Economists, policy experts and elected officials agree - innovation is crucial to solving the nation's most pressing problems. Creativity and ingenuity can assist in solving issues related to climate change, job creation, international competitiveness, dependence on foreign oil, and health care cost containment. Regionally, innovation is also a key to restoring upstate New York's economy and promoting prosperity in the region.
Rochester Institute of Technology and New York State Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle are joining together to present a lecture series bringing in leading national experts to discuss important trends in innovation policy. Speakers will address the opportunities and challenges facing the economy of upstate New York, and give their perspective on the strategies and policies that will help the state as a whole expand economic opportunity.
The greater Rochester region is poised to capitalize on its many assets as a leader in the innovation economy. It has been ranked highly by the Metropolitan New Economy Index for "overall innovation capacity", and a recent report of the Brookings Institutions ranked the region as 20th among the nation's forty strongest metro areas. In addition, Greater Rochester Enterprise recently developed a new measure, Intellection Density Quotient (IDQ), as an assessment of a region's capacity for innovation, creativity and problem solving. Based on criteria such as the percentage of population enrolled in college, patents issued per 1,000 people, and number of workers trained to excel in our knowledge based economy, GRE noted that the Greater Rochester, NY Region IDQ is so strong we outperform communities five times our size.
The series, which is being co-organized by Ron Hira, associate professor of public policy at RIT, will provide a platform to showcase Rochester's unique assets and capabilities to national leaders, as well as identify ways in which the region can leverage investments being made at the national level. Rochester regional leaders will also be able to share ideas on technology-based economic development strategies, and raise local awareness of the opportunities and advantages of the innovation economy.
