As part of EIA's ongoing "The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads" initiative and addressing one of the primary innovation-related concerns of our corporate membership, our latest publication, A Best Practices Guide to Intellectual Property Rights Protection in China, seeks to help U.S. companies navigate the challenging waters of one of our most significant trading partners. To develop this unique, user-friendly publication, EIA collaborated with former Assistant USTR for China Affairs Charles Freeman III and his colleagues at the China Alliance law firms. We also drew on the resources of our nearly 1000 members, many of which have decades of experience in China. This book recognizes that industry has a critical role to play in the fight to protect IPR and that we must do all we can to minimize the risks to innovation in producing high-tech products and components in the global market. We are working closely with the Administration and Congress to provide industry's perspective on this important issue.

>>Read more about the Best Practices Guide and order your copies

Download EIA's Policy Playbook on Innovation and Global Competitiveness

Since 2003, EIA's staff, sector associations and corporate members have focused closely on the significant structural changes taking place in the world economy and in the high-tech industry in particular. Because of our unique alliance structure, EIA and its wide array of member companies are positioned to accurately portray the reality and trends. We are also in a position to develop and advocate policies to address the long-term viability of our innovative sectors.

We started our broad examination with one strong belief: EIA, as an organization, is committed to developing a truly open trading system. With this as our foundation, we have a responsibility to our industry and to the U.S. to address the concerns raised by critics of globalization. The economic recovery that saw slower job growth than expected raised questions for many about the real benefits of increased productivity, the free market system and offshore sourcing.

To answer these questions, EIA launched a major initiative: Together with our project partners from the public policy field, industry and academia, we have taken a broad look at the benefits of open markets and the trends in high-tech manufacturing, design, engineering and research & development, here and around the world. A unique exercise known as Prosperity Games™ – essentially war games for the business world – was a coalescing step in early 2004 for our initiative, as we brought together members of our board, members of Congress, Administration staff, industry experts and thought leaders for two days and emerged with the outline for our landmark policy playbook, The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads.

Since then, EIA has been one of the leading voices in the ever-louder call for a comprehensive U.S. innovation strategy, and the message continues to gain momentum. In the 2006 State of the Union address, President Bush called for an American Competitive Initiative (ACI) focused on STEM education, long-term basic research funding and other ways of maintaining the U.S. economic and innovation leadership. Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle have also been strongly supportive of our goals, most recently boosting FY07 funding for physical science research in a number of federal agencies.

Our hope is that the recommendations included in our playbook – and refined since then, as we work with industry and policymakers – and the message of innovation that we continue to advance at every opportunity will promote the development of a national technology vision and strategy.

To get involved in EIA's initiative or for more information, please contact Storme Street.