in 2013 and Beyond.

American cannot grow and create jobs without innovation. And America cannot solve its fiscal challenges without growth. Yet America's innovation potential, and the global competitiveness that it must fuel, is being challenged by trends both domestic and foreign. And yet despite its importance, the issue is getting relatively little attention. Nonetheless, thinkers across the political spectrum have begun to focus on common-sense solutions. The conference will explore the issues of why and how America’s innovation and competitiveness challenge is serious and what needs to happen to move the issue to the front and center of our political system support from both sides of the aisle.

Clean, Green and Local: Why States Are Taking the Lead in Cleantech

afearon — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Exploring the TBED community to better leverage cleantech policy and programs.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on “Where the Jobs Are: Can American Manufacturing Thrive Again?”

afearon — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Testimony before House Energy and Commerce Committee on U.S. manufacturing.

Internet Platform Competition and Market Convergence

afearon — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0000

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How does competition work in the mobile Internet economy? Traditional anti-trust analysis stove-pipes the players in this dynamic ecosystem in a way that fails to capture the complex interplay of networks, apps, handsets, services, and content. Jonathan Sallet has developed an analysis that more fully portrays competition and cooperation in our new world, the "value circle" concept. Sallet shows that the enablers of mobile apps play multiple roles, often acting as both users and suppliers of services. This insight leads to a more sophisticated understanding of market concentration and innovation opportunities.

Join us for a lively discussion of competition in the mobile Internet with Jonathan Sallet, a partner in the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLC, Rob Atkinson, President of the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, and Anna-Maria Kovacs, Visiting Senior Policy Scholar at Georgetown University's Center for Business and Public Policy.

Greenpeace Misses the Forest for the Trees

afearon — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

A new Greenpeace report overlooks key clean energy issues.

House Subcommittee Testimony Avoiding the Spectrum Crunch: Growing the Wireless Economy through Innovation

afearon — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Testimony before House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation on spectrum policy.

House Science Committee Testimony on Spectrum

afearon — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Richard Bennett will testify before the House Science Committee on April 18, 2012 on spectrum use before the innovation subcommittee.

Moving from ‘Boom and Bust’ to ‘Reform and Innovation’

afearon — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Examining the current climate for clean tech and why it's not enough.

Create a Virtual Panopticon to Cut Wasteful Government Spending

afearon — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

With technology we may be able to increase transparency and ensure that federal funds are used appropriately.

Navy Investments in Biofuels Make Sense

afearon — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Navy biofuel investments can increase military capability and drive energy innovation.

National Campus Leadership Council Summit 2012

afearon — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Matthew Stepp will be presenting the "Breakout Session: Environmental Policy" at the National Campus Leadership Council Summit.

Grand Innovation Challenges of the 21st Century

afearon — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

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Technology has given new meaning to Napoleon Hill's famous quote, "Whatever the mind and conceive and believe it can achieve." This summer, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will convene a conference on Grand Challenges - ambitious goals that are achieved by advancing science, technology and innovation. Grand Challenges are an important element of President Obama's Strategy for American Innovation, and agencies such as the Department of Energy have launched challenges such as SunShot, an initiative to make solar energy as cheap as coal by the end of the decade.

ITIF is pleased to host Tom Kalil, OSTP's Deputy Director for Policy, as he makes the case for an "all hands on deck" effort to set and meet Grand Challenges that involves government, the private sector, philanthropists, and research universities.

Learn more IBM's quest to create Watson, the computer that outwitted Jeopardy champs, and how Qualcomm is challenging innovators to make the hand-held medical diagnoses Dr. McCoy routinely provided in Star Trek something the average consumer can do.

Find Tom Kalil' s comments here.

Why is This so Complicated? Yes, Virginia. We do Need a National Manufacturing Strategy.

afearon — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Why are so many still convinced a national manufacturing strategy is not important to U.S. competitiveness?

Why the Current STEM Education Reform Strategy Won’t Work

afearon — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The nation needs a fundamentally new approach to STEM education.

Energy Innovation is Not a Partisan Issue

afearon — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Ohio Governor John Kasich’s recent comments help illustrate a key ITIF point.

What Should the U.S. Do About Chinese Solar?

afearon — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Cheap Chinese solar exports post more than just a competitiveness problem for the United States, as China’s green mercantilist policies pose a significant barrier to clean energy innovation.

Lessons from Foreign Countries on How U.S. States Can Spur Manufacturing

afearon — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The U.S. can learn from other countries to make manufacturing more competitive.

Byte Counting, Part Two

afearon — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The debate on Comcast/Xbox heads in an unproductive direction.

What Should America Do About China?

afearon — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The time is right for the U.S. to get tough and support the expansion of rules-based trade.

Apostles of Decline Denial: America Cannot be in Decline Because we Haven’t Declined Before

afearon — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Americans need to face the reality of decline if we do not increase our global competitiveness.

The 700 MHz Device Subsidy Plan

afearon — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

How will the FCC mandate affect the roll-out of 5G and 6G services?

Manufacturing is Innovative Too!

afearon — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Why U.S. manufacturing is important for global competitiveness, the economy, and innovation.

Revitalizing U.S. Manufacturing

afearon — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Overview of the comprehensive strategy for revitalizing U.S. manufacturing.

Ending the Piracy Subsidy

afearon — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The U.S. must resolve to stopping rampant innovation mercantilism in several sectors.

U.S.-China CERC Provides Hope for Future Collaboration

afearon — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

CERC is an indication China and the U.S. can move to a positive clean energy relationship.

A Multistakeholder Process To Develop Consumer Privacy Codes of Conduct

afearon — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

ITIF comments on the NTIA multistakeholder process to develop consumer data privacy codes of conduct.

A Solution in Search of a Problem

afearon — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

An examination of the manufactured controversy over Xbox 360.

The FTC Report on Consumer Privacy Misses the Mark

afearon — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The new FTC report on consumer privacy is a comprehensive discussion but sides with privacy advocates at the expense of innovation.