The document discusses changes in US manufacturing employment from 1980 to 2010, with 7 million jobs lost. However, manufacturing is not declining but reinventing itself through new paradigms of sharing brainpower in open, collaborative innovation districts and the development of a new branch of the economy focused on smart products and new production methods leveraging technologies like sensors, wireless IT, and big data. Examples are given of former "rustbelt" cities like Akron, Albany, and Research Triangle Park transforming into "brainbelts" by building on research strengths in areas like polymers, nanotechnology, and attracting talent through university collaborations and venture capital investment in advanced manufacturing.

2. Looking in the rearview mirror

3. Looking in the rearview mirror
U.S. Employment in Manufacturing Industries (in millions)
10
20
15
1980 1985 1990 200520001995 2010
Reversal
7 million
jobs lost

4. Looking in the rearview mirror
Automation 2008 CrisisCompetition

5. Not the whole story

6. The American (and Northern European)
economies are NOT on the decline but
regaining competitiveness

7. The new paradigm

8. The era of cheap is over
Manufacturing is not coming back…
The era of “smart” has begun
…it is being reinvented
The new paradigm

9. Sharing brainpower
Two pillars
The new paradigm
1.

10. Sharing brainpower
Hierarchical
Closed/IP-oriented
Siloed
Top-down
Lone ranger
Suburban, isolated
research labs
Collegial
Open
Multidisciplinary
Collaborative
Urban innovation
districts
In the past Today
Bottom-up

11. A new branch of
the economy
2.
Sharing brainpower1.
Two pillars
The new paradigm

12. Sensor
technology
Wireless IT
New materials
Big Data
A new branch of the economy
New discoveries
New production
methods
Old industrial expertise

13. The future is all about connecting and connectedness
A new branch of the economy Smart products

14. New production methods are reinvigorating old industries
A new branch of the economy New production methods

15. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts

16. A life threatening challenge
From Rustbelts to Brainbelts
Akron, Ohio — From rubber capital to polymer city
A connector: Luis ProenzaWorld-class research on polymers stayed

17. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts
What makes a brainbelt?
Universities performing world-class research
Openness to sharing brainpower
A connector and supportive local officials
Infrastructure that attracts and retains top talent
A life-threatening situation
Access to venture capital
Complex, expensive challenges requiring a
multi-disciplinary approach

18. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts
Albany, New York — Nanotechnology

19. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

20. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts
Portland, Oregon

21. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts
Eindhoven — From lightbulbs to the world’s smartest city

22. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts

23. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts

24. From Rustbelts to Brainbelts
Rustbelt cities are building on
forgotten strengths, transforming
themselves into brainbelts
They are creating the smart products
that the 21st century demands

25. Policy recommendations

26. Policy recommendations
Stop mismeasuring productivity
Develop work-study programs (on German model)
Reward sharing of brainpower
Support and build innovation districts
Build political support for more basic research
Give venture capitalists the leeway to invest in
advanced manufacturing