Why should academia, industry, and government collaborate to address the world's biggest challenges?
That was the question posed by Tufts University President Sunil Kumar at “Growing New England’s Next-Generation Economy,” the New England Competitiveness Conversation organized by the Council on Competitiveness. The Council is a non-partisan, nonprofit coalition of CEOs, university presidents, national laboratory directors, and labor leaders, focused on driving long-term economic and productivity growth for the nation, inclusive prosperity, and national security.
In a keynote address, Mark Peters, president and CEO of MITRE, emphasized the critical role of collaborative research and systems thinking in advancing U.S. competitiveness. MITRE has, with federal funding, played a pivotal role in developing air-defense radar systems and space technologies. That collaboration with federal agencies, Peters said, is crucial for building a robust manufacturing base.
Peters also addressed the importance of investment in the science and innovation pipeline, from discovery research to commercialization and everything in between. He acknowledged the “valleys of death” and other challenges to the pipeline. “But partnerships around this room are going to help break down those barriers,” he said. “We all have to understand ... what our incentives are, what we're trying to accomplish, and work together in partnership, and then come up with common goals and really drive forward.”