ITIF president Rob Atkinson delivers the keynote address at the STGlobal Conference. STGlobal Consortium is an international, interdisciplinary organization of leading graduate programs in science and technology policy (STP) and science and technology studies (STS). Its mission is to inspire and challenge graduate students to contribute to the forefront of research on science and technology policy and social issues, and to foster mutual understanding in the S&T community.

1. April 5, 2013
Overcoming the
Challenges to
Global Innovation
Rob Atkinson, President
The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation

2. What is Innovation?
“To innovate . . . is to challenge and change
the status quo to enhance the customer’s
experience and bring new forms of value
to them.” (General Electric)
“The transformation of existing conditions
into preferred ones.” (John Kao)
2

3. Why Do We Need Innovation More Than Ever?
 Baby-boom retirement in developed nations requires
significantly higher productivity growth if we want to
not reduce real per-capita incomes.
 Global challenges of climate, poverty, water, etc.
 And because more innovation is good.
3

4. Innovation Will Always Happen
“Technological possibilities are an
uncharted sea.” Joseph Schumpeter
4

5. But Today, Innovation Faces Headwinds
 Tyler Cowen: “The Great Stagnation: How
America Ate All The Low-Hanging Fruit of
Modern History, Got Sick, and Will
(Eventually) Feel Better”
 Robert Gordon: “The frontier established by
the U.S. for output per capita, and the U. K.
before it, gradually began to grow more
rapidly after 1750, reached its fastest growth
rate in the middle of the 20th century, and
has slowed down since. It is in the process of
slowing down further.”
5

6. Threats to Global Innovation Success
Incumbent Opposition
6

7. Threats to Global Innovation Success
Incumbent Opposition
Neo-Luddites and Traditionalists
7

8. Threats to Global Innovation Success
Incumbent Opposition
Neo-Luddites and Traditionalists
Neoclassical Economists
8

9. Threats to Global Innovation Success
Incumbent Opposition
Neo-Luddites and Traditionalists
Neoclassical Economists
Businesses That Focus on the Short
Term
9

10. Threats to Global Innovation Success
Incumbent Opposition
Neo-Luddites and Traditionalists
Neoclassical Economists
Businesses That Focus on the Short Term
Governments That Ignore Innovation
10

11. Threats to Global Innovation Success
Incumbent Opposition
Neo-Luddites and Traditionalists
Neoclassical Economists
Businesses That Focus on the Short Term
Governments That Ignore Innovation
Governments That Harm Innovation
(Innovation Mercantilism)
11

12. Overcoming the Threats
Embrace Anti-Ludditism
12

13. Overcoming the Threats
A Bretton Woods for the Innovation Economy
13

14. Overcoming the Threats
Embrace Innovation Economics
www.innovationeconomics.org/type
14

15. www.globalinnovationrace.com
15

16. Thank You
Robert D. Atkinson ratkinson@itif.org
Follow ITIF
www.itif.org
@RobAtkinsonITIF
www.innovationfiles.org
facebook.com/innovationpolicy
www.youtube.com/techpolicy