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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Inclusive Innovation for U.S. Economic Growth and Resiliency

Data shows that inclusivity in entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems greatly improves economic growth. In a changing global landscape, investing in a more inclusive innovation community is key for the United States’ long-term economic success and national security.

Report by Tom Guevara Alexander Kersten and Srishti Khemka — May 30, 2023

Implementing CHIPS: The NEPA Permitting Challenge

The NEPA review could stall CHIPS Act projects for over two years and cost firms billions, undermining the policy imperatives of the legislation. How can policymakers enable a speedy and environmentally responsible review process?

Commentary by Phillip Singerman and Alexander Kersten — May 1, 2023

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

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 Tomoshige — August 9, 2022

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