Mission
Success in the global economy of tomorrow requires robust forethought and action from leaders today.
- Lead the global economy of the future
- Strengthen America’s innovation infrastructure
- Raise the standard of living for all Americans
From powering the industrial age to leading today’s convergence of AI, advanced technology, and health innovation, Pittsburgh is a city of reinvention—a fitting backdrop for a first-of-its-kind joint convening of the Council’s Competitiveness Conversations Across America series and the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils’ (GFCC) annual Global Innovation Summit, titled “Forging the Future – The Intersection of Health, AI & Tech”.
This landmark event—co-chaired by University of Pittsburgh Chancellor and Council Academic Vice Chair Joan Gabel, Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian, GFCC Chair and Council Chair Emeritus Chad Holliday, and Council CEO and GFCC President Deborah L. Wince-Smith—will take place at the University of Pittsburgh, October 19–21, 2025.
Bringing together local, state, regional, national and global leaders, Forging the Future will serve as a defining dialogue at the intersection of technology, talent, place-making innovation, and health—exploring how cutting-edge breakthroughs are transforming health outcomes and positioning Pittsburgh as a global hub of 21st-century competitiveness.
In the Council on Competitiveness’s July Fellows Insight, Dr. David B. Williams—Council Senior Fellow and Director of Global University Research and Industry Partnerships for the Starlab–George Washington Carver Science Park at The Ohio State University—explores how rising commercial investment in space will drive breakthrough materials, economic growth, and a next-generation tech workforce. He argues that space-based innovation will open powerful new frontiers for U.S. manufacturers to enhance competitiveness—and unlock fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs to launch businesses, technologies, and entirely new markets once unimaginable.
In the spirit of working to accelerate innovation and advance U.S. competitiveness, the Council is excited to share a robust lineup of key events in the months ahead:
AI, biotech, quantum, and other breakthrough technologies are reshaping the global economy — and the race to lead them is intensifying. While the United States invested a record $940 billion in R&D in 2023 (approximately 79 percent of which was conducted by business), other nations are moving fast to scale innovation and claim leadership in critical industries.
In the Competing in the Next Economy report, the Council on Competitiveness’ “National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers” outlines seven pillars for advancing U.S. competitiveness. Pillar 5 zeroes in on accelerating tech development at speed and scale — from cutting red tape and aligning federal labs with commercialization, to reforming defense acquisition, and protecting private-sector innovation incentives. Council President & CEO Deborah Wince-Smith explores these themes in a new Forbes.com article on why innovation at speed and scale must be a leading national priority.
In the spirit of working to accelerate innovation and advance U.S. competitiveness, the Council is excited to share a robust lineup of key events in the months ahead: