Back-to-School Special

In 2016, the Institute breaks new ground in partnership with the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and George Washington University. Recognizing the urgent need for more efficient capital markets in developing countries, the three institutions have created a nine-month graduate-level program to train regulators and local market organizers. Starting this fall, a group of up-and-coming professionals from African countries will come to Washington for a semester studying finance, followed by an equal amount of time getting real-world experience. The goal is to balance academic rigor with practical training. “Our dream is that in 10 years’ time, there will be a cohort of capital-market leaders in Africa who know one another, and help each other and the region,” explains Staci Warden, head of the Center for Financial Markets.

Viva P4C

The latest Partnering for Cures conference, held in New York in November, brought together some 800 disruptive thinkers who are engaged in transforming the medical research system. Among the highlighted topics: the future of venture philanthropy, keys to successful R&D partnerships and building smarter patient registries. The meeting examined hot-button issues with a series of panel discussions, workshops and roundtables, and hosted more than 1,000 connections through its unique partnering system. One new feature: mashup conversations between game-changers across industries, including FasterCures’ Margaret Anderson with the FDA Deputy Commissioner Robert Califf, philanthropist and founder of Napster Sean Parker with Rep. Fred Upton (sponsor of the 21st-Century Cures Act), and Richard Pops (CEO of biopharmaceutical company Alkermes) with biotech journalist Luke Timmerman.

Back on Top

The Institute’s Best-Performing Cities Index 2015 highlights the sizzling strength of the U.S. tech economy. For two decades Institute researchers have taken an annual x-ray of the strength of metropolitan economies across the country. This year, the top slot was taken by the unofficial capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose, with San Francisco a close second. Overall, California metros secured six of the top-25 slots, the most of any state. In comparison, Texas only had three in the top 25, down from seven the year before – testament to the slowing energy economy. The report illuminated how business spending on technology products and services is shaping the urban landscape: “The softer, creative side of high tech is spurring a renewal of many urban cores. Look to San Francisco, Seattle, Denver and even New York to see the extent of this phenomenon.” Download the report free from the Milken Institute website.