U.S. Leaders Participate in "Global Innovation through Scien

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U.S. Leaders Participate in "Global Innovation through Science and Technology" Initiative Promoting Technology Commercialization


Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

February 22, 2011




Dr. Jonathan Margolis, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Science, Space, and Health in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, will attend the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative Leadership Circle taking place from February 21-23 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dr. Margolis will be joined by U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Paul Jones and other representatives from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
More than 60 experts in science, technology, and innovation across government, research, finance, nonprofit, and corporate sectors from 20 countries are participating in the three-day event. The initiative fosters economic development and addresses shared global challenges through the formation of partnerships and programs to address technological challenges, promote new products and companies, and create jobs. The Leadership Circle builds on the successful GIST launch event held in December 2010 at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt, and aims to develop recommendations to spark scientific innovation and promote technology development in the Middle East, Africa, and Central, South, and Southeast Asia.
The GIST initiative is another example the science and technology engagement President Obama proposed in his speech in Cairo in June 2009. This Department of State –sponsored program will be implemented by CRDF Global, an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to international science cooperation and technology commercialization.


PRN: 2011/257