Alexander Kersten

Deputy Director and Fellow, Renewing American Innovation Project
Alexander Kersten

Alexander Kersten is deputy director and a fellow of the Renewing American Innovation Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). His research with the RAI Project focuses on U.S. innovation policy, data security, and regional innovation hubs and has been quoted in Bloomberg. From January to November 2021, he served as acting director of the RAI Project, during which time he oversaw and led the creation and subsequent development of the program. He also previously worked at CSIS from 2015 to 2018 as special assistant and executive officer to president and CEO John Hamre, where he managed projects and operations for the Executive Office at CSIS. While in this role, he also served as a coeditor for CSIS’s foreign affairs journal for junior staff, New Perspectives in Foreign Policy, and as a board member on the CSIS Service Committee. Mr. Kersten holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts in history and Arab and Islamic studies from Villanova University.

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What Can Patent Data Reveal about U.S.-China Technology Competition?

In seeking ways to gauge the U.S.-China technological competition, policymakers and media often turn to data on patent filings. Prudent use of this data requires a closer look at what the data can and cannot say.

Critical Questions by Alexander Kersten , Gabrielle Athanasia , and Gregory Arcuri — September 19, 2022

Photo: Dilok/Adobe Stock

A Look at the CHIPS-Related Portions of CHIPS+

President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 into law this week. In this Critical Questions piece, CSIS's Renewing American Innovation Project looks at the CHIPS-related portions in Division A of the CHIPS+ legislation.

Critical Questions by Alexander Kersten , Gregory Arcuri , Gabrielle Athanasia , and Hideki Uno — August 9, 2022

Photo: Dennis/Adobe Stock

Rethinking Shareholder Primacy in the New Innovation Economy

Policies that reward the maximization of shareholder value over the short term have encouraged the offshoring of production in leading industries to lower-wage economies and decreased domestic investments in a skilled technical workforce.

Commentary by Alexander Kersten and Sujai Shivakumar — June 27, 2022

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Untapped Innovation?

Building a more inclusive innovation economy demands greater attention to communities of color, women, and those in untapped regions. Renewing American innovation means making opportunity as universal as the talent that seeks it.

Report by Alexander Kersten and Gabrielle Athanasia — May 25, 2022

Photo: Adobe Stock

The Russian Invasion Must Not Halt Ukraine's High-Tech Ambitions

Ukraine must look to sustaining its scientific base and information technology sector to ensure its future security and economic prosperity. The West can help by training its talent and providing resources to rebuild its science and technology infrastructure.

Blog Post by Alexander Kersten — April 22, 2022

The U.S. Should Welcome Talented Individuals Fleeing Russia

The accelerating brain drain from Russia over the past several weeks provides an opportunity for the U.S. to welcome these talented individuals and invite them to participate in America's innovation economy. 

Blog Post by Alexander Kersten — April 1, 2022

March-In Rights and U.S. Global Competitiveness

The debate over march-in rights is once again on the table with the upcoming Xtandi trial. Would "marching in" pose a risk to sustaining the United States' world-leading, innovative industry?

Critical Questions by Alexander Kersten and Gabrielle Athanasia — March 24, 2022

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