Earlier today, Microsoft and Politico hosted a conversation with White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra on the future of technology at Microsoft’s Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. The event, moderated by Politico tech policy writers, featured an interactive discussion covering the top tech issues of 2012, including privacy, piracy, patent law and spectrum reform.
An overall theme that emerged was the vital role of technology innovation in driving today’s global marketplace. Chopra emphasized the link by pointing out that it is not “just about technology itself, it’s how technology can modernize sectors of the economy to improve economic growth.” This discussion was especially timely coming on the eve of the President’s State of the Union speech tomorrow night to the U.S. Congress.
Since his appointment as the first Chief Technology Officer, Chopra has witnessed – and spoke to today – the importance of an “open innovation philosophy” and changing perspectives on the influence and reach of technology. In 2012, opportunities exist to use new innovative technology applications in industries such as health care and energy, and increased research and development efforts in both large companies and smaller entrepreneurs. As evidenced from today’s discussion, technology will be a driving factor in shaping 2012; but Chopra noted we also need to know how to effectively utilize it in the government, industrial and consumer sector.
Today’s event was the first of our Future of Technology discussion series with Politico that will explore various technology policy trends this year.
Archived footage of today’s event can be found here.