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Brooks Says that U.S. Prospers When Industry and Universities Collaborate

By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter

Congressman Mo Brooks (R) from Huntsville issued a written release discussing a hearing of the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education about examining partnerships and collaborations between industry and research Universities.  Rep. Brooks’ statement said that, “Witnesses discussed the challenges and opportunities they face in fueling the research necessary for American economic prosperity and ensuring that universities are adequately preparing the future workforce to meet the needs of industry.”  Brooks is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education.

Chairman Brooks said, “The fundamental basic research taking place at U.S. research universities is essential to the future prosperity of our Nation.  Collaboration between business and academia helps fuel research necessary for American innovation and helps prepare a workforce that meets the needs of industry.  Both are critical components to future economic prosperity and job growth.”

The Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation, said, “University research provides fundamental scientific and technological knowledge that underlie breakthroughs – the inventions. Businesses will likely continue to grow both their talent pools through targeted talent acquisition and their knowledge and capabilities through strategic, sponsored research.”  Johnson said that “Research is fundamental to innovation, economic development, and maintaining national security.”

Also at the hearing, Dr. John S. Hickman, Director of Global University Relations and Life Sciences at Deere and Company, praised the value of public-private research collaborations.  “Research collaborations are often as much about ‘people’ as they are about the specific intellectual property development or research results,” Hickman said.  “Research collaborations help maintain peer-to-peer relationships between university and industry researchers and provide a glimpse into our future workforce.”

Mr. William Green, the Executive Chairman of Accenture, said, “Having the talent to compete is what keeps CEOs up at night. The companies — and the countries — with the best talent win.  Our national research universities are our secret weapons. They are a national asset we have invested in for decades.”  Chairman Green said that research universities have the potential to “energize the next renaissance in American economic activity.”  “You get a shovel-ready project, you get a swimming pool, you get a bridge; you get a research-ready project, you change how the world works and lives… The return in shovel-ready is three-X, five-X, the return in research-ready could be one thousand-X.”

Last week’s hearing follows a Subcommittee hearing on June 27th which featured representatives from research universities who discussed how their universities affect national prosperity.  The National Academies’ Committee on Research Universities reported that a gap exists in industry research needs.  Corporation are shifting away from doing as much in house research and development and instead is turning to relationships with academic institutions for their R&D support.

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Congressman Mo Brooks represents Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District in North Alabama.  He is seeking a second term in the United States Congress.  His Democratic opponent on the November 6th ballot is Charlie Holley from Huntsville.

Brandon Moseley is a former reporter at the Alabama Political Reporter.

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