Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship

Higher education plays a crucial role in supporting innovative thinking, technology and commercialization, and entrepreneurship. The first and most important area to identify challenges is in student preparation, as it is the creativity, know-how and enterprising spirit that students will carry within themselves after graduation that makes the greatest contribution in this area. The Working Group identified this and four other priorities as critical for our state to succeed in the global economy:

Prepare students with the creative and entrepreneurial mind set needed for the new economy.

Produce more teachers in math and science with adequate content knowledge.

Establish clearly defined leadership at every institution of higher education with responsibility for community and economic development.

Mobilize increased financial and institutional support in order to meet the complex challenges of technology transfer.

Encourage risk-taking by faculty and students.