Brookings launches Center for Technology Innovation

One of Washington's largest think tanks the Brookings Institution is opening a new center to add its voice to the growing debate over technology policy issues.

Brookings announced Friday the creation of the Center for Technology Innovation, which will examine policy issues related to digital infrastructure, broadband access, digital media, privacy, social networking and health information technology. Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies at Brookings will also serve as founding director.

“With the launch of our new center, Brookings will be at the forefront of shaping public debate on technology innovation policy by producing quality scholarship to enhance understanding of technology’s legal, economic, social, and governance ramifications and importance,” West said.

West said the Center would be particularly concerned with digital infrastructure such as broadband access, mobile communications and cloud-computing platforms. He called those technologies "the new equivalent of the interstate highway system" and said they would lay the groundwork for innovation in the energy and healthcare sectors.

West also praised the administration's National Broadband Plan, but pointed out most of the costs would ultimately be shouldered by the private sector. The Recovery Act includes more than $7 billion to promote the adoption of broadband Internet access in rural and underserved areas.

"I think it’s a great vision for next decade," West said. "The key thing is much of the investment is going to come from private sector. The amount the government put up is fairly modest in terms of what is required. A lot of onus will fall on businesses."

The Center will initially focus on performing research, publishing white papers and convening forums of public and private stakeholders to discuss the most pressing technology policy issues. On July 8 the Center will host an event on immigration policy, which West said is very important to the tech community. Other upcoming events will focus on cloud computing and the smart energy grid.