SCR 10-ALASKA YEAR OF INNOVATION  9:04:14 AM CHAIR COSTELLO announced the consideration of SCR 10. She asked Mr. Eiler to share the background leading to the resolution. 9:04:25 AM WESTON EILER, Staff to Senator Mia Costello, sponsor of SCR 10, introduced the legislation on behalf of the sponsor, speaking to the following sponsor statement: Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 would proclaim 2018 as the Year of Innovation in Alaska. Innovation has been a constant theme throughout the first session of the 30th Alaska Legislature. Whether growing our state's economy, harnessing technology to improve Alaskans' quality of life, or modernizing state government in a tough fiscal environment; innovation can help address challenges facing Alaska. Alaskans are innovators by tradition and necessity. The pioneering spirit that founded and built our state is rooted in innovation. These range from engineering marvels that built early mines, railroads and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, to public policies that have transformed life in our state such as the Alaska Permanent Fund and Community Development Quotas. Collaboration between regional and statewide economic development groups, universities, investors, businesses and entrepreneurs has helped create an innovation community in Alaska. Aligning stakeholders around collective action helps engage the next generation of Alaskan entrepreneurs. Events such UAF's Arctic Innovation Competition, the Innovation Summit, Alaska Startup Week, and the Launch: Alaska accelerator create an ecosystem for innovation and help bring new ideas to market. Innovation and entrepreneurship are crucial for long- term economic development and diversifying Alaska's economy. The National Bureau of Economic Research reports that net job creation is driven by startups -- creating an average of three million jobs annually. Alaska's current fiscal climate calls for innovative solutions, as seen in the work of many legislative committees and formation of a bipartisan, bicameral Innovation Caucus. Proclaiming 2018 as the Year of Innovation in Alaska raises the level of this discussion and highlights how creativity can improve our state. Senate Concurrent Resolution 10 directs the attention of Alaskans toward out-of-the-box thinking, creating a culture in Alaska where innovation and entrepreneurship are accepted and encouraged. MR. EILER highlighted that over the last three years this committee has heard from individuals who were speaking at the Innovation Summit put on by the Juneau Economic Development Corporation. These include Harvard business professor Dr. Christian Ketels who briefed the committee about the concept of economic clusters and the need for a strategy; Michael Shuman who highlighted some of the benefits of crowdfunding; and Robert Tucker who talked about innovation being everyone's job. One of Mr. Tucker's suggestions was to declare a year of innovation, which is what this resolution proposes. Providing historical context, he reminded the committee that the th 29 Alaska Legislature passed HCR 5 that proclaimed 2015-2017 th the Years of the Arctic. Before that, the 26 Alaska Legislature declared 2009 the year of the Noncommissioned Officer, and the th 24 Alaska Legislature proclaimed 2005 to be Rotary International Year. He mentioned the innovations the committee has recently heard about and opined that this resolution will help advance out-of- the-box thinking, ensuring that Alaska develops a culture where innovation and entrepreneurship is encouraged. 9:10:11 AM CHAIR COSTELLO stated that she would hold SCR 10 in committee. She asked the members to pay special attention to the language on page 1, line 16 through page 2, lines 1-3 and offer suggestions for changes or additions. She noted that the commissioner of education is particularly excited about naming 2018 the Year of Innovation