Program Lead: Harris Eyre
Mustika Urbaningsih
Program Manager, Brain & Society
(713) 348-3000
mustika.urbaningsih@rice.edu
Purpose
A unique program to advance the brain economy transition by gaining a firmer foothold in the mainstream dialogue on economic transitions, engaging local and international leaders across sectors, and mobilizing global and regional action.
Overview
Strong brains mean stronger businesses, economies, and societies—it's time to invest accordingly
The global burden of brain health conditions is rising, driven in part by aging populations and societal stressors. At the same time, breakthroughs in neuroscience and technology are creating unprecedented potential to prevent and treat these conditions
As advances in technology and broader global disruptions reshape our future, the ability to cultivate capabilities like adaptability, empathy, and complex problem solving—”brain skills”—is becoming a defining source of economic relevance
To meet this moment, we require a new way of thinking and acting that recognizes brain health and brain skills as strategic economic assets — what our program terms “brain capital”. The brain economy transition is an economic transition that prioritizes investment in brain capital across the lifespan. Investment in brain capital can unlock significant economic and social returns.
Through the Global Brain Economy Initiative (GBEI), Rice University is helping lead the global transition toward a brain economy—one in which brain health and brain skills are recognized as foundational drivers of economic prosperity, human flourishing, and societal resilience. Working with partners across science, medicine, business, finance, philanthropy, and public policy, GBEI translates research into action through global partnerships, policy development, and cross-sector collaboration.
For cross-sectoral leaders in government and business, a defined brain economy transition strategy focused on building brain capital can be a key differentiator to drive productivity, resilience, and competitiveness.
Nature Medicine Commission on Brain Capital
Rice University's Brain and Society Initiative and the Global Brain Economy Initiative are contributing to an upcoming Nature Medicine Commission focused on Brain Capital. The Commission brings together international leaders across neuroscience, medicine, economics, business, finance, and public policy to advance new frameworks that position brain health and brain skills as essential drivers of human development and economic growth. Read the press release.
Project Metis
Rice University is a founding leader of Project Metis, a regional initiative led by the Center for Houston's Future to establish the Houston–Galveston region as the global capital of lifelong brain health and the emerging brain economy. Through Project Metis, Rice contributes expertise across neuroscience, neuroengineering, economics, business, public policy, ethics, entrepreneurship, and innovation while working alongside healthcare systems, industry, government, and community organizations. The initiative serves as a living laboratory for translating discoveries into improvements in brain health, workforce performance, economic competitiveness, and quality of life while creating a model that can be replicated globally.
History
Our Founding Program Lead, Harris Eyre, was the senior author of the first technical paper on the brain economy transition published in 2021, he co-led the OECD Neuroscience-Inspired Policy Initiative, and supported the development of the Global Brain Capital Dashboard, published via The Brookings Institution. The work continues to proliferate and mature. In 2025, the World Economic Forum launched a Brain Economy Action Forum, the President of Cameroon endorsed The Yaoundé Declaration on the Brain Economy, the Center for Houston’s Future launched a brain economy initiative, and multi-national corporations and politicians from various cities, states and nations are collaborating actively.
Strategic Foci:
Brain Economy Research Strategy: Developed to integrate and advance brain, behavioral, and economic sciences through three interconnected pillars: Measurement, Modeling, and Intervention.
Brain Lens Investing: An umbrella construct designed to integrate multiple strategies that bring brain capital considerations into mainstream investment practice. Brain lens investing reconsiders how value is assigned, how relationships are structured, and how processes function across the financial landscape.
Economic Development and Public Policy: Designing novel approaches to optimize well-being, productivity and social cohesions at organizational, city, state, national and global levels.
Workforce Development: Executing bespoke educational offerings for early, mid and senior career professionals across sector and geographies.
Enabling Commercialization of Critical Technologies: Delivering programs and structures to accelerate frontier and disruptive innovations to enhance brain health and brain skills.
Key Links:
World Economic Forum Brain Economy Action Forum
https://initiatives.weforum.org/brain-health-action-forum/home
Driving Economic Gains Through Brain Capital
https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/driving-economic-gains-through-brain-capital
The Brain Economy: The New New Thing
https://theinnovator.news/the-brain-economy-the-new-new-thing/
The New Brain Economy: An Economic Strategy to Boost the Longevity Dividend
https://generations.asaging.org/the-new-brain-economy-an-economic-strategy-to-boost-the-longevity-dividend/
Building the Global Brain Economy: Summary Outcomes and Recommendations from the United Nation’s 80th General Assembly Side Meetings
https://businessforbrainhealth.org/resources/building-the-global-brain-economy-summary-outcomes-and-recommendations-from-the-united-nations-80th-general-assembly-brain-capital-side-meetings