Matthew Weinberg

Governments across Europe, North America, and Asia have been fiercely debating how to sustainably fund costly new digital infrastructure networks to ensure their populations enjoy widespread internet access and unlock the full potential of 5G connectivity.

As our country’s in-person economy grinds to a halt, and most aspects of our daily lives are impacted by COVID-19, our greatest invention – the internet – will help steer us forward.

The internet won’t save us from this calamity; no tool is omni-competent. Accessibility, or its opposite inaccessibility, can highlight the harsh realities of inequality.

But it’s indisputable that the internet has become a critical lifeline for Americans. It’s inspired, informed, consoled, and… Show more

As our country’s in-person economy grinds to a halt, and most aspects of our daily lives are impacted by COVID-19, our greatest invention – the internet – will help steer us forward.

The internet won’t save us from this calamity; no tool is omni-competent. Accessibility, or its opposite inaccessibility, can highlight the harsh realities of inequality.

But it’s indisputable that the internet has become a critical lifeline for Americans. It’s inspired, informed, consoled, and connected us during these trying times. Show less

The possibilities, such as with any new transformative technology like the advent of the internet or smartphone, are only limited by our imaginations.

Over the last decade, Sweden has established itself as an innovation center, becoming well known across traditional tech circles as a hub of entrepreneurial activity. On a per capita basis, the country generates more billion-dollar VC-backed companies than anywhere else in the world excluding Silicon Valley. Spotify, Skype, iZettle, Klarna, Oatly, Minecraft, King, to name a few, can all be classified as Swedish “unicorns."

New fifth-generation “5G” network technology will equip the United States with a superior wireless platform, unlocking transformative economic potential. However, 5G’s success is contingent on modernizing outdated policy frameworks that dictate infrastructure overhauls and establishing the proper balance of public-private partnerships to encourage investment and deployment.

Japanese companies have an opportunity to reverse recent decline given political and other changes across the Asian Pacific region. Specifically, turmoil inside some of South Korea's largest conglomerates and the shifting business climate in South Korea due to political changes brought about by scandal, have created an opening for Japanese companies to regain lost ground and recoup market share.

It's important to realize that infrastructure modernization goes hand in hand with a city's ability to leverage the advantages of digital innovation (i.e. become a smart city!).

Steve Jobs once said that “innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” For the past few decades, one of Apple’s greatest competitors – Samsung – has embodied this truism by creating highly sought-after technology products and becoming one of the most successful companies in the world. But uncertainty at the top of this massive technology firm and a political tidal shift in its home country of South Korea has cast doubt on Samsung’s position as leader in innovation.

We just passed the six-year mark in the seemingly endless “Smartphone Wars” between Apple and Samsung, which started in the Northern District of California in April of 2011. While this roller coast ride continues to make its way through various courts across the country, we are very close to an answer on the most hotly contested issue of this dispute: what is the penalty for infringing on the look and/or feel of a patented design?

Silicon Valley titans have recognized that through the vehicle of industry groups (or trade associations as they are called in DC) they, like the leading corporations of most other industries, can advance both their political and business imperatives.

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since Apple unveiled the first iPhone. Though tough to fathom today, at one time the tech giant had just a handful of employees, used federal grants to fuel the company’s R&D and received capital from a government backed investment fund.

Access to capital is a major hurdle for startups and small businesses, particularly in tech companies which data shows are more reliant on debt capital than non-tech. However, navigating the complicated… Show more

It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since Apple unveiled the first iPhone. Though tough to fathom today, at one time the tech giant had just a handful of employees, used federal grants to fuel the company’s R&D and received capital from a government backed investment fund.

Access to capital is a major hurdle for startups and small businesses, particularly in tech companies which data shows are more reliant on debt capital than non-tech. However, navigating the complicated system of intellectual property (IP) rights — in addition to existing major market forces — can just as easily pull the rug out from underneath a small company or new entrant. Show less

The genius and creativity of American scientists and inventors has long kept the United States at the forefront of innovation and helped to drive U.S. economic success. The federal government’s role in this effort often involves providing seed money for research and experimentation and, increasingly, in protecting American intellectual property (IP) rights in the global marketplace.

Technology innovators tend to operate with an ethos that they consider diametrically opposed to that of government, frequently leading to friction and adversarial attitudes. They view tech as fast-moving, inventive and needing to be free of bureaucracy — while government is staid, stodgy and constrained by restrictive red tape. Government, however, remains an ever-present force in the operations of any company, technology or otherwise, and can be friend or foe.

To the Editor:

“The Future Toffler Saw Is Already Upon Us,” by Farhad Manjoo (State of the Art column, July 7), argues that futurism has “fallen out of favor” especially within the United States government. We disagree.

In fact, the federal Small Business Innovation Research program, directed by the Small Business Administration, awards $2.5 billion a year in research and development dollars to innovative start-ups building the technologies of the future.

Imagine a future where “moonshots” are part of our everyday reality. In this future, shipping no longer uses environmentally damaging Styrofoam but instead an organic mushroom-based material. Things like meat and leather can be created in a laboratory, limiting the need for environmentally harmful animal slaughterhouses, or tanning and garment factories that can endanger workers.

In this future, astronauts in orbit 3D-print the materials they need while onboard their spacecraft. And… Show more

Imagine a future where “moonshots” are part of our everyday reality. In this future, shipping no longer uses environmentally damaging Styrofoam but instead an organic mushroom-based material. Things like meat and leather can be created in a laboratory, limiting the need for environmentally harmful animal slaughterhouses, or tanning and garment factories that can endanger workers.

In this future, astronauts in orbit 3D-print the materials they need while onboard their spacecraft. And imagine that funding for these innovations comes not from Silicon Valley venture capital, eccentric billionaires or maverick corporations, but instead from the United States government, which has already invested in these moonshot technologies and is helping to make them a reality. And that’s just the beginning. Show less

The term “moonshot” has come to define a breakthrough technological solution to a pressing, global-scale problem. Inspired by this fearlessly ambitious brand of problem solving, Google, NYCEDC and UbiTech.co joined forces on April 25 in hosting the first-ever “moonshot” design sprint in New York City.

At IDEO’s #NYHacksWaste event this past Saturday, competitors were given 24 hours to create innovative tech solutions that addressed the issue of waste in New York City. Finished products ranged from “Tinder-like” apps that match people with unwanted items to a reusable coffee mug that works like Citibike. The winning team, Footprint, uses sensors and a variety of data sources to track people’s waste, and generates scores based on what they throw away.