The Knowledge Retention Symposium, a knowledge summit, will bring together businesses and business groups, political leaders and labor experts in a day-long brainstorming forum with broad-reaching implications.

On the agenda:

• An opening session that will include policy presentations by national and regional leaders with an overview of economic trends, and a special emphasis on areas that Rhode Island is particularly well-positioned to excel in: alternative energy, design, health care and life sciences, culinary arts, and the financial services industries.
• A follow-up working session that will look more closely at the strengths and weaknesses of local programs that attempt to connect students with the business community.
• A concluding session that will outline the next steps to put great ideas into action.