Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian led an international panel discussion on the innovation ecosystem titled "Growth Beyond the Bottom Line" for the 2018 SelectUSA Investment Summit this morning in Washington, D.C. This annual summit, hosted by the Department of Commerce, is the highest-level foreign direct investment event in the United States.
Panelists from three diverse international firms shared their perspectives on the opportunities afforded by the U.S. innovation ecosystem to advance a global strategy.
The panel featured Dave Henderson, president of United States Operations, Commercial and State Government at CGI Limited; Ravi Kumar, president and deputy chief operating officer at Infosys; and Ulrich Spiesshofer, chief executive officer of ABB.
During his introductory remarks, Jahanian commented on the unique partnerships that bring investment and innovation together.
"Across the United States, partners from industry, academia, commerce and state and local economic development professionals are working together to help international businesses invest, grow and succeed in their communities," Jahanian said. "Particularly in this global, knowledge-based economy, universities like Carnegie Mellon University, as well as other centers of research, have come to play a central role in this innovation cycle."
CMU President Farnam Jahanian moderated the panel "Growth Beyond the Bottom Line" for the 2018 SelectUSA Investment Summit.
SelectUSA, hosted by U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, serves as an initial point of contact for companies seeking to invest in the United States and for economic development organizations exploring new ways to attract investment. Industry leaders attending the summit discussed how companies can navigate and position themselves advantageously in this fast-paced economy.
The Department of Commerce's Select USA Investment Summit hosted more than 3,000 government and industry leaders from around the world. Speakers included senior U.S. government officials, C-Suite business executives, and other thought leaders, discussing key policies and trends related to the U.S. investment environment and business opportunities.
"In this environment, global business growth will depend on harnessing the power of innovation, cultivating the best talent and finding the right partners to execute your vision," Jahanian said.
President Jahanian also participated in high-level roundtable discussions on workforce development and infrastructure.