Building an economic future with new types of infrastructure Wednesday, March 19, 2003 One of the ways to figure out new economic development strategies is to observe what others are doing. Michigan and Pittsburgh, for example. Michigan's Department of Economic Development understands that the key to growing technology-based companies is attracting high powered brainpower: top researchers capable of bringing in big research projects and producing good science. To get top researchers, you need a high quality research infrastructure. Michigan has launched the Core Technology Alliance (CTA), a consortium of five Michigan universities and research facility laboratories that provide cutting-edge technology services to the state's life sciences community. The CTA has established five technology service centers in genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, animal models and structural biology. These facilities are accessible to all Michigan-based researchers. The latest Michigan technology lab is not in Michigan at all, but at the Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Illinois. The new lab uses high intensity x-rays to enable Michigan-based researchers to determine biological structures. By providing access to this technology in an innovative, entrepreneurial way, Michigan is recruiting brainpower. In Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse is creating a different type of infrastructure: funding networks to meet the needs of the region's life sciences industries. In 2002, the PLSG created the University Development Fund and the Industry/University Collaborative Research Fund to support the development of new ideas originating from universities and companies. Now the Greenhousse is teaming up with PA Early Stage which provides expertise in managing early stage investments. PA Early Stage is a family of venture funds that makes investments in emerging companies. PA Early Stage invests in companies that are primarily based in the Mid-Atlantic region, with a focus on Pennsylvania. You can learn more from their web site. Pittsburgh Life Sciences Green has partnered with PA Early Stage to manage the Greenhouse's $15 million commitment to pre-seed and seed investments. 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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