Council President: Innovation Measurements Critical to U.S. Competitiveness

WASHINGTON—Council on Competitiveness President Deborah L. Wince-Smith made the following statement today after Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced a series of innovation measurement initiatives. The recommendations are based on a report by the Advisory Committee on Measuring Innovation in the 21st Century Economy, which includes several key members of the Council and its National Innovation Initiative.

“The Council on Competitiveness’ National Innovation Initiative (NII) called for ‘fresh perspective and real-time performance metrics to reflect the new paradigm of a global, knowledge-based economy.’ The Council is pleased see those recommendations come to fruition today in Secretary Gutierrez’s call for innovation measurement. This is an imperative step toward understanding and responding to the competitiveness drivers in today’s rapidly changing, global economy. On behalf of the Council’s private-sector leadership, we applaud Secretary Gutierrez and the Advisory Committee, which includes John Menzer, Council Industry vice chairman; Samuel Palmisano, co-chair of the NII Principals Committee; and Carl Schramm, member of the NII Leadership Council.”