Is Anybody Against Innovation?

Editor's Note

December 05 / January 06 By: Bob Cochnar Volume 3 Number 6

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In our April-May issue, we introduced a new department to TechComm called, simply, "Innovation." That issue summarized the newly released report of the Council on Competitiveness, Innovate America: Thriving in a World of Challenge and Change.

The report observed, among other things, that "we live in tumultuous times, yet Americans know instinctively that our way forward is not to retreat or retrench. The way forward is to become more open, more experimental and embrace the unknown. We cannot turn inward, nor can we allow our institutions to become overly centralized, calcified and risk averse."

In the following issue, we profiled Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness. He pointed out that federal investment in basic research provides a foundation for innovation that can be created and sustained by private business spinoffs.

In the last issue, we published an article by William R. Brody, president of The Johns Hopkins University, based on testimony he gave to the House Science Committee. He said:
"The calculus of innovation is really quite simple:
"Knowledge drives innovation, innovation drives productivity, productivity drives our economic growth.

"That's all there is to it. In the roaring 1990s, our knowledge enabled us to innovate and our innovations increased American productivity and, hence, economic growth. But there is no guarantee that these productivity gains will continue.

"And based on studies I've seen, it looks as though the innovation pipeline is slowly being squeezed dry. If current trends continue, many of us on the Council of Competitiveness believe there is a good chance that U.S. competitiveness in vitally important high-tech areas will fall behind that of China, India and even a resurgent Western Europe."

Are you getting the idea that a large number of thoughtful people are increasingly worried about our ability to innovate and compete? I hope so.
In this issue, we're banging this particular drum once again by publishing a summary of a report by a very blue-ribbon committee titled Rising Above the Gathering Storm—€”Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.

In a companion piece, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) writes:
"The challenge we face is global in nature and broader in scope than anything we have seen in the past. It will take great determination, considerable resources and a sustained national effort involving academia and industry along with state and national governments to ensure that America continues to be the world leader in science and technology."

This most recent study, which was issued by the National Academies of Science, has generally met with a deafening silence and may very well join other reports on the dusty shelf of history. This, to say the least, will be unfortunate. A good deal is at stake.

I trust you've figured out this month's innovative cover (you need to peer at it sideways) that takes full advantage of our ability to execute wraparound designs. This one is the brainchild of our cover designer Phillip Ortiz, who has been with us since Volume One, Number One.