Council’s Technology Leadership and Strategy Initiative (TLSI) Reaches Significant Milestone

Lisa Hanna
Vice President, Communications
Council on Competitiveness
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202-383-9507

(Washington, DC)- The Council on Competitiveness today convened the tenth in a series of high-level dialogues as part of the groundbreaking TLSI – a powerful coalition of the nation’s top leaders working to understand technology investment drivers and strategies in the 21st century, and establish a new benchmark for collaboration between the public and private sectors to optimize America’s research, talent and technology ecosystem.

For five years, the Council’s TLSI has brought together chief technology officers from industry and their peers in academia, the national laboratories and government to build on the Council’s nearly three decades of national and global innovation expertise. These CTOs have advanced policies to quicken the commercialization of technology; and, identified strategic technologies and grand challenges where America should lead.

The TLSI is co-chaired by Dr. Ray O. Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, The Lockheed Martin Corporation; Dr. Mark Little, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, General Electric Company; and, Dr. Klaus Hoehn, Vice President for Advanced Technology and Engineering, Deere & Company. At each of the TLSI Dialogues, participants have examined various characteristics of U.S. competitiveness. This tenth dialogue seeks to explore strategies for aligning technology innovation, higher education and workforce development.

“I am constantly aware of the need for skilled workers, fresh ideas and people who are able to adapt to the changing needs of the world, as well as to the ways in which technology and people must interact today,” said Hoehn. “This group may not have a crystal ball, but it is better positioned than most to understand the dynamics of innovation and the talent required to drive it and prosper from it. The TLSI is an important resource to advise our political leaders, as well as each other, on how we can build a more vital and resilient future.”

“While technology is a critical, powerful tool to shape our future, workers, students, teachers and leaders  must wield these tools to forge the future we want and need,” said Deborah Wince-Smith, President & CEO, Council on Competitiveness. “We have much work to do to provide the opportunities and resources to ensure not only that our companies are creating jobs, but that every American has the skills to find a job and that every company can find workers.”

Since its inception, the TLSI has ignited a robust national conversation and identified public policies and private practices to improve the speed and volume of technology deployment. On the policy front, the TLSI has contributed directly or indirectly to reform efforts on topics such as intellectual property, export controls, basic research, community colleges, manufacturing, immigration, STEM education, and high-performance computing.

“Historically, the United States has proven itself able to adapt and change to the challenges of the times, but that’s only half the story,” said Johnson. “Americans also have a legacy of taking risks and innovating to forge new opportunities and shape the times – and the TLSI is all about these attributes. America needs to make changes today and act strategically if we are to lead in key technologies, secure a prosperous future, and compete in today’s global economy.”

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