Enhancing Brain Capital: Lessons from Energy Systems Evolution
Energy systems expert Dr. Lawrence Jones and brain capital leader Dr. Harris Eyre explore how the energy sector’s global transition can inform a parallel shift toward a “brain transition.” They emphasize the need to reframe brain health as the century's "master resource," demanding early public policy integration, robust investment in brain resilience—including "AI hygiene"—and aggressive private sector engagement.
Discussants:
Harris Eyre, MD, PhD, Lead for Neuro-Policy and Harry Z. Yan and Weiman Gao Senior Fellow at Rice University's Office of Innovation and Lead of Neuro-Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Senior Advisor, McKinsey and Company
Lawrence Jones, PhD, Senior Vice President, International Programs, Edison Electrical Institute; Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences
Energy systems expert Dr. Lawrence Jones and brain capital leader Dr. Harris Eyre explored how the energy sector’s global transition can inform a parallel shift toward a “brain transition” i.e., building positive brain capital—framing brain health as both an economic driver and a societal resilience strategy. Drawing vivid parallels between power grids and neural networks, they emphasized that flourishing individuals and societies require intentional, coordinated investment in brain infrastructure.
The session highlighted how both brains and energy grids share characteristics of constant activity, high energy demands, and susceptibility to stress—making concepts like resilience, storage, and distribution crucial to strengthening both systems. Drawing on lessons from the energy sector, the transition to a “brain economy” requires bottom-up community engagement, localized storytelling, cross-sector collaboration, and integration with public policy over realistic timelines. Houston emerged as a lighthouse model for this shift. Positioned as a global hub of neurotechnology, cancer neuroscience, and energy innovation, Houston aims to launch the world’s first local brain economy strategy measuring and improving workforce well-being across industries, including high-risk sectors like construction and utilities. The Center for Houston’s Future and McKinsey and Company are exploring strategic opportunities for the Houston region based on the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI).
“Just like the energy grid, the brain is always running—and if we don’t invest in its resilience, both can fail under pressure." —Dr. Lawrence Jones
Recommendations
Reframe Mental Health and Brain Health as Brain Capital: Position brain health as an asset—not a cost—to shift perception among CEOs, investors, and policymakers.
Treat Brain Capital as the Master Resource of this Century: AI is automating routine tasks. The skills that cannot be automated—empathy, creativity, critical thinking, resilience—are the currency of the future. Human insight, resilience, and reasoning will determine whether AI, the energy transition, and social change lift societies, or fracture them.
