“Compete: Global” Leads Groundbreaking U.S.-Brazil Learning Laboratory

BRASILIA, Brazil—"Compete: Global," an initiative of the Council on Competitiveness in partnership with Agencia Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Industrial (ABDI) and the Movimento Brasil Competitivo (MBC), is hosting the very first 2009 U.S.-Brazil Innovation Learning Laboratory April 22-23 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, at the Federation for Industries for the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FIERGS IEL).

“Brazil is one of the world’s most innovative countries,” says Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president of the Council, “and it’s a critical economic partner for the United States. Working together, we can fuel major growth and prosperity in both countries. That’s why the Council on Competitiveness is deeply engaged in Brazil and excited about the potential that engagement will unleash.”

The Innovation Learning Laboratory brings together key business and academic leaders, members of the scientific community from both the United States and Brazil, and senior Brazilian government officials to focus on the critical role of research as the springboard for innovation. Leaders will also address the investments, infrastructure, talent and policies necessary to drive research capacity as well as exploring new partnership opportunities between institutions in the United States and Brazil. Participants of the Innovation Learning Laboratory will visit innovation centers in the region of Porto Alegre and the technological park, TECNOPUC.

The results of this Innovation Learning Laboratory—and the five follow-up Laboratories in Chicago, Sao Paulo, Silicon Valley, Rio de Janeiro and Denver—will form the foundation for policy recommendations and deliverables for the second U.S.-Brazil Innovation Summit that the Council, ABDI and MBC will co-host in March 2010 with Georgetown University in Washington.