Monday, October 30, 2006
The Mississippi Technology Alliance has a new president, Randy Goldsmith. A few months ago, I heard Goldsmith speak at a conference. He has a clear grasp of the linkage between technology transfer and economic development.
With Goldsmith, you see the conversation shifting away from such a heavy emphasis on industrial recruitment. Universities are moving into a central role in economic development in the state,
Angie Godwin, president of the Area Development Partnership, put the matter clearly, "It all goes back to the 360-degree view of economic development which is shifting the emphasis away from industrial recruitment to creating our own enterprises and human capital."
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.
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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.
Moving Mississippi in a new direction
