U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, today offered strong support for a new Administration initiative to utilize game-changing innovations from both the public and the private sectors to meet the world's toughest international development challenges.
This whole-of-government approach brings together cutting-edge science and technology from a variety of fields. It will tap into the energy and expertise of American universities, engage the private sector by expeditingcommercialization of new development inventions, and utilize web-based and mobile technologies to extend the reach of programs quickly and efficiently.
"Meeting the challenges of global development is a critical national security and economic imperative, and applying innovative science and technology solutions to complex challenges can help keep Americans safe while also driving our innovation economy," Senator Coons said. "In our current budget environment, the strategic approach announced today will help ensure we make the most of every dollar by partnering with the private sector and creating cost-effective programs that work in a rapidly changing world."
Senator Coons is a strong supporter of development and diplomacy programs, which support global stability and national security. Such programs strategically invest just onepercent of the federal budget in preventing conflicts and promoting economic growth around world, while also creating more sustainable U.S. trading partners and opening new markets to American investors. The Department of Defense and top military leaders have made clear that development and diplomacy are vital elements of our national security, and American business leaders understand that access to fast-growing markets in the developing world is essential to the success of companies in Delaware and across the country.
The innovation initiative announced today will include targeted efforts by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Institutes of Health, the Patent and Trademark Office and other agencies. Senator Coons is particularly supportive of USAID's effort to harness cutting-edge innovation in science and technology at American universities in order to generate, implement, and evaluate new solutions to critical development challenges.
"I'm excited about USAID's proposal to harness the possibilities of scientific, evidence-based innovation from universities across the United States," Senator Coons said. " The strategy for global development announced by the White House today will apply game-changing innovation to build a safer,more prosperous world for Delawareans."