Pitt Vice Chancellor Rebecca Bagley to Join Brookings Institute Panel

PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh Vice Chancellor for Economic Partnerships Rebecca Bagley will participate in a panel discussion at an event titled “The smartest places on Earth: Why rustbelts are the emerging hotspots of global innovation.” Hosted by the Centennial Scholar Initiative and Metropolitan Policy Program, the event will be from 9:30-11 a.m. April 6 at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C.

The panelists include Bagley; Fred Bakker and Antoine van Agtmael, co-authors of The Smartest Places on Earth: Why Rustbelts Are the Emerging Hotspots of Global Innovation; and Bob Geolas, president and chief executive officer of The Research Triangle Park. The discussion will be moderated by Bruce Katz, centennial scholar at The Brookings Institution.

“I am excited to represent Pitt and our city on this panel. Pittsburgh is rapidly transforming into a globally connected and innovation-rich economy that builds from our industrial roots,” Bagley says. 

Bagley works with senior leadership to develop a strategic plan for the University in economic development. She also develops and oversees public and private partnerships that connect and advance the University and have regional and national impact. Another key aspect of her position is interacting with government, community leadership, and the business community on matters pertaining to economic development. 

The Smartest Places on Earth examines the transformation of “rustbelt” cities, the former industrial centers of the United States and Europe, into a “brainbelt” of design and innovation. The panelists will discuss how cities such as Akron, Albany, Raleigh-Durham, Minneapolis-St.Paul, and Portland in the United States and Eindhoven, Malmo, Dresden, and Oulu in Europe are seizing the initiative and recovering their economic strength.

“I’m excited to share Pittsburgh’s success with a national audience and highlight how Pitt emerged as a leader for our city’s renaissance,” Bagley says. “Our economy is rooted in our industrial past, but Pitt is a leading partner in our region’s new innovative and technology-based economy. I hope to learn from others and showcase what Pittsburgh’s future looks like.”

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and policy solutions. Its mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations for policymakers and the public.

Register for the webcast on The Brookings Institution website.

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