Episode 5: Innovation & Industry: Rebuilding America’s Manufacturing Muscle with Phillip Singerman, Ph.D.

In this episode of Manufacturing an American Century, host Matt Bogoshian is joined by Phillip Singerman, Ph.D, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and current AMCC Senior Advisor for Performance Measurement. The two discuss the historical perspective behind today’s national industrial policy, and the current rising trend of regionalization and bottom-up leadership that’s powering a national manufacturing resurgence. 

📢 Episode Highlights:

Manufacturing’s Evolution Post-World War II: Phil discusses the transition from the U.S.’s post-war industrial dominance to a more competitive global landscape, highlighting the emergence of economies like Japan, South Korea, and Western Europe.

The Interconnection of Manufacturing and Technological Innovation: Phil discusses how the erosion of the U.S. manufacturing base led to a decline in innovation capabilities, emphasizing the need to restore manufacturing to maintain economic vitality.

Federal Interventions and the American Renaissance: The conversation shifts to recent federal efforts, like the American Rescue Plan and Chips and Science Act, addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19, climate change, and strategic competition with China.

The Importance of Regional Collaboration: Phil highlights the significance of regional innovation ecosystems, stressing the need for collaboration among stakeholders at various levels, including public entities, private companies, and nonprofits.

Economic Development and Measuring Impact: The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of measuring the impact of government interventions on economic development, drawing from Phil’s extensive experience and recent writings.

The Role of Clustering in Economic Development: The discussion explores the concept of clustering — grouping research, manufacturing, entrepreneurship, capital, and workforce — as a potent economic development strategy.

Tune in, subscribe, and contribute as we continue to delve into the stories shaping American manufacturing today! Join us in two weeks where Lance Hastings, President & CEO of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) joins Matt for a conversation on manufacturing leadership in the Golden State.

AMCC’s podcast is made possible in part by the pro bono expertise of Mike McAllen, founder of Podcasting4Associations. Are you part of an association also looking to produce a podcast? Let us get you in touch with Mike!

Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.