California Competes
CALIFORNIA COMPETES is a state-wide coalition of technology, business and education leaders promoting a new innovation agenda for the Golden State.
Why This Initiative? - California's economic prosperity requires a renewed commitment to science, technology, and innovation. The National Academy of Sciences recently concluded that "the scientific and technological building blocks critical to our economic leadership are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength." Accordingly, President Bush unveiled the "American Competitiveness Initiative" in his State of the Union address, calling for $136 billion to support research and expand tax incentives for private sector R&D. Similarly, Democratic and Republican lawmakers are joining forces to introduce legislation such as the National Innovation Act and the PACE (Protecting America's Competitive Edge) Act.
We are convinced, however, that California needs its own state-level initiative in science, technology, and innovation. This will leverage and expand California's assets, and capture a growing portion of federal investment. "California Competes" is working with our state leaders to define and implement such an initiative.
Public Policies to Advance Innovation and Economic Growth in California
California needs a coherent set of public policies that will preserve our standing as the home of cutting-edge technologies, spur economic growth and job creation,, and use new technologies to address the major issues of our day.
California should lead in developing:
- Clean energy technologies that reduce our dependence on Middle East oil by 25 percent, while combating global warming;
- Health information technologies that slash administrative costs and medical errors;
- Intelligent transportation systems that reduce traffic congestion and accidents;
- Nanomedicine and bio-therapeutics, technologies, and diagnostics that meet significant, unmet medical needs;
- The next revolution in information and content processing that will allow the semiconductor industry to transcend the limits of today's silicon technology.
- Innovations in applications, content and services that promote the continued robust growth of the Internet and e-commerce.
California Competes wants to insure that our state government has a focal point and leadership for these issues in both the executive and legislative branches. Additionally, the coalition is promoting increased investment in research, particularly in projects that will foster collaboration between universities, industry, and national labs.
How did the Initiative Originate?
"California Competes" originated in Joint Venture's Technology Convergence Consortium (TC2), a group of technology leaders working to accelerate nanobioconvergence (nano, bio, and IT). Now, Joint Venture is working in partnership with TechNet and CHI (California Healthcare Institute) to build a state-wide coalition of technology, business and education leaders promoting investment in these areas.
We are building a diverse, nonpartisan, cross-sector coalition of California business leaders who are asking the gubernatorial candidates and later the Legislature to endorse its principles and enact legislation to make it happen. The co-chairs of the this effort are Gary Fazzino, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs at Hewlett Packard, and Tom Kalil, Special Assistant to the Chancellor of UC Berkeley for Science and Technology.