National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler Calls for "Accelerated Innovation" at National Competitiveness Summit

National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler yesterday kicked off a National Summit on Competitiveness at the Commerce Department by observing, “It is vividly clear that America’s economy must accelerate innovation and the development and utilization of technology if it is to compete successfully in the 21st century.”

More than 55 corporate CEOs, university presidents and scientists from across the country participated in the day-long summit during which they pressed cabinet secretaries and members of Congress for more research and development funding; a greater emphasis on science, math and engineering education; and immigration reform for highly educated, high-skill foreign nationals as means to keeping the U.S. economy globally competitive.

Full Story: http://www.innovateforum.com/innovate/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=256998&ref=25

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Experts push innovation in Arizona
Say many factors key for state to compete

Jane Larson
The Arizona Republic

It’s not about topping Texas or California anymore.

Arizona’s high-tech and economic-development leaders are taking their cues from the bestseller The World Is Flat: Education, innovation and investment incentives are the ways to beat competition from China and Europe and stay in the global game.

"We need to bring people up to speed on how competitive the rest of the country and the world is," said Fred DuVal, a longtime political consultant and member of the state’s Commerce and Economic Development Commission. "We can’t rely on our beautiful weather. It’s a great place to start, but not to finish."

Full Story: http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/1209techdev09.html