These trends reinforce a point that has become clear beyond doubt: all of our institutions – in government, in private industry, and in academe – have a shared stake in today’s economy.
Let me mention a still-forming activity at NSF -- Innovation Partnerships.
During the past 30 years, NSF has stimulated and participated in partnerships with academe, industry, other federal agencies, state and local governments and other sectors.
We now have a unique opportunity to stimulate a national system of Innovation Partnerships. These would be enabled by strategic alliances among and between universities and colleges, state and regional organizations, state governments and the private sector.
The Congress has given us strong encouragement to pursue this, and we are now exploring the best ways to establish it.