ALBANYFive of New York's leading academic and industrial experts in high-tech research and development will participate in a May 14 panel discussion on how research and development investments can generate technological and economic growth in New York.
The panel discussion will be part of The Public Policy Institute's annual Economic Issues Forum, which is scheduled from 3-5 p.m. May 14 at Hearing Room "C" of the Legislative Office Building (LOB). U.S. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-New Hartford) is scheduled to give the keynote address.
The theme of the Issues Forum this year is "Using Research Universities and Business Research & Development to Put New York's Economy in the Lead in the 21st Century."
The panel discussion, which will follow Congressman Boehlert's address, will feature:
- Richard
Jarman,
director of Advanced manufacturing affairs for Eastman Kodak Company.
He will provide an overview of proposed Photonics Center of Excellence
in Rochester. Photonics research focuses on developing computing applications
which rely on photons - that is, light - to carry information.
- Alain Kaloyeros, executive director of the Institute for Materials Research and Applied Sciences at State University of New York at Albany. He will provide an overview of the new IBM/University at Albany initiative in nanotechnology. Nanotechnology focuses on developing devices that are so small that they are measured in molecules. It is a crucial frontier in technology because, as a rule, chip performance improves and cost per unit decreases as computer chips become smaller. (details on the IBM/University at Albany initiative.)
- Yacov Shamash, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at State University of New York at Stony Brook. He will discuss information technology and biotechnology.
- Stephen Tanksley, Professor and Chair of the Genomics Initiative at Cornell University. He will discuss genomics. (Genomics is an emerging field the focuses on understanding the structure and functions of genes in living organisms with implications for applications including drug discovery, understanding cancer formation, and new approaches to the genetic engineering of plants for disease resistance and improved nutrient content.)
- Ofra Weinberger, Director of Health Sciences at Columbia University's Innovation Enterprise. She will discuss technology transfer initiatives at Columbia University.
Ed Reinfurt, vice president of The Business Council, will moderate the discussion.
The Issues Forum this year continues an ongoing Business Council effort to focus attention on the potential benefits of a substantial new state investment in strategic and collaborative research and development.
In December, The Council proposed a five-year, $1 billion state investment in R&D focused in three areas in which New York already has established research strengths and economic activity. These areas are: microtechnology and nanotechnology; photonics and information technology; and genomics and biotechnology.
In addition, Governor George Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have all advanced proposals that also call for new state R&D initiatives in some or all of these areas. For information on the Governor's proposal. For information on the Senate's proposal. For information on the Assembly proposal.
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