Press Conference: U.S.-Brazil Innovation Summit

BRASILIA, BRAZIL — Three U.S. and Brazilian economic competitiveness groups will issue an "Innovation Call-to-Action" outlining a bilateral plan for economic cooperation between the two countries. The announcement will come at the end of the U.S.-Brazil Innovation Summit, co-hosted by the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, Movimento Brasil Competitivo (MBC), and Agencia Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Industrial (ABDI). The gathering of private and public sector leaders will address a range of competitiveness issues, including economic resilience, sustainable energy, entrepreneurship and job creation. Several senior U.S. government officials are also participating, including Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. Presidents George W. Bush and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva applauded the summit in the communiqué released on March 31 following their meeting at Camp David.

Speakers

R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Deborah L. Wince-Smith, President, U.S. Council on Competitiveness
Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter, Founder and President, Movimento Brasil Competitivo

U.S. Government Participants

Available for one-on-one interviews separately

Clifford Sobel, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil
Thomas Shannon, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Dr. William S. Rees, Jr., Deputy Under Secretary for Laboratories and Basic Sciences, U.S Department of Defense
Dr. Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Sandy Baruah, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, U.S. Department of Commerce

Resources

Council Delegation Participants List (PDF)
Innovation Call to Action (PDF)