Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race explores how new and emerging partnerships between government and business are shaping the future of U.S. industrialization and the country’s prospects for winning the global tech race. Betting on America will dive into strategies and investments that government and business are pursuing together – sharing risks and generating returns – as they bet on the innovation, commercialization, and scaling of critical and emerging technologies across the country. These include climate technologies, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum, bio technologies, and more. The podcast will feature in-depth discussions with policymakers, experts, and industry leaders on the most complex policy questions of the day.
Hosted by Navin Girishankar, President, CSIS Economic Security & Technology Department.
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Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race explores how new and emerging partnerships between government and business are shaping the future of U.S. industrialization and the country’s prospects for winning the global tech race. Betting on America will dive into strategies and investments that government and business are pursuing together – sharing risks and generating returns – as they bet on the innovation, commercialization, and scaling of critical and emerging technologies across the country. These include climate technologies, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum, bio technologies, and more. The podcast will feature in-depth discussions with policymakers, experts, and industry leaders on the most complex policy questions of the day.
Hosted by Navin Girishankar, President, CSIS Economic Security & Technology Department.
A special episode of Betting on America features a recent live CSIS event with Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the White House’s National Energy Dominance Council, and Joseph Majkut, Director of the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program. Tune in for a conversation on how the United States can build the energy backbone to meet its industrial and technology demands—with speed and predictability.
Blake Scholl, Founder & CEO of Boom Supersonic, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to explore how innovations in advanced manufacturing and software as well as government policies are creating opportunities for the United States to once again push the frontier of commercial aviation. They also discuss the race with China to build supersonic jets, the impact of tariffs and deregulation on U.S. tech and manufacturing competitiveness, and whether supersonic travel can truly scale—commercially and globally.
Betting on America welcomes Carol Tomé, Chief Executive Officer of UPS. With over half a million employees operating in more than 200 countries, UPS sits at the center of a global economy transformed by pandemic shocks, trade wars, and technological revolutions. Navin Girishankar and Tomé explore how AI, robotics, and data are redefining logistics—from time-critical networks to the delivery of vital medicines—and how UPS’s expanding role in healthcare supply chains is becoming a core part of the U.S. technology offer to the Global South. Tomé shares hard-won leadership lessons on running at scale, building resilience, and turning supply chains into engines of opportunity.
LTG (ret.) H.R. McMaster, former U.S. National Security Advisor and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, joins Navin Girishankar for a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of U.S. economic security policy. They discuss the economic and technology competition with China, the U.S. offer to the Global South, and the role of 'patriot investors' in driving American innovation across advanced technologies. They also consider the challenge that political polarization poses to American economic statecraft.
Scott Nolan, Founder & CEO of General Matter and Partner at Founders Fund, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to chart America’s nuclear fuel comeback. He breaks down General Matter’s partnership with the Department of Energy to restart uranium enrichment in Paducah, KY, why securing fuel for the nation’s nuclear fleet is a strategic imperative, and how public–private collaboration is essential to tackling America’s biggest economic and national security challenges. Nolan also shares lessons from his journey as a founder and investor.
This special episode of Betting on America features a recent live CSIS event with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in conversation with Gregory C. Allen, Senior Advisor with the Wadhwani AI Center. Director Kratsios discusses the goals of the White House's newly released AI Action Plan along with the administration's plans for AI infrastructure, export controls, workforce, export promotion, national security, and more.
Indermit Gill, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, joins Navin Girishankar for a wide-ranging conversation on global growth prospects as well as challenges and opportunities for developing countries. Indermit shared his insights on the causes of persistent trade imbalances, the role of international financial institutions, economic reforms amid rising populism, as well as the potential for technology to drive U.S. exports while spurring growth in the Global South.
Brad Smith, CSIS Trustee and Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, joins Navin Girishankar's Betting on America to share his thoughts on "The Golden Opportunity for American AI." Brad discusses the responsibility of technologists, the potential for AI diffusion across the economy, the role of export controls, and the U.S. AI offer to the Global South.
Matthew Borman joins Navin Girishankar to discuss the evolution of U.S. export controls as a key economic security tool and their effectiveness at securing innovative and sensitive technologies. Matt is a non-resident Senior Technical Expert at CSIS and served as principal deputy assistant secretary for strategic trade and technology security and deputy assistant secretary for export administration at the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security for more than 20 years.
President Thomas Rosenbaum of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to explore why scientific research at U.S. universities is a bedrock of American exceptionalism. Join us for a conversation on how universities can encourage the next generation of researchers, foster scientific breakthroughs, and translate them into real-world applications.
President Paul Alivisatos of the University of Chicago joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss the role of universities in the U.S. science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. Tune into this episode for a conversation about how universities power America’s technology future, from basic research to technology commercialization.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
Randall Woodfin, mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, will join Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss how the city of Birmingham has emerged as a leading hub for U.S. biotechnology innovation by leveraging its strengths in biodata and public-private partnerships -- advancing U.S. competitiveness vis-à-vis China.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
Mayor Tyler Moore of Kokomo, Indiana joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss how the city of Kokomo attracted Korean investment to establish components of the EV battery value chain. Tune into this episode for a fascinating conversation on how public investments, public-private partnerships, and cultural outreach have allowed this partnership to thrive.
This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.
Dr. Michelle Rozo, Vice Chair on the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, joins Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss the findings from the Commission’s report to Congress. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on how the biotechnology revolution will change our economy, society, and national security - and the key strategies to counter China's emerging dominance in biotechnology.
A video recording of this podcast episode is available to watch here.
Mike Brown, Partner at Shield Capital and former Director of the Defense Innovation unit, joined Navin Girishankar on this episode of Betting on America to explore the role of venture capital in growing our technological and industrial base, and ensuring our economic security.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a leading voice on U.S. competition with China, joins Navin Girishankar on this episode of Betting on America to discuss strategies and policies–from strategic investment, workforce, and export controls–that the U.S. needs to take the pole position across advanced technologies. Congressman Krishnamoorthi discusses Illinois efforts to become a global leader on quantum technologies.
Senator Todd Young (R-IN), a national champion of U.S. technology leadership in the global competition with China, joins Navin Girishankar on the Economic Security and Technology Department’s new series: Betting on America. Girishankar and Senator Young discuss a ‘tech power playbook’ for the United States including investments in chipmaking and biotech, tech diplomacy abroad, and the importance of investing in basic research.
Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race explores how new and emerging partnerships between government and business are shaping the future of U.S. industrialization and the country’s prospects for winning the global tech race. Betting on America will dive into strategies and investments that government and business are pursuing together – sharing risks and generating returns – as they bet on the innovation, commercialization, and scaling of critical and emerging technologies across the country. These include climate technologies, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum, bio technologies, and more. The podcast will feature in-depth discussions with policymakers, experts, and industry leaders on the most complex policy questions of the day.
Hosted by Navin Girishankar, President, CSIS Economic Security & Technology Department
Betting on America: Winning the Global Tech Race explores how new and emerging partnerships between government and business are shaping the future of U.S. industrialization and the country’s prospects for winning the global tech race. Betting on America will dive into strategies and investments that government and business are pursuing together – sharing risks and generating returns – as they bet on the innovation, commercialization, and scaling of critical and emerging technologies across the country. These include climate technologies, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum, bio technologies, and more. The podcast will feature in-depth discussions with policymakers, experts, and industry leaders on the most complex policy questions of the day.
Hosted by Navin Girishankar, President, CSIS Economic Security & Technology Department.
