Science and Technology Innovation in California

From 1987 through 2002, Hitachi ran a series of forums as a platform to find solutions to problems facing California and the nation. In 2001 and 2002, Hitachi sponsored two public affairs forums to assess new paradigms for innovation and the risks that face such innovation in California.

CCST organized the eighth and ninth Hitachi California Public Affairs Forums entitled, respectively, “New Paradigms for Innovation in Science and Technology (December 3, 2001) and “Innovation at Risk” (May 17, 2002). Hitachi and SRI International partnered with the University of California Institute for Medico and the United States (UC MEXUS) as well as the California Department of Technology, Trade and Commerce to produce both events; the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California joined as a partner to host the May forum.

In both forums experts gathered to discuss the science and technology innovation process, the roles played by industry, academia, and government, and the challenges to be faced by all three.

Principal conclusions and recommendations:

The first forum initiated a period of research culminating in the second forum, which produced the following policy recommendations:

• Initiate a media campaign to promote science and technology education.
• Work on scaling up existing pilot programs to improve science and math education.
• Form a non-profit advocacy group to support science and math related issues and educate the legislature.
• Continue to work on communication between components of the system, even at lower levels.
• Develop an entry-level master’s degree comparable to the MBA. (e.g. the Professional Science Master’s Degree).
• Work with the National Science Foundation to inform and assist California’s state initiatives.