Having tackled some of the most complex energy problems, helped put a man to the Moon, and built the world’s largest medical city to eradicate cancer, Texas is now doubling down on the challenge of understanding and protecting the human brain. It has launched project Metis, a groundbreaking initiative led by Center for Houston’s Future to position the Houston / Galveston region as the global leader in brain health and the emerging brain economy. The Texas Brain Economy Summit on 9-10 June 2026 was described by participants as “catalytic” for advancing that agenda. Houston has all the ingredients to succeed. Home to more than 1100 life science and biotechnology companies, it has built one of the world’s most dynamic innovation ecosystems.

NeuroCentury’s Paweł Świeboda spoke in the session on global brain economy initiatives and how they can build on the remarkable momentum in Texas. He underlined that the difference the brain economy makes is three-fold. First, it serves as a moonshot catalyst, providing the framing needed to pursue what once seemed impossible: effective prevention, and ultimately, cures for brain disorders. aim at full-scale cure of disorders, and workability of prevention. Second, it acts as a systems plumbing tool to address the market failure which is massive in the brain space: cost-effective, evidence-based interventions are not attracting sufficiently capital and thus to do not scale. Third, it provides the connective tissue needed to restore and strengthen cognitive wellbeing in the face of the many pressures that technology, information overload, and other stressors of modern life bring.