S&T Policy Advice. Create a cabinet-level advisory function to the Governor to highlight the importance to the state of S&T.

Create a high-level science and technology policy function, similar to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

• This organization would be the state functional equivalent of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and report directly to the Governor.
• Its leader would be a nationally recognized S&T leader who also serves as S&T Advisor to the Governor.
• Responsibilities would include 1) recommending the state's S&T research priorities and advising on budgetary matters dealing with S&T issues; and 2) advising on policies that will make California the most successful place in the world for STEM education at all levels, research at the frontiers of knowledge, and innovation.
• Examples of functions:
  • Develop a research agenda to identify "California's Grand Challenges in S&T" - key areas in which California can invest and build "substrates for the future." The goal is to identify and instigate creation of the next generation of technologies that will benefit the state, and from which new innovation, new industries and economic development will emerge.
  • Lead a "rapid-response" effort within the Governor's office to identify opportunities and enable California to compete successfully for new federal or industry funds.
  • Work with the public and private sectors to ensure that state and federal investments in S&T contribute to the state's economic prosperity, environmental quality, and security.
  • Draft policies and manage the "Grand Challenges in Science and Technology" and "State Innovation Fund" (as described in Recommendation 4).
  • Solicit objective analyses of S&T issues that impact the state, such as:
    • A review of the drivers of innovation and competition in other states and countries so as to inform the Governor about the most competitive and innovative practices that California can adopt.
    • A survey of S&T policy functions in other states.
    • Biennial reports, by an appointed permanent commission (see Recommendation 1), to articulate a sufficiently funded integrated strategy for improving science and mathematics education in California.
    • Develop long-term responses to the complex issues raised in the National Academies' report, establish a bi-partisan task force, with balanced participation from industry, academia, national laboratories and state government, to take a broader holistic view of the issues and use an integrating, systems approach to develop a "big picture" road map for California.

Endorse the establishment of a complementary joint legislative standing committee on S&T to set a legislative agenda for state S&T issues.

Details on the other recommendations: