The Department of Commerce plans to hold four innovation forums with university leaders and key stakeholders across the country to discuss the role of universities in innovation, economic development, job creation and commercialization of federally funded research.Participants of the forums will discuss topics like moving ideas from the labs to the marketplace, entrepreneurship education and strategies for commercialization. The school included are: the University of Massachusetts, the University of Southern California, the University of Michigan and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke commented on the forums:
“Universities have long been a critical driver of innovation in the U.S. We are committed to working with university leaders to increase the economic impact of our nation’s investment in research and development to help drive economic growth and job creation.”
It is the department’s hope the forums will move the ideas out of the research labs and into the marketplace to produce jobs and innovative products.
U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra also had something to add on the importance of these programs.
“The upcoming innovation forums are sure to advance the valuable dialogue already underway among administration officials, university leaders, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders as we work together to implement the president’s innovation strategy,” he said.
The events will take place in late June and early July and will be attended by a number of officials from different federal departments.
