Do we compete or retreat?
That was the theme of President Bush’s State of the Union Address in which he called for a pro-innovation agenda of math and science, open markets, R&D research and the implementation of electronic medical records.
In laying out his American Competitiveness Initiative, President Bush echoed a clarion call made two years ago by the Technology CEO Council. At that time, TCC’s “Choose to Compete” report raised a serious question: Today we face a choice: Do we compete or retreat?
Well, it took two years, but competitiveness and innovation is now a question that, based on the President’s State of the Union Address, is up for national debate.
The Technology CEO Council’s vision for a pro-innovation agenda. “Retreating from global competition is a certain prescription for failure, but we also cannot succeed without more effective partnerships between the public and private sectors,” said the far-sighted report.
Like a germ of an idea that finally comes to fruition, advancing a competitiveness agenda has been perculating upwards. High-tech companies have urged it, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have embraced it, and now the President has reaffirmed it as a national priority.
So, what has to happen? TCC, the ones that started this debate two years ago, is laying out four straightforward steps that would get the ball moving. They are:
- Increased funding for science and math education and research and development. Investments in math and science education and R&D directly determine the strength of our future high tech industries and economic strength. Congress must lead today if America is to lead tomorrow.
- Ongoing progress to open markets. For the past 50 years, America has led the world in breaking down barriers to trade and economic integration. These efforts have led to a safer, stronger nation and global leadership for American innovators. Congress should continue efforts to break down barriers to trade and expand open markets.
- Health Care IT Adoption. A health care system transformed through greater use of information technology will save lives and save money. Through changes in laws and regulations and as a market participant, the federal government must work to establish an interoperable health care system. Congress can start by passing the Wired for Health Care Quality Act and sending it to the President.
- Radio spectrum reform. We have the technologies and techniques to make more efficient and productive use of our radio spectrum. But current laws, regulation and practices are outdated and limit our ability to deploy innovative services and technologies. We must modernize our wireless laws and regulations to make more spectrum available for new commercial services.
463 will report back on whether we make progress now that we have chosen to compete.
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