INNOVATION
We support policies that encourage America’s leadership role in technology, such as federal funding for basic research. This, in partnership with long-term investments in education and worker training, can help create high paying, secure jobs.
For Business Forward, "Innovation" covers three, very different areas.
First, in partnership with our members, leading think tanks and trade groups, Business Forward will hold briefings for business leaders interested in learning more about reforms that encourage America's leadership role in technology, such as improving federal funding for basic research, expanding broadband access and protecting IP. These reforms, when coupled with investments in education and worker training, can help American businesses compete in our increasingly global economy. They can also help create high paying, secure jobs.
We will also promote innovative public/private partnerships, particularly those in which corporate sponsors are having a signficant impact on their communities by working with non-profits, social entrepreneurs and foundations. One potential partner is the White House Office of Social Innovation.
Finally, while Business Forward will focus on what’s good for business, we also believe that business leaders have a special role to play in making sure the government is as effective as it can be. In op-eds, press briefings and other public events, Business Forward will make the case for policies that help change the way government does business. We will also encourage our members to participate actively in the many "open government" initiatives established by Federal agencies and the White House.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Under the Recovery Act, Congress and the Obama Administration provided for $21.5 billion in research and development, the largest increase in our Nation’s history, and well as major investments in broadband networks, clean energy technologies, and health information technology. The President's FY10 budget includes $75 billion to make the research and experimentation tax credit permanent – a longstanding business priority.
Together, the enacted and proposed budgets double basic research at the NSF, Department of Energy and National Institute of Standards and Technology by 2016, with a special emphasis on encouraging high-risk, high-return research and supporting researchers at the beginning of their careers.
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SOCIAL INNOVATION
Business Forward members, Ecko Unlimited/Sweat Equity Partners (featured in our "Profiles" pages), are examples of the kind of social innovation we seek to promote.
OPEN GOVERNMENT
Current "open government" reforms seek to (1) make government more accountable, by making it easier for citizens and businesses to obtain government data; (2) make government more efficient and creative, by finding ways to help more citizens and businesses to share their expertise with government workers and participate in the policymaking process; and, (3) make government more effective, by encouraging better cooperation (and best practices) across the Federal agencies, with State and local governments, and with the public.
We encourage business leaders to participate in several open government initiatives, including Regulations.gov (established 2003), which has enabled millions of citizens to search, view and comment on federal regulations.
- Recovery.gov - Accountability and Transparency
- Data.gov - Increasing public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.
Best Practices
Ramji Srinivasan, CEO of Counsyl
We started Counsyl out of a dorm room in Stanford. In many ways, it’s the classic American story. Four out of five of the founders are the children of immigrants. Our parents came here with the idea that if they work hard, they can make a better life for their families than they had before.Tim Sparani, Facebook - Director of Public Policy
Facebook believes we are at the forefront of creating a new conversation between the government and the people. For the first time, there is an opportunity for a two-way conversation.Jeremy Smith, SecondMarket - Chief Strategy Officer
"Business Forward is a new way of bringing together smart entrepreneurial innovative people to figure out how to get things done" 1 2 > >Recent Posts
Partnerships are everything in Venture Capital. It would do our economy a world of good if Washington, D.C. and the business community established some of the same high value partnerships we create in the VC world.
By Mark R. Warner
Monday, December 13, 2010;
Our economic recovery remains frustratingly sluggish, unemployment is still unacceptably high, and all of us should be concerned that leading U.S. corporations have remained on the economic sidelines over much of the past year instead of making new investments or hiring additional workers.
The original architects of the Internet got the big things right. By making the network open, they enabled the greatest exchange of ideas in history. By making the Internet scalable, they enabled explosive innovation in the infrastructure.
At Marc Ecko Enterprises in Manhattan, Business Forward convened NYC Education innovators, entrepreneurs, and city administrators for a working group discussion with White House Senior Domestic Policy Advisor, Melody Barnes.
