Investing > Organizing for Innovation > Policy and Planning
Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative
In 2004, the Innovation Institute made an investment to support industry-led efforts to strengthen industry and academic linkages with the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center located in Natick, Massachusetts. This investment supported work undertaken by the Massachusetts High Technology Council to bring together members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, representatives of the defense industry and state and local government officials which resulted in the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative.
The goal of this Innovation Institute investment was to increase the relevance and value of the Center for the Department of Defense by identifying opportunities to strengthen ties between the Center and the technology community in the northeast region of the country. Innovation Institute funds also supported a DTI-led team in 2005 which piloted a Technology Collaboration Initiative resulting in a Science and Technology (S&T) Board at the Center. Co-Chaired by the Commonwealth’s Secretaries of Housing and Economic Development, and Public Safety and Security, as well as the Center’s Commanding General and Director of Research, Development and Engineering, the Natick S&T Board supports policies and activities that strengthen the ties between Massachusetts and work underway at the Center.
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| Boston Wireless Taskforce leadership Jim Cash, Rick Burnes, and Joyce Plotkin meets with the Innovation Institute’s Governing Board |
Boston Wireless Task Force
The Innovation Institute’s 2006 investment in the City of Boston Wireless Task Force helped break new ground, moving public policymakers towards accepting the proposition that affordable broadband access is an imperative for the social and economic well being of all citizens of the Commonwealth. This 23-member task force—assisted by hundreds of project volunteers and supporters—is working to achieve the goal of low-cost ubiquitous broadband in Boston via a revolutionary carrier-neutral, open access wholesale network. Their work is informing local, state, and national policymakers on important trade-offs to be considered as leaders persevere toward the inevitable goal of broadband for all. In addition to the policy impact of this investment, this project has nurtured the development of thought leaders across the broadband landscape.