The part 1 paper addresses the issue of US manufacturing and innovation. After Obama’s Advance Manufacturing Program initiative last year the author notes that little impact in both the US manufacturing industry and the literature has been observed. The AMP looks presently outdated by the recent figure regarding the manufacturing world share : China is turning the leading country with 19,8% and has overtaken the U.S. with 19,4%. The article explores two ambivalent trends underlying the globalization in manufacturing : (1) the propensity of US firms to outsource manufacturing in China, making the business of US firms very profitable (cf. Apple) and the customer satisfaction higher, making the US trade deficit with China acceptable, and (2) the propensity to transfer innovation capability to China when manufacturing is located there, preventing the US manufacturing firms to do so. (to be continued)
Innovation in US Manufacturing Industry Part 1 : Experts’ Opinion
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16th edition of the 
Jointly drawn up by David and Antoine, the paper explores the recent trends impacting US innovation activities in 2011. It also identifies the key questions facing the funding of innovation, including the VC activities in 2012 and the development of new funding schemes. A large section of the paper addresses the US Federal policy in the field of innovation, including the “Start up America” initiative. Although challenged by various negative factors, such as the poor economic outlook, the US innovation system appears both robust and flexible.
Last week, Harvard’s President Drew Faust and Boston’s mayor Thomas Menino gathered for the launching of Harvard’s brand new 
