• Become an SSTI Member

    As the most comprehensive resource available for those involved in technology-based economic development, SSTI offers the services that are needed to help build tech-based economies.  Learn more about membership...

  • Subscribe to the SSTI Weekly Digest

    Each week, the SSTI Weekly Digest delivers the latest breaking news and expert analysis of critical issues affecting the tech-based economic development community. Subscribe today!

National Interests Must Include Economic Development, According to Report

June 15, 2011

The Council on Competitiveness in partnership with Deloitte released Ignite 2.0: Voices of American University Presidents and National Lab Directors on Manufacturing Competiveness, the second installment of a three-part series on improving U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. According to the report, talent-driven innovation, education and advanced skills development coupled with research, science, technology and full life-cycle commercialization are the necessary drivers for a U.S. manufacturing resurgence. Five goals for colleges, universities and the national labs to improve U.S. manufacturing competitiveness are outlined including:

  • Continue to support the community colleges and universities though long-term government programs;
  • Utilize community college more effectively to develop a skilled S&T workforce;
  • Create conduits that connect talent and ideas at universities with the private sector and the local community in regional clusters;
  • Implement university programs in math, science and manufacturing; and,
  • Ensure that national laboratories develop mission-driven innovations and broaden the definition of national interests to include impactful economic development.

The report also provides several recommendations to build a 21st century advanced-manfucaturing workforce and to fuel science, technology and innovation. In the coming months, the council is expected to release Ignite 3.0, which will highlight the perspectives of U.S. labor leaders. Read the report...

policy recommendations, workforce, higher ed, federal labs, manufacturing