Shaping the Endless Frontier: How the Midwest can spark the US economy

House co-sponsors of ‘Endless Frontier Act’ on tap for Sept. 16 webinar on building U.S. R&D economy
U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who are the primary House of Representatives sponsors of the “Endless Frontier Act,” will headline a Sept. 16 webinar on how research and development investment can build a stronger economy.

The webinar is part two in the Shaping the ‘Endless Frontier’ series, which is defining Midwest research and innovation assets and explaining how the proposed $100-billion federal investment can build on those resources to the benefit of the nation.

The series draws its name from the “Endless Frontier Act,” which has been introduced in both houses of Congress with bipartisan sponsors, including Reps. Gallagher and Khanna. The act (S.3832 and H.R. 6978) proposes expansion of the National Science Foundation, $100 billion for advancing science and tech R&D, and $10 billion for regional technology hubs. Those hubs would help to launch companies, revive U.S. manufacturing and create jobs that jump-start communities.

For the last century, the United States has been the undisputed, global leader in university and industry research. The 60-minute discussion on Sept. 16 will explore how targeted federal investment in emerging, national growth centers focused on quantum computing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and manufacturing can extend and expand U.S. leadership into the 21st century and beyond.

Reps. Gallagher and Khanna will be joined in the 11 a.m., Sept. 16 webinar by Mark Mone, chancellor of UW-Milwaukee, and Melissa Skala, investigator at the Morgridge Institute for Research and professor of biomedical engineering at UW-Madison. Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, will moderate. Together, panelists will explain why now is the time – and the Midwest is a leading place – for bold investments in science, technology and innovation.

“The Midwest region has been recognized on an ever-increasing basis for the amount and quality of technology innovation, and I’m proud to say Wisconsin is leading the charge,” said Erik Iverson, CEO of WARF. “I very much look forward to hearing from our guests on this program on how the Endless Frontier Act can catalyze research and technology across the nation.”

“These are critical conversations for the new normal in a COVID-19 world that has disrupted nearly every industry – and has hit higher education hard,” said UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone. “It is imperative that we invest in research, tech hubs and innovation in this environment. Future generations will depend on new knowledge and discoveries that will give rise to economic prosperity.”

Registration for the Sept. 16 webinar is open here. Registration is free but required in advance.

The first webinar in the series was held on Aug. 11. It featured a 60-minute conversation with regional thought leaders on why Midwest states are uniquely equipped to spark the nation’s economy and drive meaningful innovation. The discussion explored recent research on how place-based investments in emerging growth centers across the country can remedy regional gaps in capital investment, maintain U.S. leadership in innovation and attract the tech stars of the future to the nation’s heartland.

Watch the Aug. 11 discussion here.

“The Wisconsin Technology Council has long believed the R&D resources available in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest are second to none,” said Tom Still, president of the Tech Council. “That includes academic institutions, federal laboratories, cutting-edge manufacturers, emerging tech hubs and resources that can turn ideas into products.”

“Capitalizing on Midwestern assets to benefit this multi-state region and advance the nation’s high-tech potential requires collaboration between private industry, community leaders and policy makers at all levels,” said Rob Marchant, president of Michael Best Strategies. “We at Michael Best Strategies commend the authors and co-sponsors of the Endless Frontier Act. This proposal, if adopted, will catalyze innovation and economic expansion in Midwestern ‘growth centers’ and in communities around the country.”

The series is a partnership between WARF, UW-Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Technology Council and Michael Best Strategies. To learn more, visit: warf.org/frontiers.