Levin co-organizer with National Academies of Science Conference: The Dragon and the Elephant: Understanding the Development of Innovation Capacity in China & India

On September 24-5, Levin Institute, together with the prestigious Board on Science, Technology and Economy Policy (STEP) of the National Academies, and several other Washington, DC think tanks, organized a major conference entitled “The Dragon and the Elephant:  Understanding the Development of Innovation Capacity in China and India”.  This major event at the National Academy headquarters was introduced by National Academy of Sciences President Dr. Ralph Cicerone, and attended by over 350 policy leaders, scholars, and business persons.

More than 60 presentations and perspectives on the innovation potential and reality of the two most significant emerging economies were delivered, and prompted David Morgenthaler, the dean of American venture capitalists, who served as program chair, to call on America to develop a plan to respond to the new global realities. 
China and India were examined from the perspectives of human capital development, capital markets and investment, research and commercialization infrastructure, legal environment, and the experience of multi-nationals.  Targeted sessions were held on information technology, automobiles and aerospace manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and energy.

Dr. Denis Simon, Provost of the Levin Institute, led a panel on research and commercialization infrastructure of these two nations, while Dr. Cong Cao presented on the subject of human capital.  Dr. Simon, in providing a synthesis of the conference, made the following observations:
- Globalization is happening even more quickly than originally thought.
- There are some emerging concerns about a high-conflict global economy of the future.  We cannot assume collaboration; new bonds and new levels of trust must be forged.
- The complexion of the world’s economies may change on the “demand side”, that could further exacerbate evolving shortages of talent within and across countries.
- Existing policy responses may be more attuned to problems that simply no-longer exist.  Rather, to develop appropriate responses will require us to look through the “lens” that others use to view the world and adapt our behaviors and thinking to this new reality about the onset of a more technologically multipolar world.
- In terms of education, new skills are needed to operate successfully in the new innovation-driven global economy.
At the top of the list is the ability to operate across boundaries and cultures, and to make decisions in the context of new types of risk and uncertainties.

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