Following opening remarks from National Governors Association Chair Christine Gregoire, MIT President Susan Hockfield and John Seely Brown, visiting scholar and advisor to the University of Southern California provost and former Xerox Corporation chief scientist, spoke about the relationship between higher education, innovation, and economic growth.  This was the opening plenary session of the National Governor’s Association annual meeting. The 2011 conference focused the states' role in supporting education, promoting innovation, and increasing U.S. global competitiveness.