It is universally agreed that reviving America’s once-dominant manufacturing base is essential to our economic recovery and our future prosperity. On February 22, 2012 in Washington, DC, the CONNECT Innovation Institute released four key research studies analyzing the state of American manufacturing and production at a Brookings Institution program titled “Why-and Which-Manufacturing Matters: Innovation and Production in the United States.” The authors and researchers of the studies presented their findings and policy recommendations to a standing room only, bipartisan Washington audience. The event included a closing keynote by Dr. Irwin Jacobs, co-founder and former chairman, Qua
lcomm, Inc. who voiced his support of the recommendations and shared his concern that America needs to remain strong in advanced technologies and products.
The studies offer specific actions to stimulate competitiveness, particularly at the regional level, and to spread or amplify the benefits of innovation throughout society. To date, novel developments that give rise to “game changing” technology have been the hallmark of the American economy and a source of enormous wealth and value for the nation. However, the globalization of design, production, sophisticated manufacturing and distribution has slowed this critical economic engine. If innovation is to continue to be a major economic driver for the American economy a new form of innovation in processes and production is required in order to avoid losing jobs and industrial capabilities essential to the health of the U.S. economy.
