Innovation Across America: ITI’s President & CEO Visits Minnesota
Technology provides critical services and economic opportunities to communities across the U.S. in unique ways. As part of ITI’s Bridge for Innovation campaign, we are highlighting innovation across America. ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman toured ITI members’ innovative and impactful work in Minnesota.
Jason’s first stop was in Bloomington, Minnesota, where he visited Seagate’s operations and wafer fabrication in action. Seagate manufactures innovative and advanced hard drives that enable technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.
ITI’s Jason Oxman stands with Seagate’s Kimberly Ekmark.ITI’s Jason Oxman learns about the wafer manufacturing process.
He also visited Medtronic’s Operational Headquarters in Fridley, Minnesota. There he learned about the groundbreaking healthcare technology solutions being developed at Medtronic. Medtronic uses data-driven solutions to improve health and health care for communities across the United States.
ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman stands with Medtronic’s Jim Southwick.
You can learn more about how the tech industry is helping drive innovation and competition throughout the United States here and its impact in the state of Minnesota. Stay tuned for the next Innovation Across America trip.
Strong Supply Chains Critical to Infrastructure Funding
Innovation Across America: ITI’s President & CEO Visits New Jersey and New York
The tech industry drives progress in many visible ways: building products, supporting the economy, and securing infrastructure. As part of ITI’s Bridge for Innovation campaign, we are highlighting innovation across America. ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman toured ITI members’ innovative and impactful work in New Jersey and New York.
Jason’s first stop was in Secaucus, New Jersey. There, he visited ZT Systems and learned about how they are providing solutions to the world’s leading cloud and telecom service providers. ZT Systems helps people all over the world connect, learn, play, explore, and innovate through providing support for hyperscale cloud computing and digital infrastructure providers.
ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman stands with ZT System’s Aaron Arvizu.ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman tours ZT System’s facility.
He also visited was at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, NY. There he learned about the groundbreaking research occurring at the center on AI, semiconductor performance, high performance computing, and quantum.
ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman stands with IBM’s Christy Tyberg and learns about quantum computing.
You can learn more about how the tech industry is helping drive innovation and competition throughout the United States here and its impact in the state of New Jersey and New York. Stay tuned for the next Innovation Across America trip.
Strong Supply Chains Critical to Infrastructure Funding
Innovation Across America: ITI’s President & CEO Visits Austin, Texas
For more than 100 years, ITI’s members have been creating new technologies in communities across the U.S. that have become a foundation for the economy and society, creating jobs and making the U.S. more innovative and competitive. To highlight how key policies support the technology industry, ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman is traveling across the country to visit ITI member companies and see the impact of innovation happening across America.
Jason’s first stop was in Austin, Texas. There, he visited AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) and saw many of the groundbreaking technological advancements AMD has developed to help solve major challenges facing the world. AMD designs and develops semiconductors that support the larger tech ecosystem and are critical to supporting advancements in areas like healthcare, sustainability, entertainment, science, and automotive.
ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman views an example of AMD’s semiconductor work at its Austin, Texas location.
Jason also toured Samsung’s semiconductor foundry in Austin. Jason learned more about Samsung’s investments in chips development in Texas and its world-class facility, which primarily focuses on the production of 14nm and 28/32nm chip technologies. This facility had a $6.3 billion total economic impact in Central Texas in 2021, supporting nearly 10,000 jobs. Samsung is scheduled to open a new semiconductor facility in Taylor, Texas in 2024 to expand its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities in the U.S.
ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman tours Samsung Austin Semiconductor.
On his final stop in Austin, Jason joined Dell for a tour of the Texas Advanced Computer Center (TACC) at the University of Texas at Austin, which designs and deploys computing technologies to power discoveries that change the world. TACC is a prime example of how public and private sector partnerships are critical in advanced computing. The tour of TACC highlighted its leading-edge resources in high performance computing, visualization, data analysis, storage, cloud, data-driven computing, connectivity, and more.
The Texas Advanced Computer Center (TACC) partners with Dell and other tech companies to design and deploy computing technologies to power discoveries that change the world.
Through its partnership with Dell and other industry leaders, TACC helps address some of society’s most pressing challenges including combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, developing next generation weather forecasting, and exploring the depths of the universe.
ITI’s President and CEO Jason Oxman tours the TACC and learns about its work in high performance computing, visualization, data analysis, storage, cloud, data-driven computing, connectivity, and more.
You can learn more about how the tech industry is helping drive innovation and competition throughout the United States here and its impact in the state of Texas here. Stay tuned for the next Innovation Across America trip.
Strong Supply Chains Critical to Infrastructure Funding
Strong Supply Chains Critical to Infrastructure Funding
Digital infrastructure provides the foundation for Americans to enjoy the economic and social benefits that come from a reliable online economy. It gives us access to virtual healthcare services and online education. It helps small businesses sell products and services online. And it enables remote working for businesses and organizations of all sizes.
Passage last year of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act guaranteed historic federal funding to not only improve our current networks and infrastructure but to help close the digital divide and deliver more clean energy to our grid. This is a massive investment in our future and promises to improve the lives of Americans for decades to come.
It’s important to recognize that innovation does not happen in a vacuum.
However, it’s important to recognize that innovation does not happen in a vacuum. Resources such as a reliable global supply chain are critical in helping industries keep America at the forefront of the development and deployment of broadband infrastructure.
While it is vital that we continue to expand supply chains and manufacturing here in the United States, global companies must be able to continue tapping into the global supply chains that will provide full access to materials. Rigid domestic sourcing requirements threaten the success of this funding.
The technology industry has proven that it is possible to expand domestic labor and manufacturing opportunities which promote economic growth, while also using the global supply chain when beneficial to further innovation. This progress must be kept in mind as policy is developed and implemented.
Strong Supply Chains Critical to Infrastructure Funding
The impact of climate change on landscapes, communities, and the planet is a shared experience across the globe. From our water supplies to the air we breathe, climate change knows no borders. This Earth Day, we were reminded of the importance of acting with speed and efficiency to put in place safeguards that will protect our planet for future generations.
“Addressing climate change will require accelerating innovation…”— ITI President and CEO Jason Oxman
ITI members are leading tech sector efforts to ensure that people around the world will continue to have access to resources and materials for generations to come. Our companies are consistently innovating throughout the entire product lifecycle, from materials sourcing to environmental design, to energy efficiency and proper end-of-life management.
However, ensuring Earth’s longevity and viability is a herculean task. It requires broad partnerships and problem-solving across industries and governments. ITI strongly advocates for public policy and international partnerships, such as the Paris Agreement, that provide the proper funding and programs aimed at avoiding irreversible damage to societies, economies, and the planet.
You can learn more about the tech industry’s commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable planet at bridgeforinnovation.org.
Tech is a crucial ingredient to shared prosperity and a more equitable, secure society that enjoys better health outcomes and superior educational opportunities for all. Good policy can make our lives better, ensure our economy is strong and support good jobs and opportunities in which innovation can flourish.
The State of the Union comes this week as the list of pressing issues to address seemingly grows longer by the day. It is important to ensure that industry and government are working together to deliver a future that Americans deserve.
Tech and sound policy can both help address today’s most daunting challenges while laying the foundation for a future in which all communities can thrive.
ITI understands that the tech industry must serve as an important partner in helping drive critical policy initiatives to promote U.S. competitiveness and lift up the U.S. economy. The Bridge for Innovation campaign underscores this spirit of innovation, partnership, and the importance of smart and purposeful policy.
ITI has put forward several policy priorities where the United States can make significant progress in 2022 for the benefit of businesses, workers, and consumers across virtually every sector of the economy. The below priorities included in ITI’s suggestions mirror the policy focus of the Bridge for Innovation campaign.
Viability
Support Technology Research, Development, and Manufacturing
Advance a Tax System that Promotes Growth and is Globally Competitive
Accelerate Broadband Deployment to all U.S. Communities
Security
Pass Federal Privacy Legislation
Ensure A Consistent and Coordinated Approach to Cybersecurity
Bolster Supply Chain Security
Equity and Opportunity
Expand Strong, Inclusive Digital Trade Commitments
Develop the Workforce of the Future
Read ITI’s Action Plan for 2022 to see how the global technology industry is committed to driving America’s economic competitiveness.
Siemens to Showcase Benefits of Digitization for FDA Review of Manufactured Medical Devices
In today’s fast-paced world, demonstrations of “the art of the possible,” combined with advanced digitalization and factory automation, are one way Siemens showcases how different processes and technologies can help prepare for potentially disruptive changes to design and production norms. This preparation and understanding can lead to more rapid responses to pandemics, such as the COVID-19 virus, as well as enhance our ability to respond to future emerging threats.
To support the FDA’s Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats (OCET) advanced manufacturing program, Siemens will install and configure an advanced digital design and manufacturing showcase to demonstrate “the art of the possible” in creating digital twins and digital threads for some medical devices. This will include an actual manufacturing line with Siemens Digital Industries Software’s Xcelerator portfolio, including advanced integrated software capabilities for design control and risk management; product lifecycle management; product, plant, and process design modeling and simulation; manufacturing execution; closed-loop quality management; Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and much more. This advanced digital technology is already used in many industries, including aerospace, defense, automotive, and consumer products.
Creating and leveraging digital threads are an invaluable capability for both medical device manufacturers and the FDA. Digital twins and threads, with the use of integrated advanced modeling and simulation, can enable significantly better product design and performance with more optimized production. Digital artifacts can be reused across the lifecycle, creating efficiency, fewer mistakes, and increased quality. This capability can also help regulators better visualize product and manufacturing risks, provide more robust traceability and impact analysis, and enable more comprehensive data sets that are easier and faster to review. In summary, regulators will be able to respond much faster with more precision and with better information to both emergency and non-emergency needs.
Siemens’ long-term goal for this project is to use technology to help educate and drive digital thread adoption for both the manufacturers and regulators. That can lead to better patient outcomes and a more efficient and competitive industry.
Competitors Sharing Information to Protect Networks
Looking for new ways to keep internet users and data safe, leading cybersecurity companies formed the Cyber Threat Alliance to make it easier for otherwise fierce competitors to share threat intelligence information with each other to help keep everyone safer from attacks.
Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet were founding members of CTA in 2014 and those companies were soon joined by other large cyber companies, including Cisco and McAfee. The nonprofit organization has grown to 34 private sector members as well as partnerships with other cyber nonprofits and public sector industry groups seeking to improve the security of networks around the globe.
Member companies share actionable threat intelligence data in a timely manner so other companies can prevent, identify and disrupt attacks. CTA is actively growing around the globe and building diverse partnerships with information sharing and computer emergency responses teams across all sectors.
Organizations like CTA are incredibly important for helping protect US networks and consumers. Timely threat intelligence sharing can help keep the entire online ecosystem safer from ever-changing attacks from nation-states or cybercriminals.
Innovation depends upon the inclusion of diverse voices and experiences across all industries. Good tech policy must prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion.
Considerations of how policies affect all communities – including those that are underrepresented and marginalized – must be weaved into all technology priorities to help ensure a more equitable, inclusive, and fair innovation-based economy. Including more people of color, girls and women in STEM-related fields will lead to greater innovation by broadening the marketplace of ideas and bringing in new viewpoints and life experiences.
The technology industry is working to address the dire need for change and inclusion, increased support and opportunities to encourage more minorities, girls, and women to pursue and succeed in STEM careers. Companies are working with non-profits and educational institutions to develop new strategies to help close the gender gap in STEM for teachers, parents and nonprofit leaders.
Good policy ensures that minority communities are included in the workforce of tomorrow and supporting extending workplace protections to nontraditional workers. It means increased federal investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and supporting closing gender, racial, and socio-economic gapsin the STEM field to ensure that no one is left behind. That includes developing and adopting inclusive policies and technologies that increase accessibility for Americans with disabilities.
Immigration reform is vital to attracting top talent and providing equitable access to unfilled opportunities in the United States.
As the U.S. economy creates tech jobs faster than Americans can fill them, immigration reform can help to fill tens of thousands of skilled job openings that exist today, while accelerating the creation of new jobs and knowledge-driven businesses. ITI is a leading advocate before the U.S. Congress and key federal agencies for immigration reforms that improve the ability of U.S.-based companies to recruit and retain highly-skilled foreign graduates and professionals who bring fresh perspectives and ideas that drive the innovation economy.
The technology industry provides a bridge to a global marketplace, with the U.S. serving as a prime destination for attracting technology innovators and entrepreneurs from other countries around the world. Working to develop immigration reform that enables the kind of innovation and job creation that fulfills the demands of tomorrow’s economy. Supporting effective reforms that will make it easier for the world’s best talent to work in the U.S. alongside the innovators, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals in our domestic workforce.
Good policy supports immigration reform that successfully meets the demands of a globally competitive, digital economy by updating the H-1B visa program. It means advancing legislative proposalsthat reform the employment-based visa program and finding a legislative solution for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
High quality educational opportunities should be available for all Americans, not just those who live in certain zip codes.
In the global innovation economy, the American workforce is falling behind on the skills needed for tomorrow’s high-paying technology and science jobs. Greater investment in STEM programs is needed to ensure that our workforce maintains a competitive advantage in the global innovation economy. Technology allowed for wide-scale implementation of online learning at a moment’s notice when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It will continue to allow educators, students, and institutions to reimagine how tech can help to provide further flexibility, increase access, and promote equity in education.
Good policy supports long-term educational policy solutions that empower American students from primary to higher education to excel in STEM fields. It means increased investment in basic research at U.S. universities, which often leads to next-generation innovations and new businesses and jobs. It means increased funding for STEM and computer science education as well as apprenticeships, technical training programs and workforce development with a technology focus. Public-private partnerships can help ensure that American students and workers have the right set of digital tools for the future.
Supply chain security is a priority in the fight to improve the overall security of U.S. critical infrastructure and systems.
Clear federal guidelines are needed to improve the security of supply chains for federal agencies and critical infrastructure, as well as oversight by a federal supply chain risk management agency. These policies should prioritize transparency and a risk-based approach so that U.S. national security objectives can be met without putting American competitiveness at risk. Technology companies are working through industry-led groups to develop clear guidelines and best practices in the absence of coordinated federal action. The tech industry is focused on looking broadly at these risks and not focusing solely on the country-of-origin concerns about products made or assembled in China. And they are developing and deploying technologies and best practices that mitigate risk and enhance supply chain security, as well as enabling a global supply chain network that allows for exponential growth and innovation across sectors.
Good policy ensures the development of a coherent supply chain security policy, which is why federal policymakers should designate a lead supply chain security risk management agency and empower the National Cyber Director to coordinate these efforts. It approaches supply chain security using risk-based and evidence-driven analyses, encouraging transparency and predictability for private industry. It leverages the existing public-privateICT Supply Chain Risk Management Task Force for collaboration on supply chain security and works to advance and protect U.S. national security objectives without putting American competitiveness at risk.
Privacy doesn’t stop at state or country borders, which is why a unified set of rules for protecting consumer and data privacy is needed.
The technology industry believes that comprehensive federal privacy rules are needed to protect consumers’ data and protect against the loss of trust and security in our online ecosystem. Encryption plays a vital role in protecting data security and privacy and the industry supports the mission of law enforcement and national security agencies to protect our citizens and country. Technology companies are developing new ways of protecting critical data and consumer privacy through encryption technologies that are more secure against cyberattacks. They are also empowering consumers to increasingly understand their data and feel confident in the protection of their online information, profiles and accounts.
Good policy means supporting comprehensive federal privacy rules and amending the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to require warrants for content regardless of its age or how it is stored. It means securing an agreement with the European Commission on U.S. data transfers and, more broadly, developing enforceable ways to help the cross-border transfer of data to ensure consumers’ privacy. And it means prioritizing international consensus for reconciling law enforcement and national security’s interests with the protection of individuals’ data.
The technology industry believes the online world should be a secure place for everyone.
Strong, responsive online security is critical to ensuring that consumers, industries and governments have trust and confidence in placing information online and conducting business. Technology companies are working cooperatively to ensure threat intelligence is shared promptly within the public and private sectors to minimize disruptions, thwart cyber attackers and protect consumers, businesses and organizations. The industry is innovating and producing new technologies—including machine learning and AI-powered systems—to more quickly identify, stop and defend U.S. networks and infrastructure to minimize the disruption of cyberattacks.
Good policy means expanding federal cybersecurity investments to ensure secure and resilient networks will protect critical national infrastructure such as the electrical grid and water supply, and the government’s own technology infrastructure. It means creating an environment that supports regular threat intelligence and information sharing practices within the private sector and with federal agencies as appropriate as well as encouraging strong federal leadership to oversee streamlined government efforts to improve cybersecurity and supply chain resilience.
The U.S. tech sector has helped the U.S. economy thrive and compete on an international scale for more than a century. That’s been made possible by a policy and regulatory environment that has enabled technology companies to lead the world in developing innovative products and services, including groundbreaking, disruptive technologies that transform markets, address societal challenges, and allow us to imagine entirely new solutions that facilitate creation and commercial engagement by an increasingly wide range of firms, entrepreneurs, and individuals.
The technology industry is constantly working to enable companies of all sizes and from every industry to reach new markets, create jobs, and raise standards. That includes making investments in R&D that fuel U.S. global competitiveness, both through the creation of high-paying jobs across the United States, as well as through developing and selling the products and services those innovations offer to global customers. Constantly competing on the international playing field and leading in innovation and cutting edge technologies to ensure the U.S. is setting standards and best practices while bolstering the domestic economy
Good policy means promoting growth in high skilled, highly paid jobs, including by supporting innovation and technology manufacturing and ensuring that groundbreaking R&D activities and valuable intellectual property are located in the U.S. It means continuing to position the U.S. well to further its standing as a global leader in digital trade, decreasing unnecessary hurdles to cross-border data flows in a safe and secure manner. And recognizing that the competitiveness of the U.S. tech sector is dependent on its domestic workforce.
For the U.S. to remain a competitive, innovative economic global superpower, the country’s infrastructure needs to be connected, modernized and reimagined for the challenges of the future.
Government and industries such as energy, transportation, telecommunications, and healthcare all rely on the technology sector to bring new innovations that will serve as a backbone for our next-generation critical infrastructure systems. Technology companies are ensuring that infrastructure systems are accessible and equitable for all communities by making significant and targeted investments in areas such as modern broadband connectivity.
Good policy means securing adequate resources and R&D to allow for the development and deployment of technologies that will support the transformation of our critical sectors and infrastructure systems. It also means ensuring all Americans have access to affordable high-speed internet access and making sure the U.S. invests in physical and digital infrastructure now to ensure that future generations are able to take advantage of these economic foundations and builds upon them to ensure a better future for all Americans.
The strength of the U.S. economy relies on consistent job growth and reimagining employment and training opportunities for the domestic workforce to meet the demands of the future.
Tech represents a growing, critical part of the U.S. economy and workforce. The tech sector is larger than the 12 million workers employed directly by U.S. tech companies. Technology permeates our society and provides irreplaceable services and products that nearly every other U.S. industry relies upon to conduct daily business.
Good policy supports increased funding for STEM and computer science education, as well as expanded apprenticeships, technical training programs and tech-focused workforce development programs that can help the U.S. develop a more globally competitive workforce. It means bolstering federal funding for investments in Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). And bringing new, life-changing services for persons with disabilities and strengthening the development and adoption of inclusive policies and technologies for this community.
