News & Insights

Washington DC– As part of its discussion series on immigration, themed “Goodbye Global Innovators?,” the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Foundation’s Global Innovation Forum recently held a roundtable discussion at the University of Texas at Austin on policy issues surrounding the ability of the United States to attract and retain top global talent, particularly students, entrepreneurs, researchers and high-skilled workers. The event, which took place last Wednesday, featured two panel discussions – “The Impact of U.S. Visa and Immigration Policies on American Businesses and Entrepreneurs” and “The Impact of Visa and Immigration Policies on Innovation, Research and Life in University Communities” – in addition to a luncheon featuring remarks on “The Impact of U.S. Immigration and Visa Policies on U.S. National Interests.”

“In Austin and at another recent event at Duke University, we’ve had the opportunity to hear from entrepreneurs, students and top business and academic leaders about the often negative impact that U.S. immigration and visa policies have on American innovation and economic competitiveness. We heard clearly that the United States needs to do more to attract and retain the talent needed to foster U.S. economic growth, create jobs and strengthen America’s innovation leadership,” said NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin.

Business and university leaders, students and entrepreneurs from the region participated in the event. In addition to NFTC President Bill Reinsch and Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin, speakers included:

• Ryan Erickson, Director of Political Research, Partnership for a New American Economy;
  
• Admiral Bob Inman;
  
• Rose Jennings, Director, Employment Law, AMD;
  
• Chetan Kapoor, CEO and Founder, Agile Planet, Inc.;
  
• Columbia Mishra, Ph.d. Candidate, Mechanical Engineering, and President, Graduate Student Assembly, University of Texas at Austin
  
• Drew Scheberle, Senior Vice President, Talent and Workforce Development, Austin Chamber of Commerce;
  
• Ting Shen, Co-founder and CEO, NanoLite Systems, Inc.;
  
• Erika Sumner, Co-Founder, Social Good TV, and Innovation & Community Advocate;
  
• Jeremi Suri, Professor and Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin; and
• Andrew Thorley, Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services, International Office, University of Texas at Austin.
  

The NFTC’s Global Innovation Forum discussion series on immigration and American competitiveness is part of a national innovation initiative made possible by the GE Foundation. This event was held in partnership with theUniversity of Texas at Austin,Austin Chamber of Commerce and Partnership for a New American Economy. The series was launched last month at Duke University.

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About the NFTC Foundation
The National Foreign Trade Council was founded in 1914 and is the oldest and largest trade association devoted entirely to advocating an open, rules-based international trade system. NFTC promotes open markets and U.S. engagement in the world on behalf of its member companieswhich include Abbvie, Caterpillar, eBay, General Electric, Hanes Brands, IBM, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart. The Global Innovation Forum is a project of NFTC’s educational arm, the NFTC Foundation, which brings together diverse groups of stakeholders to create a better understanding of how the innovation ecosystem and public policy can improve the lives of workers, families and communities.
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