Greetings from the nation's capital to those most concerned about the future impact of emerging technologies.

As we come to the end of our second successful year of full operation, I'm writing to ask you to make a year-end donation to the Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies. Your tax-deductible gift will help support our efforts to focus longer-term thinking in Washington on issues that have profound implications for innovation, competitiveness, risk, values, and the many dramatic changes being driven by exponential technology developments. 

 
Your support could not come at a better time, as the Center has now established itself in the federal capital and is set to advance its influence and the scope of its activity.

As we move into our third full year, we plan to build on the events, publication and commentary that have demonstrated our nonpartisan commitment, our openness to all views, and at the same time our capacity to frame provocative questions and encourage innovative thinking. Efforts during the year have included events hosting with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Intel-led Task Force on American Innovation, and other key networks. Panelists have included leading voices from policy and industry. Alongside our major innovation focus, we have reviewed long-term emerging issues in biotechnology, hosted a global conference on biometrics with White House and Homeland Security participation, scoped the impact on WMD control of the "Arab spring," and explored new technology impacts on the global scale. We have hosted private dinners for thought leaders in several cities, and a recent breakfast in Silicon Valley to explore the Continental Divide between the Valley and DC - its implications and potential solutions. One result: a new C-PET group based in the Valley.

Here's a link to the report we produced recently that sets out our mission, activities and partners during 2010-11 in more detail. Here's video of the Menlo Park breakfast, and the commentary that sparked it: How to Bridge the Continental Divide. And other recent commentaries that have generated thoughtful interest in Washington and further afield: on Groupthink, NASA, and Washington's core problem thinking about the future. Here's audio of our roundtable on internet governance with Amb. Phil Verveer and others. Here's my interview with innovation thought leader Vivek Wadhwa.

We have an ambitious agenda for the upcoming year, but to continue to grow and contribute to important policy reforms we need your support. We are an independent center, unaffiliated with other institutions, so your donation, large or small, is essential to helping us continue our mission to "ask tomorrow's questions" and focus the policy community on the vital issues raised by emerging technology developments.

You can help us take forward C-PET's important work by donating online through c-pet.org or mailing your contribution to:

The Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies

10 G Street NE, Suite 710

Washington, DC 20002. 
 
In addition to your support, we value your input. If you have any questions or suggestions, or would like to learn more about our projects, please feel free to contact me directly - either by email or by calling my cellphone, 202 607 3803.

Thank you for considering this request, and good wishes for the holiday season.

Best,

Nigel

Nigel M. de S. Cameron

President and CEO, Center for Policy on Emerging Technologies