Cornell President David Skorton has been tapped by New York Gov. David Paterson to lead the Task Force on Diversifying the New York State Economy Through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships.

Paterson announced the appointment May 14. The task force's mission is to study best practices and generate recommendations on fostering New York state's business incubation, growth and emerging technology commercialization.

"Land-grant universities have been used by other states to solve large problems and exploit opportunities," Skorton said. "Cornell University and I are excited about getting the most talented and insightful New Yorkers together to help Governor Paterson make the future brighter by creating powerful public-private partnerships."

Skorton is charged with leading the 13 other appointees in analyzing how the state can create new jobs by leveraging its existing economic strengths: renewable energy, biotechnology, nanotechnology, animal and human health medicine, sustainable agriculture, and food and wine production. The task force will also look within the state as well as nationally and globally for best practices in industry-higher education collaborations.

Cornell has significant expertise with public-private partnerships, Skorton said, especially in renewable energy, local foods and food security, as well as university research that leads to new technologies with commercial applications.

"New York state should partner with universities and business to take full advantage of federal research funding, including rural development and small-business development funds," Skorton said. "As the number one recipient of federal research funding in the state, Cornell understands how to bring hundreds of millions of dollars into New York every year."

Paterson said: "New York state today competes in a global knowledge economy and our success will depend on how well we can generate new ideas and convert them into products and processes that change the way we live. Our state is home to an enviable mix of higher education and research institutions -- both public and private, upstate and downstate. For decades, New York has been the financial center of the world. Now we have the opportunity to play a similar role in the new economy where today's ideas are tomorrow's jobs."

The task force will also identify the best ways to support new and existing companies in the targeted fields, encourage private investment in the target areas and position the state as a leader in the "green economy." The group is likely to create committees, hold public hearings and call on other experts to help in the work.

Paterson has asked the appointees to issue recommendations by Dec. 15, the life of the task force, to him and to the leaders of the state Legislature.

Daniel Doktori, the governor's director of higher education, was named executive director of the task force. Other appointees include college presidents, scientists, directors of nongovernmental organizations and company executives.

For a copy of the executive order, visit http://www.ny.gov/governor/executive_orders/exeorders/eo_19.html.