Innovation Leads to Solutions and Success
The U.S. enjoys a high standard of living due, in part, to its research universities. in the 1940s, the federal government realized that scientific progress would garner the nation's prosperity and security. Backed by government support, far-flung ideas gave way to fundamental research and new industries—the semiconductor, computer, software, and biomedical—were born. Millions of jobs were created worldwide, a clear indication that economic growth is directly linked to technological innovation.
Our accomplishments have served the U.S. well, but we can't rest on our laurels. The global marketplace has changed. We are moving from an industrial age, based on natural resources and the production of goods, to an age that will be defined by creativity in areas like biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology. Transitioning is not easy. In the flux, there are concerns that the U.S. is graduating fewer engineers than China or India. Economic conditions constrain government and industry research investments. Fossil energy, which has underpinned our economy for nearly a hundred years, is not sustainable. The infrastructure that supports our energy-intensive lifestyles, namely, power grids, roads and bridges, needs overhauling to the tune of $2.2 trillion. To remain prosperous, business as usual won't work. Like we did in the 1940s, the U.S. must revamp itself, and create an economy that's based on innovation. So where does the research university fits into this scenario?
"Our job in the College of Engineering is to position ourselves for the future so that we maintain our competitive edge in education and research," says Pradeep K. Khosla, dean of the College. This past summer, Khosla was appointed to the Council on Competitiveness' Technology Leadership Strategy Initiative. For the next three years, he will work with elite academic researchers and business leaders to identify the most promising frontiers of technology and competitive advantage for the U.S. and for Carnegie Mellon.
Khosla explains that the symbiotic relationship between academia, government and industry is essential in the pursuit of innovation. While the federal R&D budget is not expected to grow at the rate necessary to meet academia's requests, the government will continue to be the largest supporter of fundamental research. Competition for federal monies remains tight; however, the College has grown adept at identifying research areas that are worthy of large-scale funding such as energy and security.
Our ability to identify projects that exercise our interdisciplinary strengths is not lost on industry. We attract domestic and international corporate partners for several reasons. First, companies have cut back on in-house research, and working with universities saves them money. Second, the College has access to experts in a variety of fields, allowing us to tackle problems from multiple approaches. Through our research centers, the barriers that limit collaboration between industry and academia are minimized, facilitating innovation.
Policy, too, plays an essential role in bringing about innovation. Regulatory issues influence if and how new technologies will be implemented, industry support of R&D, technology transfer, related tax policies, etc. The College's Department of Engineering and Public Policy has a long and respected record of guiding decision makers on important problems in technology policy and management.
"Within the College, we rely on creativity and pragmatism to maintain our momentum as a leading research institution," says Khosla. By tapping into our resources, both human and technological, the College has he power to develop and implement innovations that will transform the world and retain Americas competitive strengths.
Learn more about several key area of interdisciplinary innovation in the College by reading the full article, "Innovation Leads to Solutions and Success," from the most recent Engineering magazine, including energy, environmental innovation and policy, cybersecurity, and data storage.