Alaska can lead high-tech fields with right kind of support now

That's why we were so pleased to boast about Alaska in a standing-room-only meeting in Washington, D.C., last week attended by some of the nation's leading high-tech business executives and two dozen United States senators. Convened by our own Sen. Mark Begich, the meeting was designed to discuss ways to regain America's leadership role in developing new technologies.

Among those participating were Cisco CEO John Chambers; John Doerr, who helped invent the 8080 8-bit microprocessor at Intel; and Brad Smith, Microsoft's general counsel. Scores of other high-tech business executives lined a wood-paneled room in the U.S. Capitol for a lively conversation with senators.

The meeting was assembled by the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, chaired by Sen. Begich, to connect business leaders and senators for frank discussions about necessary changes in national policy to improve our overall business climate.

Our message was simple: America is losing its ability to "out-innovate" countries like China and India, in part, because of misguided federal policies and budget priorities and poor preparation of young Americans for future technology-based jobs. The long-term implications are dangerous for Alaska and our nation.

We both have struggled against enormous odds to capitalize on Alaska's unique opportunities to develop our high-technology companies. We're way outside the Washington Beltway and don't have lobbyists. Unlike the "technological ant farms" of Phoenix or San Jose, Alaska has a smaller labor pool and a narrower range of supporting industries.

But decision-makers in Washington seem to recognize the technology we develop in Alaska has a unique quality and credibility that Outside companies can't ever claim. They know that if it works in Alaska, it'll work anywhere.

Our own experiences and the Washington meeting demonstrate that high-tech jobs and industries don't appear by accident. They require thoughtful government policies like simplifying the tax code while including long-term investment incentives, cutting bureaucratic red tape and boosting infrastructure and research investment to encourage innovation and growth.

As we made clear in our testimony, these policies should not be targeted only at hotbeds of high technology, like California, Arizona, Washington and Massachusetts. Examples abound of U.S. states and cities that, with sufficient investment, saw incredible growth in high-tech industries.

Alaska has enormous potential in the emerging industry of renewable energy. We are one of few states that has the full suite of renewables available for development, many of which are world-class.

For example, Ocean Renewable Power Company is a national leader in developing energy projects from ocean tides and river flows. With Cook Inlet a Prudhoe Bay of tidal energy, ORPC aims to gain global recognition as the first to harness its enormous energy.

Increased investment in education, research, transportation/energy infrastructure and communication networks would support existing Alaska industries and fuel high-tech innovators. Investments in infrastructure made to promote high-tech businesses, like improved transportation networks and faster Internet access, would also benefit existing Alaska businesses by better connecting them to other markets.

Quality of life has become a huge factor in the high-technology culture. Alaska's pristine environment and stable government can attract the best minds from all over the world. The research work of high-tech industries would make highly educated students more likely to stay in the state to create technological advances that offer solutions to the unique challenges we face in Alaska.

Alaska's economy has survived the national economic downturn better than most. But unless we act smartly, we could be left behind other states in cultivating high-tech industries. Alaska has an enormously bright future for high-tech industries and research if we take steps now to promote it.

Skip Nelson is CEO of ADS-B Technologies, an Anchorage firm that specializes in Next Generation Air Traffic Management systems. Doug Johnson is Alaska projects director for Ocean Renewable Power Co.'s Alaska Subsidary ORPC Alaska, LLC, an Alaska corporation that develops tidal and river energy systems.