CASIC Summit Builds Momentum for Collaborative Research in International Competitiveness

CASIC Summit Builds Momentum for Collaborative Research in International Competitiveness

CASIC Summit Builds Momentum for Collaborative Research in International Competitiveness

Apr 4, 2011, 17:05 PM

The newly launched CIC Center for Advanced Study in International Competitiveness (CASIC) gained momentum towards its goal to bring CIC faculty together under a collaborative research umbrella during its successful research summit on April 1-2. More than 90 people attended...

The newly launched CIC Center for Advanced Study in International Competitiveness (CASIC) gained momentum towards its goal to bring CIC faculty together under a collaborative research umbrella during its successful research summit on April 1-2.

More than 90 people attended the two-day meeting, “Competing in the New Innovation-Driven Global Economy:  Interdisciplinary Research, Experimentation, and Breakthrough Knowledge" set in the Chicago area.

One of the most significant outcomes was the formation of 20 multi-disciplinary working groups, which consist of faculty members from CIC universities who are developing research proposals on various international competitiveness topics. CASIC will combine the ideas into a comprehensive grant submission targeting major funding agencies and foundations.

Participants also included faculty from the University of Pennsylvania, University of California at Berkeley, and University of Sao Paulo. Industry and government were represented as well.

“Many attendees commented that the research summit was a great learning experience for them because of the interdisciplinary focus of the conference and the emphasis on identifying "big ideas" for collaborative research that aims to generate breakthrough knowledge for major advancement,” said CASIC principal investigator Joseph Cheng, a University of Illinois business professor. “Many also said that the summit helped them better understand the mission and aspirations of CASIC and are excited about and supportive of its goals.”

Cheng also said that representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Council on Competitiveness, and Boeing all expressed interest in collaborating with CASIC faculty on U.S. competitiveness research. The President of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce also expressed great interest and support in helping CASIC faculty with contacts in both countries to conduct research on China business and its impact on U.S. competitiveness.

For more information on CASIC and the Research Summit, please visit the CASIC homepage.