* The Technology CEO Council's competitiveness agenda
The Technology CEO Council recently released its competitiveness agenda and called on government leaders to enact key initiatives to promote technology research, fix the patent system and develop, attract and retain the best and brightest workers.
“The rest of the world has raised its game and we need to do so as well. America possesses all of the strengths we will need to thrive in the 21st century, again leading the world to a more prosperous and secure future – if we leverage our strengths,” says Edward Zander, chairman and CEO of Motorola and chairman of the Technology CEO Council.
The policy advocacy group focused on ensuring U.S. competitiveness through technology leadership participated in White House and Congressional meetings earlier this month and outlined its “Seven for ’07” program. The initiatives include:
* Increase funding for proven programs and incentives for math teacher recruitment and professional development.patent system to address unjustified lawsuits, patent quality and global protection of intellectual property.
* Double basic research budgets at the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the Department of Defense.
* Renew Presidential Trade Promotion Authority with an expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program to include service sector employees and more effectively assist workers in transition.
* Pass immigration reform that ensures the best and brightest can study and work in the U.S.
* Enable accelerated use of IT in healthcare services.
* Make the R&D tax credit permanent.
* Reform the
