Looking to the United States for innovation and cluster development initiatives
Dr Valerie Cummins has returned to Ireland following a seven-week programme in the U.S. to investigate ways to improve the maritime economy of Ireland. Dr Cummins was sponsored by the prestigious U.S. Eisenhower Fellowships programme, chaired by General Colin L. Powell, U.S.A (Ret).
Dr Valerie Cummins with General Colin Powell
An expert in maritime development, coastal zone management, and sustainability science, Dr Cummins directs IMERC – the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster. IMERC unites Ireland’s largest maritime institutions – University College Cork; the Cork Institute of Technology, (including the National Maritime College of Ireland) and the Irish Naval Service – to establish Ireland as a leader in marine energy and maritime industries.
Science/technology models
While on fellowship, Dr Cummins examined models of successful science and technology clusters; developed and strengthened strategic alliances between the marine renewable energy research and industry sectors in Ireland and the U.S., and explored Federal and State approaches to coastal zone management and maritime spatial planning.
Fortuitously, Dr Cummins’ fellowship coincided with two key conferences: Global Marine Renewable Energy Conference – an international event convened annually by the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition which draws on sector leaders from around the world.
In addition to facilitating a panel and presenting two posters, Dr Cummins engaged in events with the Ambassador of Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland’s ICT and Energy Policy director, and engage with key global leaders. Dr Cummins also participated in the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Offshore Energy Knowledge Exchange Workshop organised by the Department of the Interior.
Dr Cummins’ Fellowship travels took her to many coastal areas, site visits and meetings across 11 States, resulting in MOU.S. now under development with the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Centre in Washington State and Florida Atlantic University’s Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Centre.
She also had opportunities to meet with industry leaders at the cutting edge of hydrokinetic energy; maritime and ICT development, including Schlumberger’s Liquid Robotics, Microsoft’s Layerscope, and EMC’s Innovation Networks.
Whitehouse highlights
Among the many programme highlights, of particular interest to Dr Cummins included meetings with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI); Congressman Charlie Bass (R-NH) and Former Senator Tim Wirth (D-CO). She also met with former Senator Christie Todd Whitman (R-NJ) and State Senator Kevin Ranker (D-WA).
Dr Cummins is now working on hosting a high-level meeting with representatives of the U.S. Department of State to IMERC this autumn, and a bilateral agreement with the Washington State Governor.
Policy outcomes will include a paper by Dr Cummins on marine renewable energy to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind and Water Power Program; a follow-up visit to Cork will be organised with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Policy Director.
Innovation and cluster development was a major fellowship theme for Dr Cummins, involving discussions with U.S. Department of Commerce experts to learn about drivers for regional innovation. Her meetings on this theme generated many ideas for “developing IMERC’s expertise in the areas of technological interfacing coupled with investments and marketing, and developing tools for commercialisation cycles within an innovation ecosystem.”
Global networking
Concluding, Dr Cummins said the experience “informed the development of an evolved personal worldview about global change, where power and influence lie, and the roles of government, industry, and civil society.”
She noted that that the EF MNP was a “transformational experience at personal level, providing exposure to a new network of friends and colleagues and ability to open doors at new and exciting levels of influence.
“The experience will undoubtedly have institutional and developmental consequences for IMERC. I anticipate that outcomes from research and industry will result in new ideas, innovation, and job creation of national significance for Ireland.”
Background
Eisenhower Fellowship identifies, empowers and links outstanding leaders from around the world, helping them to achieve consequential outcomes across sectors and borders. EF provides a transformational experience leading to lifetime engagement in a global network, where dialogue and collaboration make the world more prosperous, just and peaceful.
Eisenhower fellows spend two months in the United States to pursue an individually-designed programme in their field of interest. The programme, customised to meet the goals of the Eisenhower fellow, includes meeting with experts and leaders in the Fellow’s field, and general includes cultural site visits and hospitality.
Eisenhower Fellowships is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organisation seeking to foster international understanding and leadership through exchange of information, ideas and perspectives among emerging leaders throughout the world. Established in 1953 as a birthday tribute to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the organisation has sponsored more than 1,900 Fellows from 108 countries.
