Forums across the the country will engage university leaders and innovators in discussion on taking ideas from the lab to the marketplace to drive economic growth

The U.S. Department of Commerce and its Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Economic Development Administration today announced four innovation forums to be held across the country in late June and early July with university leaders and key stakeholders to discuss the role of universities in innovation, economic development, job creation and commercialization of federally funded research. 

“Universities have long been a critical driver of innovation in the U.S.,” Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke said. “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."

“The Obama administration recognizes and supports the pivotal role our nation’s universities play in technology commercialization and economic development,” said Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Technology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “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."

“How well America moves ideas out of the research lab and into the marketplace will determine whether thousands, perhaps millions, of good jobs in high-growth industries like clean energy, biotechnology and IT will be created here in America for the benefit of our workers,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez.

Forum participants will discuss the capital needed to move an idea from the lab to the marketplace, university strategies to support commercialization, university and regional economic development, and entrepreneurship education.

In February, Locke hosted a forum on “Catalyzing University Research for a Stronger Economy” with university leaders and key stakeholders in Washington, D.C.

Find details for the four upcoming innovation forums below.

• June 29, 2010
  University of Massachusetts (Boston)

David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of CommercePatrick Gallagher, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
Ginger Lew, Senior Counselor, National Economic Council, White House
Jack Wilson, President, University of Massachusetts System

• July 8, 2010          
  University of Southern California (Los Angeles)

David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce
John Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Technology, Office of Science and Technology Policy, White House
Ginger Lew, Senior Counselor, National Economic Council, White
C.L. Max Nikias, President, University of Southern California

• July 13, 2010        
  University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Department of Commerce
David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of CommerceTravis Sullivan, Director, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, U.S. Department of Commerce
Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director for Technology, Office of Science and Technology Policy, White House
Mary Sue Coleman, President, University of Michigan

• July 15, 2010        
  Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta)

Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Department of Commerce
John Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
Patrick Gallagher, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce
Travis Sullivan, Director, Office of Policy and Strategic Planning, U.S. Department of Commerce
G.P. “Bud” Peterson, President, Georgia Institute of Technology