Last year at this time, the State of Nebraska’s Department of Economic Development (DED) and Department of Labor were advertising for an outside contractor to conduct a competitive advantage assessment. At a cost of US$220,000, Battelle has since carried out that assessment, and issued its report in September.
Mitch Horowitz, vice president and managing director of the Battelle Technology Partnership Practice and primary authorof the report, says Nebraska has a “very robust” industry base and fared well during the last business cycle. It also has a solid pipeline of R&D activity, whether it be on corporate or academic campuses. The challenge lies in bridging those two strong fundamentals.
“Here’s an economy that’s really performing well, and obviously getting graduates from the University of Nebraska, Creighton, the community colleges and other schools,” he says. “But the really deep connections you see in more well developed tech economies aren’t as apparent. I think there are some great opportunities as they move forward to embrace that, but with the strong foundation of an industry base in place.”
To read the full, original article click on this link: NEBRASKA -- Site Selection magazine, November 2010
Author: ADAM BRUNS
