External Reports
Overview Presentation for the
ENG Advisory Committee
By Michael Reischman
Deputy Assistant Director for Engineering
External Reports
• The Engineer of 2020: Visions of Engineering in
the New Century
– An NAE study.
• Innovate America: National Innovation Initiative
Report
– The Council on Competitiveness study.
• Assessing the Capacity of the U.S. Engineering
Research Enterprise
– A preliminary report, an NAE study.
The Engineer of 2020
1 of 2
• An NAE Study by the Committee on Engineering
Education.
• Study Chair: G. Wayne Clough, Pres., Ga Tech.
• Membership: A mixture of university administrators
& faculty, journalists, corporate and federal
laboratory executives.
• Report used scenario-based strategic planning.
The Engineer of 2020
2 of 2
Four Scenarios:
1. Next scientific revolution
2. Biotechnology revolution in a societal context
3. Natural world interrupts the technology cycle
4. Global conflict or globalization
Conclusion:
Engineering education must synthesize the mastery of fundamental
science, mathematics, and physics – with newer fields such as biology
-- and skills, such as communications, business and management.
Innovate America
1 of 2
• A Council on Competitiveness National Innovation
Initiative (NII) Report
• Co-Chairs:
– Samuel J. Palmisano, IBM CEO
– G. Wayne Clough, President, Ga Tech.
• Membership: Corporate executives, university presidents,
labor leaders.
• Chartered to shape the national debate on
competitiveness.
• December 2004 report.
Innovate America
2 of 2
NII recommendations
• Talent: Support a culture of collaboration, a symbiotic
relationship between research and commercialization, and
life-long skill development.
• Investment: Give innovators the resources and incentives
to succeed.
• Infrastructure: Support new industry-academia alliances,
innovation infrastructure, flexible intellectual property
climate, strategies to bolster manufacturing, and a national
innovation leadership network.
Assessing the Capacity of the U.S.
Engineering Research Enterprise 1 of 4
• An NAE study.
• Study chair: James J. Duderstadt, Pres. Emeritus,
University of Michigan.
• Membership: University administrators and faculty,
corporate and federal lab executives, industry
association, consultant.
• Preliminary report: November 2004; final report:
May 2005.
Assessing the Capacity of the U.S.
Engineering Research Enterprise 2 of 4
Committee is charged to:
• Evaluate the past and potential impact of the U.S.
engineering research enterprise on:
–
–
–
–
the nations economy,
quality of life,
security,
and global leadership.
• Evaluate the adequacy of public and private
investment to sustain US preeminence in basic
engineering research.
Assessing the Capacity of the U.S.
Engineering Research Enterprise 3 of 4
Findings:
• Technological innovation is critical to global economic
competitiveness, quality of life, and national security.
• Leadership in engineering research and education is a
prerequisite to preeminence in innovation.
• US leadership in innovation is threatened by other nation’s
investment in R&D, workforce development, and global
competition.
• Federal investment in engineering and physical science
research is stagnant, mostly from mission agencies and
NSF.
• A technically skilled workforce is essential to a innovationdriven nation.
Assessing the Capacity of the U.S.
Engineering Research Enterprise 4 of 4
Recommendations:
• Federal investments in engineering and physical science research
and infrastructure should increase significantly.
• Cultivate US students interest in engineering and science.
• Develop and implement innovation curricula.
• Address restrictions in immigration procedures.
• A BOLD STEP must be taken to secure US leadership in
technological innovation
– Discovery Innovation Institutes
• Like ag. experiment stations, academic medical centers; linking
discovery, innovation, products, services, systems, and education.
• Partner with business, medicine, and law across academic disciplines.
• Funded at the level of FFRDCs or medical centers.
• A government-wide initiative.