2023
November
Fuchs discusses new national body that will help government assess new technologies
Science|Business
EPP’s Erica Fuchs discusses new national body that will help government assess new technologies in Science|Business. “Does government today have in its hands the data and analytic capacity to form its national technology strategy? The answer is no, it does not,” Fuchs says. “In the end, it’s going to be a question for Congress, and what they appropriate. I would argue that we have no time to waste.”
Fuchs interviewed on National Network for Critical Technology Assessment
Federal News Network
EPP’s Erica Fuchs was interviewed by the Federal News Network on the National Network for Critical Technology Assessment. Fuchs is part of a team of experts pushing for the government to change the way technology is assessed and what challenges face the U.S. “It’s not just about profit, it’s about national security, it’s about the economy, it’s about social well-being. So how do you have analytics that help you inform how to invest limited dollars across those different objectives?” Fuchs says.
October
NNCTA releases report on ways to strengthen U.S. competitiveness
National Science Foundation
The National Network for Critical Technology Assessment pursued data and advanced analytics methods and tools to advance capabilities to identify potentially optimal directions for federal research and development funding. The National Science Foundation (NSF) covered the release of the new report that identifies pathways to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in key technology areas.
Fuchs elected to the Board of the National Semiconductor Technology Center
National Institute of Standards and Technology
EPP’s Erica Fuchs was elected to the board of trustees that will oversee a nonprofit entity that is expected to run the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC). The NSTC aims to make groundbreaking innovations in semiconductor design and manufacturing and bring these technologies to market at a lower cost in a shorter amount of time.
February
Brynjolfsson speaks at Davos on AI and white collar jobs
Davos 2023
Erik Brynjolfsson was a key speaker at a Davos 2023 session on the future of AI and white collar jobs. Recent breakthroughs in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) means that increasingly complex cognitive tasks and creative production can be automated. The speakers explored whtether the implications of these developments are being overstated, or if we are approaching an inflection point and a new disruptive era for knowledge workers.
Lane works on final report for NAIRR Task Force
NAIRR Task Force report
NNCTA member Julia Lane worked on a final report from the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Task Force, which was submitted to the President and to Congress. The report outlines a plan for artificial intelligence research in the US that will resolve issues surrounding access to data and computational resources, which can limit AI development to large companies and research institutions.
Conti, Wosínska co-authors on prescription drug supply chain resilience
Health Affairs
Rena Conti and Marta Wosínska contributed to a piece in Health Affairs on building resilience into US prescription drug supply chains. They and their co-authors describe the current challenges and landscape, as well as proposed next steps to building resilience. They note that private industry must take steps to create resilience while the federal goverment needs to play a role in prioritizing and funding industry efforts.
January
Fuchs talks plans to assess America’s critical technologies
The New York Times
EPP’s Erica Fuchs speaks with The New York Times about the grant she and 22 other researchers from different universities were awarded to complete a one-year pilot project on assessing America’s critical technologies. The proposed National Network for Critical Technology Assessment is meant to help the U.S. understand our current strengths and weaknesses in technology so that we can focus our time and money in the places lacking development. “Until we can define what the actual problem is, it makes it very hard to spend our money wisely,” Fuchs reflects.
2022
December
Fuchs speaks on industrial policy at a Hamilton Project event
Brookings Institution
EPP’s Erica Fuchs spoke at a Hamilton Project event at the Brookings Institution. As a panelist, she discussed the importance of a modern industrial policy that ideally focuses on the service and tech sectors.
Georgetown CSET releases paper in Nature
Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) released a paper in Nature that discusses how scientists can inform policy decisions. CSET’s founder, Dewey Murdick, explains how students and employees are trained to effectively communicate technical problems to policymakers, who can then turn this content into action. “In short, what made these technology policies happen was not a technical insight itself, but a deep understanding of how to connect that insight to policymakers’ goals,” Murdick says.
NNCTA joint meeting convened
On December, 15, 2022, the NNCTA leaders convened a joint meeting of the NNCTA Advisory Council, Researcher Network and representatives of NSF TIP Directorate to discuss NNCTA pilot year plans and progress.