Cooperation, Intellectual Property Rights Support Innovation

Cooperation, Intellectual Property Rights Support Innovation

By Charlene Porter
Staff Writer

Washington - Fostering and supporting innovation is a key message the U.S. government wants to convey to other nations as it prepares to host the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) in Hawaii in November.

"Government policies can help create an environment conducive of innovation," said Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats at a recent Washington meeting.

The climate to support innovation must include "good governance, transparent regulatory policies, markets that are open and competitive, and policies that allow companies to succeed and sometimes fail," Hormats said. Protection of intellectual property rights is another key element to nurture innovation, giving creative thinkers incentive to develop their ideas.
The State Department official spoke at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Washington February 17-21.

Thousands of scientists, engineers, policymakers, educators and journalists from some 50 nations attended the meeting of the organization, known as the AAAS.

"Innovation networks" formed by corporations, their customers, suppliers and associated universities and government agencies are a new trend for the development of products that build on the inventions and successes of each partner.

"Nations that fail to protect intellectual property will find themselves cut off from these dynamic global partnerships," Hormats said, "because innovative firms will hesitate to invest in or form partnerships with countries where their intellectual property may be stolen."

The United States is working to expand its involvement with Asian nations in science and technology pursuits. Hormats said agreements for expanded cooperation in science and technology have been forged with nine Asian nations.

A top AAAS official also spoke at the meeting about science as a platform for international engagement. Alice Huang said U.S. capabilities in these disciplines give the nation great credibility in the pursuit of science diplomacy.

For the United States to succeed, she said, "we need to avoid arrogance and Western-centric views, and behave as true partners in advancing international science as well as the welfare of all citizens."

Huang said scientific diplomacy can occur at many levels - between individuals or institutions - and it can be especially valuable when official diplomatic relationships may be strained or limited.

As host of the 2011 APEC meeting, the United States will be urging member nations to identify the next generation of issues that should be included in a 21st century trade agreement.

ENDS

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