Sunday, September 11, 2005
Increasingly, civic leaders are coming to understand that colleges and universities provide the major assets for competing in a knowledge-based economy.
Any region with colleges and universities has a continuous stream of brainpower. The challenge involves finding ways to connect this brainpower through the regional economy.
(A recent report by the Kauffman Foundaation indicates that university-based researchis not being applied to generate innovations. The Foundation will be conducting a workshop later this month to explore these issues more completely. Read more.)
There is no single approach to build these networks. In some cases, incubators provide a useful start. In both Pennsylvania and Michigan, the state government is promoting innovation zones around the colleges and universities. A variety of other networks can prove effective. (See, for example, the Michigan University Commercialization Iniattive. Learn more.)
Here's a good article that explores how the University of Buffalo is adapting itself to these new realities. Read more.
posted by Ed Morrison |
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.
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.
Building a knowledge-based strategy in Buffalo
