TechNet and Illinois Technology Association Form New Partnership

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TechNet, the leading national, bipartisan policy and political network of CEOs that promotes the growth of the innovation economy and the Illinois Technology Association (ITA), today announced a new strategic partnership to collaborate on a dual state-federal policy and political program for Illinois's fast-growing and emerging technology companies.  

With over 700 member companies, ITA represents organizations from innovative start-ups to large technology companies across the sector – representing software, mobile, internet, consulting, online services, electronics, telecommunications, and green technology.  ITA companies cut across a variety of industries – business, consumer, financial services, travel, manufacturing, healthcare, and so on – that represent Illinois' diversity of companies that make the technology that make businesses run.

"We at TechNet are very excited to partner with the Illinois Technology Association," said Rey Ramsey, President and CEO of TechNet.  "ITA and its President Fred Hoch are the preeminent leaders in Illinois in helping innovation thrive.  We look forward to working with them in Illinois and around the nation, a partnership that will strengthen both of our organizations at both the federal and state level."  

"ITA is thrilled to be working with TechNet to strengthen the technology industry locally and expand nationally," said Fred Hoch, President, ITA. "Illinois companies are innovating across the entire business landscape and we look forward to collaborating with TechNet and its members to drive the industry forward."  

TechNet was founded in 1997 by the high-tech industry's leading CEOs to create a network of the nation's strongest voices in the industry to unite with both federal and state leaders in helping to shape the public policies that impact the technology industries. TechNet continues to actively promote policies that strengthen the national's innovation-driven global competitiveness as well as create private sector initiatives that will ensure U.S. competitiveness and economic leadership.

TechNet members work together to identify key policy priorities and execute successful legislative strategies at both the federal and state levels to spur innovation in the U.S.  Working through the organization's working groups, these policy priorities include:

• ICT 2.0 -- Recent developments in information and communications technologies (ICT) have forever changed the way people work, play and interact with one another. Innovations in social media, cloud computing, mobile e-commerce and applications, and more all present ongoing challenges to policymakers. TechNet's ICT 2.0 Working Group focus on issues such as privacy, security, spectrum policy, intellectual property protection, telecom regulation, and others that the group identifies.
• Global Competitiveness -- Innovative companies rely more heavily than ever on overseas markets for their business.  Challenges to doing business overseas include protectionist trade policies, weak intellectual property protection, and lack of action domestically on free trade initiatives. This working group focuses on issues relating to tax policy, working capital, as well as other issues that affect the well-being of American innovation within the global economy.
• Clean Technology -- Clean energy can create new jobs, reduce rising energy costs, promote sustainable business practices, and enhance energy efficiency. This working group focuses on policy initiatives that enhance the deployment of clean energy technology such as: eliminating regulatory barriers to commercialization, fostering conditions for market entry and access to capital, research and development funding, and workforce development. The Clean Tech Working Group also provides input for the joint TechNet and Brookings Institution collaboration that includes clean energy topics.
• Human Capital -- An innovative economy relies on a talented and creative workforce in order to turn today's ideas into tomorrow's products. An adequate supply of workers with the right skills to sustain innovation is crucial to America's competitiveness. This group focuses on issues related to the talent that drives innovation, such as: STEM education, the talent pipeline, and high-skilled immigration reform.

About TechNet:

TechNet is the national, bipartisan network of CEOs that promotes the growth of technology industries and the economy by building long-term relationships between technology leaders and policymakers and by advocating a targeted policy agenda. TechNet's members represent more than one million employees in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, e-commerce and finance. TechNet has offices in Washington, DC, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Seattle, Boston and Austin. Web address: www.technet.org.  You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter at @technetupdate.

SOURCE TechNet

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