Newswise — WASHINGTON, DC – Today over 100 members of the Innovation Coalition will join policymakers and advocates at the Reserve Officers Association to focus on policy initiatives and legislation that will spur job creation and economic recovery. The kick-off briefing features speakers from across the public and private sectors, including John Fernandez, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR), and Brian Darmody, University of Maryland Associate Vice President for Research & Economic Development.

The Innovation Coalition, a national network of technology and entrepreneurial associations, will be meeting with policy makers to discuss initiatives in key research and technology sectors and emphasizing the role innovation plays in creating a thriving economy. Following the briefing, members will meet individually with their elected representatives to share views on among other things: • Support for fully funding the America COMPETES Act which calls for an increase in STEM education, innovation incubators and investment in renewable energy and technology. • Support for greater access to capital for start-up firms and for scaling up promising new technology ventures• Support for regulatory reforms that will support high growth entrepreneurs

“The future of how we do business is already on the move at science parks, laboratories and startups across the country and continued support from Congress will make this possible,” said Brian Darmody, University of Maryland Vice President of Economy Development. “By creating communities of innovation, spurring more start-up firms, and scaling up promising technology companies, we can efficiently create private sector jobs, drive economic growth and reclaim our legacy as the world’s center of innovation.”

The Innovation Coalition joins together industries with a common goal of boosting cutting-edge technologies and entrepreneurs. “We strongly believe in supporting innovators across the technology spectrum,” said Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO of CompTIA, which is sponsoring the event. “As a leading IT Industry organization, CompTIA values collaboration with other industries to achieve economic growth and employ more Americans in 21st century jobs.”

Members of the Innovation Coalition are advocating for investment in technologies and infrastructure that will power America forward and support President Obama’s call to “win the future.” The America COMPETES Act, Startup America, and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness are some of the pieces to the puzzle that Innovation Coalition members are focused on.

Registration for the event is free and additional information can be accessed here. Following day-long meetings with policy makers, the Innovation Coalition will reconvene for an afternoon reception at Dubliner Restaurant and Irish Pub on Capitol Hill.

About the Innovation Coalition

The Innovation Coalition is a collaborative group of innovation-based associations supporting key element of the continuum for commercialization and job creation. Members of the Innovation Coalition include:

• Angel Capital Association• Association of University Research Parks• Association of University Technology Managers• Community Development Venture Capital Alliance• National Association of Seed and Venture Funds• National Association of Small Business Investment Companies• National Business Incubation Association• State Science and Technology Institute• Technology Councils of North America

CompTIA (http://www.comptia.org), a non-profit trade association representing more than 2,500 companies in the information technology (IT) industry, has sponsored the Innovation Coalition Fly-In.