The pace of high-tech innovation and the importance of technological change and how businesses and policymakers adjust to that change will be the focus of the University of Colorado at Boulder's Silicon Flatirons Center's March 4 conference.
Called "Innovation, Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship in the Information Industries," the conference will be held in the Wolf Law Building and begins at 2 p.m. with a keynote address by Paul Jacobs, CEO of Qualcomm.
"In today's economy, technological breakthroughs -- of the kind that spawned Google, Qualcomm and many of today's powerhouse companies -- are the principal driver of economic growth," said Phil Weiser, executive director of the Silicon Flatirons Center. "Policymakers thus need to take very seriously the question of how to spur technological change in an increasingly competitive world economy where the continued success of American entrepreneurial spirit cannot be taken for granted."
The conference also will explore questions related to the nature of innovation and the role of intellectual property protection. To evaluate the appropriate role for government policy in facilitating entrepreneurship and innovation, the conference will bring together a group of industry leaders who approach the issue from a variety of perspectives, Weiser said.
The conference will be followed by the "New Technology Meetup," a Silicon Flatirons-sponsored forum to support local entrepreneurs looking for feedback on their emerging business plans.
CU-Boulder students, faculty and staff can attend the conference at no charge, but are encouraged to register. Continuing legal education credits are available for the event.
For more information about the conference, including a complete schedule, registration fees and online registration, visit the Silicon Flatirons conference Web site at or call 303-735-5633.