Charles W. Wessner
Professor, Global Innovation Policy, Georgetown University
Dr. Charles Wessner currently teaches Global Innovation Policy at Georgetown University where he acts as a powerful advocate of effective innovation policies. Previously, he served for two decades as a National Academies Scholar where he founded and directed of the National Academy of Sciences’ Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program. He is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise on innovation policy, including public-private partnerships, entrepreneurship, early-stage financing for new firms, 21st century manufacturing, cybersecurity, and the special needs and benefits of high-technology industry. As an outgrowth of his work with the U.S. government, he advises technology agencies, universities, and government ministries, including the Prime Ministers of countries in Europe and Asia. In addition, he cooperates closely with international organizations and lectures at major universities in the U.S. and abroad. The overarching goal of his work is to develop a better understanding of how we can bring new technologies forward to address global challenges in health, climate, energy, water, infrastructure, and security. Reflecting his commitment to international cooperation, he was recently named an Officer of the Order of Merit by the President of France.