NII Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is a group of private sector leaders (CEO's, university presidents, labor leaders and foundation presidents) committed to the central importance of innovation for American competitiveness. They will guide the implementation of the National Innovation Initiative agenda over the coming years by setting the overall strategy and by taking ownership of specific issues important to them and their organizations. Craig Barrett, Chairman of Intel, and Bill Brody, President of the Johns Hopkins University, chair the Leadership Council.

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NII Strategy Council

The NII Strategy Council is a group of transformational thinkers, co-chaired by Norman Augustine, retired Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, David Baltimore, President of the California Institute of Technology, and Charles Vest, President Emeritus of MIT, that will help develop and prioritize next generation innovation issues. The priority areas include Measuring Innovation in the 21st century, Manufacturing in the 21st century, and Driving Regional Innovation - Innovation Hotspots^TM

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NII Presidents Council

The Presidents Council brings together the leaders of more than 40 think tanks, policy organizations and trade associations that are active in promoting various aspects of the National Innovation Initiative policy agenda. Chaired by Deborah Wince-Smith, President of the Council on Competitiveness, the Presidents Council identifies opportunities for collaboration across the spectrum of innovation issues.

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The Origins of the National Innovation Initiative

The National Innovation Initiative kicked off in November of 2003, as members of the Council on Competitiveness felt the need to address a range of new challenges to America's innovation leadership. The first phase of the National Innovation Initiative was led by a Principals Committee of 19 CEO's and university presidents, chaired by Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman and CEO of IBM Corporation, and G. Wayne Clough, President of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Supported by an Advisory Committee of innovation thought leaders and seven Working Groups involving over 300 participants, in December of 2004 at a National Innovation Summit in Washington, DC, the Principals Committee released Innovate America, an innovation policy agenda for the United States.

Click here for a retrospective look at the National Innovation Initiative (2003-2004)