In industry, your activities impact the world, and events in the world affect your work. We have to train our graduates to work in this environment. Along these lines, I think universities have to participate more and more in economic development, improving quality of life and addressing major issues, such as crime. We have to look at the big picture and see where the needs are. One way universities can become more strategic in their work and address contemporary society's needs is to become more influential in policy-making.
Universities also face a changing funding environment.
Just as universities are responding to these changes, so is industry, Chameau notes. Some industries are concentrating on applied research and are inclined to subcontract basic research. The major challenge for universities is to identify opportunities and respond to those in a rapidly changing world. We are committed at Georgia Tech to doing what it takes to be successful in working with industry.