At the request of the
State Legislature the
California Council
on Science and
Technology (CCST)
proposes to conduct
a comprehensive
assessment of
California's "science
and technology (S&T)
innovation ecosystem,"
(specifically human
capital, investment,
and infrastructure),
analyzing and reporting current global innovation
systems, and recommending to the Legislature
actions that should be taken to sustain the state's
role as a global leader in science and technology.
Many leading organizations have issued reports e.g.,
Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Innovate America,
etc., that cite three foundational building blocks to
innovation -- Talent, Investment, and Infrastructure.
A comprehensive approach to addressing these
building blocks reflects an "innovation ecosystem."
Today the term innovation is viewed as a central
tenet to economic success globally and cited as
"a fundamental issue of our time." California has
long been known as an international leader in
creativity and innovation, especially in science and
technology. Whole industries -- biotechnology,
computer hardware and software, semiconductors,
wireless communication, and aerospace, to name a
few -- were spawned from companies originating in
California. These industries not only built a vibrant
economy in the state, but also provided benefits
to people across the U.S. and around the globe
who now have vastly improved access to medical
treatments, agriculture, automation, information and
entertainment.
One of the most important catalysts for California's
innovation ecosystem
has been the state's
investment in science,
technology and
higher education.
No other region
of the world has
matched the quality
of California's array
of public and
private colleges and universities, as well
as federal research
laboratories. Through
state investments,
and investments
from federal and
private sector
sources, the state has
provided exceptional
preparation for its
citizens to pursue
careers in engineering
and the sciences;
attracted the most talented students from around the world to study
in California and remain in the state to launch new
high tech companies; and create a culture in which
university and laboratory faculty start businesses
that employ thousands of citizens.
However, there is now a general sense that
California's historic economic success and
prominence through an S&T innovation ecosystem
is at risk -- threatened by the potential erosion of
the pre-eminent science, technology and education
infrastructure that made the state great. Factors
contributing to this perception include the state's
disinvestment in its higher education institutions,
and a diminished agility to respond to continuing
and accelerating globalization of industry, the
emergence of virtual campuses, and the evolving
innovation process.
Given the fast paced evolution and globalization of
the S&T innovation ecosystem and the impact to
California's economic prosperity, CCST propose to
undertake a comprehensive study to:
- Assess the condition of California's S&T
economy, describing the overall S&T
innovation ecosystem in the current
global economy; and,
- Recommend actions for maintaining
S&T leadership and competitiveness in
an increasingly globalized economy, and
facilitating new job opportunities through
entrepreneurship and education.
This study will be a roadmap to guide California and
other states' innovation ecosystem investment to
further the nation's leading role in innovation and
entrepreneurship.
