Innovation Key To Prosperty, Says CEA/Zogby Poll

Arlington, Va. — Americans believe that innovation leadership is important, but they are concerned about American innovation in a more competitive international environment, according to a new survey released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).

Forty-three percent said remaining the innovation leaders of the world is most important to our future success. This compares to military leadership (14 percent), economy size (23 percent) and having the dollar continue to be the world’s de facto currency (11 percent), CEA said.

The economic survey, conducted by Zogby International, found that Americans are concerned about the impact of innovation on our debt (92 percent), educational system (73 percent) and policymakers’ grasp of the importance of innovation (only 17 percent think U.S. policymakers have the best grasp compared to other countries).

The survey was released today as CEA announced a new national grassroots “Innovation Movement” to focus U.S. policies on advancing innovation with the goal of ensuring continued U.S. global economic leadership.

While Americans clearly see innovation as vital, they are unsure if the U.S. is keeping pace with increased competition from new global economic powers, and they are foremost concerned that the rising national debt will impair the ability of the U.S. to remain an economic leader, CEA said.

According to the survey, only one in five Americans (21 percent) believe the U.S. is creating the best environment for innovation. Nearly half chose Japan or China.

• More than one in three Americans (36 percent) believes the U.S. will lose its innovative advantage and take a backseat to China.
• Seventy-three percent of Americans do not believe that the U.S. educational system is best equipped to develop innovative leaders.
• Ninety-two percent of Americans said that the U.S. national debt, currently at $11 trillion, will affect our nation’s long-term ability to remain an economic leader. The debt is projected to reach $20 trillion by 2015, CEA reported.

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