Robert D. Atkinson
As founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), recognized as the world’s top think tank for science and technology policy, Robert D. Atkinson leads a prolific team of policy analysts and fellows that is successfully shaping the debate and setting the agenda on a host of critical issues at the intersection of technological innovation and public policy.
He is an internationally recognized scholar and a widely published author whom The New Republic has named one of the “three most important thinkers about innovation,” Washingtonian Magazine has called a “tech titan,” Government Technology Magazine has judged to be one of the 25 top “doers, dreamers and drivers of information technology,” and the Wharton Business School has given the “Wharton Infosys Business Transformation Award.”
A sought-after speaker and valued adviser to policymakers around the world, Atkinson’s books include Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths about Privacy, Jobs, AI, and Today’s Innovation Economy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024); Big is Beautiful: Debunking the Mythology of Small Business (MIT Press, 2018); Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage (Yale, 2012); Supply-Side Follies: Why Conservative Economics Fails, Liberal Economics Falters, and Innovation Economics is the Answer (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006); and The Past And Future Of America’s Economy: Long Waves Of Innovation That Power Cycles Of Growth (Edward Elgar, 2005). He also has conducted groundbreaking research projects and authored hundreds of articles and reports on technology and innovation-related topics ranging from tax policy to advanced manufacturing, productivity, and global competitiveness. He has testified before the United States Congress more than 30 times.
President Clinton appointed Atkinson to the Commission on Workers, Communities, and Economic Change in the New Economy; the Bush administration appointed him chair of the congressionally created National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission; the Obama administration appointed him to the National Innovation and Competitiveness Strategy Advisory Board; as co-chair of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s China-U.S. Innovation Policy Experts Group; to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and the Trump administration appointed him to the G7 Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence. The Biden administration appointed him as a member of the U.S. State Department’s Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information, and a member of the Export-Import Bank of the United States' Council on China Competition.
Atkinson currently serves on the Expert Panel on the State of Science, Technology, and Innovation in Canada at the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA), which has been tasked by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to assess the state of science, technology, and innovation in Canada, and determine how Canada compares internationally. Atkinson also served on the UK government’s Place Advisory Group to advise the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation on how policy can drive innovation in more regions. He is a member of the Polaris Council, a body of cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary science and technology policy experts who advise the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics (STAA) team on emergent and emerging issues.
Atkinson is a member of the Special Competitive Studies Project. He served on the Markle Foundation Task Force on National Security in the Information Age and serves on the boards or advisory councils of the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Innovation, and the State Science and Technology Institute. Additionally, Atkinson is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Electronic Government and the Journal of Internet Policy; a member of the Global Innovation Forum Brain Trust; a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; a fellow at the Columbia University Institute of Tele-Information; a fellow of Glocom, a Tokyo-based research institute. He is also an adjunct professor at the Georgetown School of Foreign Service.ice.
Atkinson was previously vice president of the Progressive Policy Institute, where he directed the Technology & New Economy Project. He wrote numerous research reports on technology and innovation policy, covering issues such as broadband telecommunications, e-commerce, e-government, privacy, copyright, R&D tax policy, offshoring, and innovation economics.
Previously, Atkinson served as the first executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council (RIEPC), a public-private partnership whose members included the state’s governor, legislative leaders, and both corporate and labor leaders. As head of RIEPC, Atkinson was responsible for drafting a comprehensive economic development strategy for the state and working with the legislature and executive branch of government to successfully implement each element of a 10-point action agenda.
Prior to his service in Rhode Island, Atkinson was a project director at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, where, among other projects, he spearheaded The Technological Reshaping of Metropolitan America, a seminal report examining the impact of the information technology revolution on America’s urban areas.
As a respected policy expert and commentator, Atkinson has testified numerous times before the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and he appears frequently on news and public affairs programs. Among others, these appearances have included interviews on BBC, CNBC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, and NBC Nightly News.
Atkinson holds a Ph.D. in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he was awarded the prestigious Joseph E. Pogue Fellowship. He earned his master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Oregon, which named him a distinguished alumnus in 2014.
Recent Publications
The Chief Business of America Once Again Must Be Business
Calvin Coolidge was right when he said, “the chief business of the American people is business.” We need to reembrace that ethos by making sure our social contract rewards companies that bring new innovations to market, boost productivity, fight like hell for global market share, and sustain as many high-value jobs at home as is economically feasible.
Is Trump’s DOGE Going to be a DOGD?
The Trump administration could signal a turning point for the country and the federal government in many areas. For too long, Washington accepted things that were flawed and broken. The real question is whether this proposed department is about reform or reduction.
Comments to the UK’s Department for Business and Trade Regarding the Modern Industrial Strategy Green Paper
The UK government needs to make a choice: competitiveness and growth or heavy-handed regulation in the service of social policy. It can have one but not both.
It’s Global Warming, Not American Warming
Even if it were possible to radically slash U.S. emissions with today’s technologies, it still would do little to curb global warming because the United States accounts for just 13.5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. It’s time to recognize that the climate crisis can only be solved with innovation.
Making America Great Again Requires Putting Business and Tech Innovation First
It would be a shame if Republicans and moderate Democrats wasted this moment by reverting to Reagan-esque, neoliberal nostalgia or incremental reforms. Restoring economic strength will require taking some big swings at policies to advance business-driven innovation.
Don’t Worry About Manufacturing Jobs. Worry About Manufacturing Productivity
U.S. manufacturing productivity has been in decline for more than a decade. If policymakers don’t do more to turn that around, real wages will stagnate and U.S. manufacturers will increasingly find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.
Breaking Up Google? So Much for a Whole-of-Government Approach to US AI Leadership
While the Biden administration champions the need for private sector innovation to drive U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, its Justice Department wants to put one of America’s top innovators—Google—on the chopping block.
Book Review: “The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy From Silicon Valley”
If one is inclined to be critical, or even simply skeptical of digital technology and the companies that bring it to us, this is the book for you. This is not a balanced and academic book, but it does provide a vibrant narrative for those predisposed to believe it.
Breaking Up Google Is a Fool’s Game
A word to the Justice Department, which is considering whether to push for a breakup of Google to spur competition in the online search market: Don’t. We’ve seen this movie before and it ended poorly.
Go to the Mattresses: It’s Time to Reset U.S.-EU Tech and Trade Relations
In its bid for tech sovereignty, the EU has been aggressively targeting U.S. firms and industries with unfair protectionist policies. This cannot stand. To move forward into a new era of deeper transatlantic trade integration, America must first demand a level playing field.
Letter in Support of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024
This bipartisan bill is a welcome effort to use government policy not to force change, but to enable change, through the widespread development of the clean energy technologies we need to drive costs down to meet the price and the performance levels of dirty energy.
Why Canada Doesn’t Need Another Broadband Provider
Canadian telecommunications policy under successive governments has taken for granted that the domestic industry suffers an inadequate supply of market participants. But that assumption is unmoored from reality on various fronts.
Recent Events and Presentations
Techlash 2025: The Outlook for Tech Policy in the Trump Administration
Please join ITIF for an online presentation and discussion with Robert D. Atkinson and David Moschella, co-authors of Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths About Privacy, Jobs, AI, and Today’s Innovation Economy.
Korea's Digital Market: Domestic Regulation and Global Impacts
Watch now for an expert panel discussion on how South Korea’s regulatory choices will shape its future as a global tech leader, and what the broader implications will be for its strategic positioning in the U.S.-China rivalry.
Can China Innovate in Advanced Industries?
Please join the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation for an expert briefing event to discuss the findings of a 20-month ITIF investigation into Chinese firms’ innovative capabilities in key advanced industries, including robotics, chemicals, nuclear power, electric vehicles, semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology.
Dublin Tech Summit, 2024: Can Tech Save Us?
Rob Atkinson appeared at the 2024 Dublin Tech Summit to speak about the real-world impact of governance surrounding AI and other transformative technologies.
Who’s Afraid of Big Tech? Unpacking the Discourse on Technology and Its Harms
Rob Atkinson speaks at a panel discussion to delve into his latest book, Technology Fears and Scapegoats.
Debunking Tech Myths About Privacy, Jobs, AI, and Today’s Innovation Economy
Rob Atkinson and David Moschella joined Dr. Michael R. Nelson of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace for a lively fireside chat about Atkinson and Moschella’s must-read new book, Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths about Privacy, Jobs, AI, and Today’s Innovation Economy.
Where Does the U.S. Robotics Industry Stand Globally?
ITIF partnered with SCSP for its first-ever AI Expo for National Competitiveness at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Reviving Canada’s Innovation Economy
Watch now for ITIF's launch event for the Centre for Canadian Innovation and Competitiveness, an Ottawa-based ITIF affiliate focused on tackling these issues. The event featured an expert panel discussion on a new report from the Centre examining the how and why of Canada’s performance on key measures of productivity, innovation, and competitiveness.
Chips, Apps, and U.S.-China Competition
As the Biden administration and Congress increasingly focus on U.S. competition with China, policymakers confront complex problems illustrated both by microchip supply chains and by current debates surrounding TikTok.
The Crucial Role of Early-Stage University Research in Clean Energy Innovation
Please join ITIF for an expert panel discussion about a new report examining the role of federal funding for clean energy research conducted by colleges and universities.
Comparing and Contrasting National Innovation Systems
Rob Atkinson spoke about comparing and contrasting national innovation systems at an event hosted by the CHEY Institute.
How Can States Help the CHIPS Act Succeed?
Please join ITIF for a discussion with state leaders about how to successfully implement the CHIPS Act.
Testimonials
Rob Atkinson, “has a unique and enviable capacity to communicate cutting-edge analysis of emerging and effective economic development practices. In that, he made high level concepts very accessible and relevant to those in the front line of growing jobs and the economy. We consider ourselves to be very fortunate you were able to share your voice, vision, wisdom, and experience with our regional leaders.”
- Jim Prosser Executive Director, Centralina Council of Governments
Dr. Robert D. Atkinson was an excellent addition as an international keynote speaker at the Innovation Day, hosted by the Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP) in Lisbon. Dr. Atkinson’s presentation on lessons from the U.S. innovation system was insightful and engaging. His encouraging perspective on innovation and its potential role in the Portugal context during a moderated discussion was thought provoking for the audience. Dr. Atkinson is an excellent speaker and a pleasure to collaborate with.
- Augusto Medina President, Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovacao S.A.
Dr. Atkinson’s keynote on “Innovation Waves” was a highlight of our P&G Alumni Innovation Summit. His long view of how innovation shapes business and economic growth provides clear direction on what’s needed to sustain US competitiveness in the decades to come. Rob was able to share a balanced view of what’s working and not working today, outlining a sensible approach for Federal R&D spending and regulatory policy.
- Wayne Fisher President, Rockdale Innovation
Rob provided a keynote presentation for the Waukesha County Business Alliance’s 103rd Annual Meeting. Our members enjoyed his thorough and informative presentation about innovation and growth potential for our region and state.
- Robyn Ludtke Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives & Workforce, Waukesha County Business Alliance
Rob Atkinson offers a cleared-eyed view of the need for a new and well-founded industrial policy for the United States. Without taking any political side, Atkinson lays out the economic uncertainty the country faces by failing to invest in critical industries. The war in Ukraine and mounting tensions with China highlight the need for the U.S. to invest in critical development and production, particularly in semiconductors, but in other key industries as well. According to Atkinson, the debate is not about capitalism or socialism, but whether the U.S. has the determination to build resiliency at home to face myriad global problems now and in the future.
- Bill Clifford President and CEO, World Affairs Councils of America