Fred Farina

Universities Step Up Their Role in Regional Economic Development

Ross DeVol, Ronald Daniels, Fred Farina, Bahija Jallal, Deval Patrick, Ross Duvall, Ron Daniels

Panelists identified that successful regional innovation clusters require the geographic contiguity of universities, industry, and capital, as evidenced by Massachusetts' long-standing leadership and the specific geographic fragmentation challenges faced by institutions like Johns Hopkins. To bridge the "valley of death" between basic research and commercialization, experts advocated for sustained federal investment in commercialization follow-ons and state-level strategic funding that prioritizes cross-institutional collaboration over short-term political cycles. These interventions aim to transform cultural barriers within academia while ensuring a robust pipeline of human capital capable of de-risking technologies and fostering sustainable economic growth.