CA Tech Caucus Takeaways from Adobe MAX 2016

Posted by California State Assemblymember Evan Low, Chairman of the CA Tech Caucus

Earlier in the month at Adobe MAX 2016, the California Tech Caucus joined over 10,000 innovative individuals gathered together for a glimpse of the San Jose-based software company’s latest Creative Cloud technologies. This world-leading creativity conference demonstrated how next-generation innovation is the key to 21st century success—not just for creative professionals, but also for business, government, and society as a whole.

According to the Adobe “State of Create: 2016 Survey”, an impressive 83 percent of U.S. respondents agreed that creativity is valuable to the national economy; however, 79 percent feel that our country is not living up to its creative potential. This is revealing of the gap between the current demand for unconventional solutions and the limited supply of available educational or professional resources to best inspire those solutions. The public sector, at the local, state, and federal level, has a critical stake bridging this innovation gap by supporting policies that will help properly train and educate workers for successful careers in today’s digital economy.

Governments should not only strive to provide opportunities and services for their constituents, but also to engage with them in a compelling and inventive way. Over 80 percent of U.S. respondents to the “State of Create” survey perceive that a government that invests in creativity is also more likely to not only increase productivity and competitiveness, but also to have happier citizens. By employing the latest digital and mobile technologies, governments—like San Diego County—have worked to eliminate inefficiencies through form-based processes, provide expedient online access from multiple devices, and offer a more user-friendly web experience.

We at the California Legislative Technology and Innovation Caucus are committed to creativity to ensure that our state continues to lead the world in innovative technologies. Since the caucus was formed this past January, we have demonstrated our support for policies that would advance California’s tech economy. Legislation like the Digital Modernization Act would allow customers to buy or lease vehicles using electronic signatures, and the Alternative Energy Financing would help to incentivize state-based manufacturing jobs while also promoting sustainability and clean energy.

One of the major takeaways from Adobe MAX is that creativity is more than just a catalyst for economic and business success; it is also a deliberate way of approaching the challenges of the digital era—and one that the Caucus is ardently committed to supporting.