Effective state and federal long-term planning is challenging, particularly for the policy framework and partnerships responsible for supporting the high technology industry and employment that make up such an important part of California's economy.

"Meaningful proactive solutions often require understanding the system as a whole. CCST is constantly working on ways to provide rapid responses to requests from policymakers as they arise while seeking to present a bigger picture wherever possible. " Susan Hackwood Executive Director

The challenge is devising long-term solutions in the face of both finite resources and a host of pressing, more immediate needs. In addition, some components of the high-tech infrastructure, such as the education system, take years to manifest any significant changes following shifts in policy. Meaningful proactive solutions often require understanding the system as a whole. CCST is constantly working on ways to provide rapid responses to requests from policymakers as they arise while seeking to present a bigger picture wherever possible.

Last October, the National Academies gave a significant boost to proactive planning efforts both in California and elsewhere with the release of the report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. The report's conclusions are serious, noting that there is a serious risk that the United States may soon and irrevocably lose its lead in science and technology. And the report's recommendations are sweeping:

• Vastly improve K-12 science and math education.
• Strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research.
• Recruit and retain the best and brightest minds from around the world.
• Encourage innovation.

The Gathering Storm has generated a substantial impact among policymakers, communicating the sense that serious, long-term planning must take place if the United States is to remain the world leader in science and technology. That message has taken root, at the national level (where President Bush cited it in his 2006 State of the Union address) and now at the state level. States across the country, including California, are being challenged to develop strategic plans to respond to the Gathering Storm report.

CCST has been asked by Governor Schwarzenegger to coordinate a California response to this report. CCST's work already addresses the issues raised by the Gathering Storm; for example, improving our science and technology education system is one of the four components of this response, and we have already been focusing on the issue through projects such as California's Math and Science Teachers: A Critical Path Analysis and through direct collaboration with our constituent institutions. The California State University, for instance, has already devised a seven-point action plan to improve its production of science and math teachers, and other institutions are following suit.

We believe that with concerted effort, informed and supported by higher education, business and industry and the federal funded laboratories, all of which are represented in the CCST board and council, California can achieve the ambitious goals set out in the National Academies report. CCST is effectively positioned to work not only with these groups, but with the National Academies, to help California develop long-term solutions.