As in every election season, it seems impossible to avoid the sea of inflammatory messages about hot button issues. A critical issue you won’t see in these hyperbolic debates — but one that touches all of our lives and will help dictate our future — is Missouri’s role in innovation. Jobs, economic growth, and our health and wellbeing are all tied to our state’s ability to cultivate and grow new ideas and to capitalize on them in our economy.
Our elected officials must understand what it takes to harness and support innovation. Along with inventive minds and financial capital, innovation cannot flourish without a smart policy environment. This is not a partisan issue. Whatever your political leanings, we should all agree that bringing more high-paying jobs and cutting-edge industries to Missouri is a worthy goal.
We can’t afford to lose momentum. St. Louis is emerging as a powerhouse of innovation in multiple sectors, including health care, agriculture, geospatial technology, and advanced manufacturing. These sectors address critical problems of our time and drive economic growth, earning our city national recognition. They create high-paying, exciting careers for our young people, allowing them to thrive in their home state.
We should press candidates for governor and other offices to articulate clear visions for how they'll foster innovation in Missouri. This means going beyond vague promises and cheery rhetoric about "supporting small business." Voters should demand specifics: How will candidates make sure Missourians have the relevant skills for 21st century jobs? How will they strengthen STEM education from kindergarten through career, so our state is competitive now and for years to come? Will they commit resources to state programs like the Missouri Technology Corporation which helps local entrepreneurs turn big ideas into viable companies? What initiatives will they champion to attract innovative companies? How do they propose to leverage Missouri's strengths to elevate our state’s leadership in high growth industries? We should ask these questions and expect answers.
I’ve had a front row seat to the life changing impacts of innovation. Since 2001, my own organization, the nonprofit BioSTL, has served as the connective tissue among universities, corporations, investors, entrepreneurs and various community stakeholders. In BioSTL’s shared laboratories in St. Louis we’re supporting local startups that are developing cures for cancer, diagnostics for Alzheimer’s, and new crop traits that will impact food security for generations. Through our global initiative we are piloting a cutting-edge technology from overseas to transform the lives of children with acute asthma and significantly reduce cost to Missouri Medicaid. Every Missourian has a stake in the success of these and many other innovative ventures.
Our economic future and our quality of life depend on making innovation a priority in our political discourse. We must push candidates of all stripes to develop substantive policy proposals in this critical area. As Missourians, we pride ourselves on our practical attitude. Let’s apply that mindset to demand real plans for innovation from those seeking our votes.
Donn Rubin is the president and CEO of BioSTL.
