Gov. Tim Kaine joined over 140 business, educational and political leaders in endorsing advertisements appearing in Wednesday's Washington Post and Wall Street Journal that support increased spending on scientific research and education.
The ads were a part of the National Innovation Initiative and were sponsored by the Council on Competitiveness, a non-profit organization that looks at economic policy issues.
"The ads themselves are part of a public outreach initiative that is driven by the importance of the innovation and competitiveness of the U.S. economy in the 21st century," said Bill Booher, chief operating officer of the Council on Competitiveness. "They are a call to action more than anything for some of the leadership people of this country to say that if we are to maintain our standard of living in a globally competitive world, we've got to make some policy adjustments to maintain our competitive posture."
While these ads push for federal support of scientific research funding, similar efforts are underway within the Commonwealth, according to Kevin Hall, press secretary for Kaine.
Hall said the House of Delegates is currently debating a proposal to the state budget that would give $255 million to develop and promote research capacities and faculties at public institutions like the University.
The "state ponies up the $255 million, and the colleges have collectively agreed to match it with $300 million," Hall said. Therefore, the state will have the funding needed "to leapfrog Virginia into the research and development area."
If approved, Hall said the proposal would provide funding for a new clinical cancer center at the University, as well as other labs and facilities at Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Hall pointed out that, in addition to statewide advantages from increased scientific research funding, individual institutions and communities will also experience benefits.
"World-class research benefits everyone, but it also has an immediate benefit on the community it is conducted in," Hall said.
According to Engineering School Dean James Aylor, the possibility of increased state funding would allow for additional space and equipment vital to the University's research capacities.
"The country is so dependent on technology and the economy is so dependent on technology that we [the United States] need to be a player in technology," Aylor said. "I'm very supportive of initiatives that will basically help this country maintain the level of innovation we've had for years."
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