Feb 08 2012
FACT SHEET: Harnessing Innovation for Global Development
Release Time: For Immediate Release “We’re expanding scientific collaboration with other countries and investing in game-changing science and technology to help spark historic leaps in development.” – President Obama, September 2010 President Obama’s Global Development Policy, released in Fall 2010, calls for investments in game-changing innovation to accelerate progress toward development goals in health, food security, climate change, energy and environmental sustainability, and broad-based economic growth. Focusing on innovation utilizes the U.S. comparative advantages in research and innovation, making our efforts more effective and efficient. Today, government and private sector leaders gathered at the White House to highlight progress in answering President Obama’s call to use science, technology and innovation to promote global development. At this event, several new public and private sector efforts were announced that will: • Harness the energy, idealism, and expertise of university students and faculty to generate, implement, and evaluate new solutions to critical development challenges; • Make the greatest use of scientific breakthroughs by expediting commercialization of inventions for humanitarian purposes and rewarding companies that use their patented technologies to solve societal challenges; and • Leverage advances in Internet and communication technologies to accelerate research and scale innovations – such as financial services for the unbanked– faster, further, and more efficiently. “A core part of my global development strategy is harnessing the creativity and innovation of all sectors of our society to make progress that none of us can achieve alone,” said President Obama. “The new collaborations we’re launching today will help save lives from hunger and disease, lift people from poverty and reaffirm America’s enduring commitment to the dignity and potential of every human being.” From the Green Revolution to the historic scientific achievements that have marked the “Beginning of the End of AIDS,” the United States has played a leading role in driving innovation for dramatic and lasting impact on the lives of millions in the developing world. Today’s event called for an “all-hands-on-deck” approach, asking public and private sector partners alike to bring their expertise to address today’s global challenges. New public and private sector efforts include: Engaging University Students and Faculty • A new U.S
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FACT SHEET: Harnessing Innovation for Global Development