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The Quest for Sustainable Regional
ProsperityUnited States Department of Commerce
Julie Lenzer Kirk
Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Increase U.S. global economic competitiveness
• Help communities become:• Resilient• Agile• Economically stable
Improved quality of life
START WITH THE END IN MIND
Why do we do what we do?
• Regional approach address unique needs• Invest in the ecosystem builders• Focus on capacity building• Preference for public / private partnerships• Looking for catalytic investments
HOW DO WE DO IT?.
Creating the conditions for economic growth.
• Regional and national grant programs• Public works authorization focused on
distressed communities• America COMPETES funding removes
distressed requirement• Leverage data into information• Identify and share best practices• Programs across the continuum dependent
on community stage
WHAT DO WE DO?.
Investments, Tools, and Connections
HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
BroadbandCellularWireless
TransportationUtilities
HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Business Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
IncubatorsAccelerators
PoliciesCapital
BroadbandCellularWireless
TransportationUtilities
HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Engines of InnovationBusiness Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
Universities / R&DCommercialization
CapitalPoliciesIncubators
AcceleratorsPoliciesCapital
BroadbandCellularWireless
TransportationUtilities
HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Connected Ecosystem
Engines of InnovationBusiness Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
Universities / R&DCommercialization
CapitalPoliciesIncubators
AcceleratorsPoliciesCapital
BroadbandCellularWireless
TransportationUtilities
HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Engines of Innovation
Business Support
Technology Infrastructure
Basic Infrastructure
CULT
URECULTURE
CULTURE
Universities / R&DCommercialization
CapitalPoliciesIncubators
AcceleratorsPoliciesCapital
BroadbandCellularWireless
TransportationUtilities
• Focus: high-growth entrepreneurship and accelerating commercialization
• Cross-agency collaborator• Policy and programs• Regional Innovation Strategies – (i6)• NACIE
SMALL OFFICE, BIG IMPACT
Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE)
• Total $15M• COMPETES funding = no distress required• 2014 grant closed Nov 3• i6: Proof of Concept and Commercialization Centers• Feasibility and planning for Science and Research Parks• Cluster-Base Seed Funds
• Award announcement late Jan 2015
REGIONAL INNOVATION STRATEGIES
• National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Established in 2010 under America COMPETES• NACIE 2.0: 27 member Council from academics, industry,
non-profits, and entrepreneurial ecosystem• Advises Secretary on issues around entrepreneurship,
innovation, and workforce as it relates to industry-led job skills
• Past accomplishments: seed JOBS Act, University Entrepreneurship Report
www.eda.gov\oie\nacie
NACIE
• National convening of eco-system builders• Expand conversation about economic development to
include innovation and entrepreneurship• Data collection and metrics
• Additional focus on rural initiatives• Sustainability of the office
GOALS FOR 2015
Julie Lenzer [email protected]
Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
U.S. Department of CommerceEconomic Development Administration
THANK YOU!