Scotland continues to shift its strategy Sunday, November 24, 2002 When it comes to economic development strategy, Scotland is a global leader from whom many U.S. regions can learn. So EDPros should take notice when Scotland moves the head of the US economic devcelopment agency from Stamford, CT (where it is near the headquarters of Fortune 500 companies) to Boston (where it is near technology and research). The Scots have concluded that they must drive their economy up the economic ladder. Low wage competition -- from countries in Asia and Eastern Europe -- is eating into their light manufacturing base. This is a game that the Scots cannot win, and they do not want to. Rather, they want to learn how to bring technology to market more quickly. The new Boston office of Scottish Development International will concentrate on projects in biotechnology, microelectronics, energy, and financial services. It will be part of a larger Scottish strategy of launching Intermediary Technology Institutes (ITIs) focused on three sectors: energy, life sciences, and technology. These institutes are designed to increase innovation within these sectors. The appraoch is very smart. These institutes plan to purchase research from academic resources, including Boston-based universities. Then, after assessing market needs, the Scots would commission research from their universities and others, including Boston academic institutions, to develop technologies designed to meet those needs. Learn more. Go Taking this model, there is no reason why a research-poor region in the U.S. should not establish offices near the major research centers in the U.S. in order to extend their innovation networks. posted by Ed Morrison |		This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. links Some Background on EDPro Weblog The purpose of this weblog is to help economic development professionals -- EDPros -- keep up with the changes sweeping our profession. Strap on your goggles. It's a whole new game. There are no experts any more. The only place to learn about economic development is from other EDPros who are doing it. One other point: the prevaling approach (paradigm, if you like) in economic development is shifting from competition to collaboration. There are a lot of reaasons underlying this shift, but here's the important insight: You, your community, and your region will do better by collaborating and sharing information. So, spread the word...Share the knowledge. Tell a friend about EDPro Weblog. If you are using a news reader, here is the link to syndicate this site: Here's the link if you are a bloglines subscriber: Speaking and workshops on Open Source Economic Development As the idea of Open Source Economic Development starts spreading, more people are asking about it. Visit the I-Open web site to learn more. My colleagues and I are happy to explain the basic concepts in a talk or a workshop. E-mail Susan Alshuler if you'd like to learn more about workshops and speaking. Background on Ed Morrison Download some background information on me here.

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