As the United States grapples with unprecedented challenges such as economic inequality, geopolitical tensions, climate change, and issues of energy and national security, the need for new and innovative solutions has never been greater. Innovation can drive the development of sustainable technologies and products, improve processes, and generate economic opportunities and growth. However, innovation is often a complex process requiring collaboration among leaders from academia, industry, and government. These leaders must work together to create the new products, services, and processes needed to advance society.
To begin this second edition of the Competitiveness Conversations Across America, the three cohosts each provided opening remarks highlighting the challenges and opportunities they saw as critical to the success of both the Mountain West and the country as a whole.
At Boise State University’s Stueckle Sky Center, Boise State Vice President of Research and Economic Development Dr. Nancy Glenn welcomed attendees, including business leaders, government officials, national laboratory researchers, and university partners. She described the region as one of the country’s most vibrant yet isolated urban areas.
Dr. Glenn defined the residents of the Mountain West as uniquely positioned to forge a new chapter in American innovation. Their profound respect for the land, combined with an ethic of community building and cooperation, fosters a “boots on the ground” approach to innovation. This perspective values self-reliance and local collaboration in problem-solving. Instead of hindering innovation, the region’s broadly rural character enhances it.
“Our individual connections to this place are deeply meaningful. Being relatively small in population and remote, we can have meaningful conversations and share a mutual love for this wonderful place. This sense of community and problem-solving spirit is a strength that is becoming increasingly rare in our nation and across the globe”
Dr. Nancy Glenn
Vice President of Research & Economic Development, Boise State University
The Mountain West's recognized success in innovation provides a unique opportunity to amplify rural voices on the national stage. Institutions in the Boise area have achieved global recognition as top-tier innovators. Dr. Glenn highlighted collaborations between Boise State University and several Japanese institutions, organized through the G7 Economic Forum, that focused on semiconductor manufacturing research. This endeavor positions Idaho and the Mountain West to transform from a relatively isolated region into a center of global research and manufacturing.
Dr. Glenn asserted that community building, collaboration, and a love of the land formed the foundations of Idaho’s economic competitiveness. By building on these values, the state could become a model for innovation both in the Mountain West and nationwide.
Dr. Todd Combs, Idaho National Laboratory Deputy Laboratory Director for Science & Technology and Chief Research Officer, focused his remarks on the role of a national laboratory in an innovation ecosystem. As home to one of the 17 Department of Energy National Laboratories, Idaho has a rare advantage among states competing to be the next hub of American innovation. By leveraging the unique capabilities a national laboratory provides, the state can supercharge its research capabilities.
Dr. Combs positioned the role of a national laboratory as an institution poised to tackle the problems that are too big, hard, or expensive for private institutions or universities. They work on finding solutions for the most challenging problems facing the world; Dr. Combs specifically raised energy independence, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, strategic minerals, and water as just some of the areas of focus. To address these challenges, he encouraged more boldness in innovation, what he called “Statue of Liberty” plays, so that critical challenges wouldn’t go unanswered.
“At Idaho National Laboratory, we do things that tend to be too big, too hard, too expensive for others to tackle alone, and we work to bridge that gap from basic and fundamental science and technology and bring about products that industry can bring to the marketplace.”
Dr. Todd Combs
Deputy Laboratory Director for Science & Technology and Chief Research Officer
Zooming into the work of Idaho National Laboratory, Dr. Combs highlighted both three past areas of focus – nuclear development, integrated energy systems, and national security – and four new areas of interest – Fusion, advanced fission, AI, and strategic minerals – as places where the laboratory will need to partner with academia, industry, and government to succeed. While the national laboratory has incredible capabilities independently, by working with innovation allies in the region, research in the area can be supercharged.
“We have got to work together to be incredibly creative, to be incredibly focused on reinventing America, building and developing many systems of innovation across every community of our economy. So, let us start here in Idaho.”
Mr. Chad Evans
Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
Council on Competitiveness
Mr. Chad Evans, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Council on Competitiveness, opened the Conversation by placing the event in context with the Council’s overall agenda and flagship program, the “National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers.” The Commission’s work over the past four years has set the stage for the Competitiveness Conversations series, which emphasize the critical need to “broaden the geography and deepen the demography of U.S. innovation.” Too many of the nation’s 340 million people are disconnected from its innovation economy; if they could be brought into it, the American capacity for scientific and technical innovation would be supercharged.
The “next economy” of the United States would be defined by the reshoring of critical industries and materials, and one defined by an ever-greater focus on research, Mr. Evans said. However, with pressure on federal budgets, greater emphasis needs to be placed on the role of state and local leaders if this economic transition is to be successful. By coming to Boise, and to several other emerging technology hubs in the coming years, the Council hopes to seek out and amplify the practices and lessons learned in these areas to help move all parts of the U.S. economy towards a more prosperous and innovative future.
