Accelerating Innovation

Regional Innovation Cluster wins award worth up to $47 million

The University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and the Northwest Aerial Robotics Cluster join the University of Alaska Fairbanks to win a Naval Surface Warfare Center contract worth up to $47 million. The two year, extendable to five year, $47 million contract, from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division provides opportunities to develop new capabilities to deploy, test and evaluate payloads for small unmanned aerial systems in harsh environments. The agreement makes it possible for the Navy to quickly form a University-led team to solve a number of small, unmanned vehicle payload problems such as payload development, integration, evaluation and airspace access. The University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory brings its 60+ years of Department of Defense experience as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) to the newly formed Northwest Aerial Robotics Cluster. This team brings a wealth of innovative technologies to solve Navy problems. The Northwest Aerial Robotics Cluster is composed of regional businesses (both large and small), state and local government and academia from the States of Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the Small Business Administration. This contract is the first Navy BOA awarded that includes a regional innovation cluster. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division has taken the initiative as a new government partner with advanced technology clusters. Such clusters are an innovative concept for targeted economic and technology development based on established technical competencies in a given region which for the Northwest include autonomous unmanned aerial systems, spectrum defense and electronic warfare.

Washington State and British Columbia to collaborate on competitiveness action plan

Gov. Chris Gregoire and British Columbia have taken another important step to develop a unique cross-border partnership to attract investment and create new jobs. The plan is a major initiative included in a Competitiveness and Prosperity action plan signed by Gregoire and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell at the conclusion of the fifth annual BC-Washington joint cabinet meeting. "The things that make Washington and British Columbia strong together can be marketed and promoted to the world," said Gregoire. "We are blessed with a place where economic success is a possibility for all of us – a place where skilled, creative people can flourish and transform the world."
"The marketing plan will build on the momentum created by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It will demonstrate that the Pacific region has a geographical advantage in enhancing trade between North America and Asia and is also globally competitive in attracting new investment and jobs," said Campbell. "Our road to prosperity lies in working together to build a strong regional economy and create jobs."
The business and investment marketing plan will be developed in the coming months by provincial and state officials and presented to the two leaders for final approval and implementation next spring. Link: Competitiveness and Prosperity action plan

Nine Ways to Drive Innovation in a Time of Fiscal Constraint

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After record-setting spending to keep the economy from the brink of collapse, the public has grown wary, even hostile, to the idea of more government pump priming. Even those who advocate additional public investment face daunting budget constraints. Does this mean that government is hamstrung when it comes to spurring innovation? Not at all. In this report, Robert Atkinson and other authors lay out a nine key ways to keep innovation going even if funds are limited. They include regulations to encourage rather than inhibit innovation, smarter tax policies, procurement reform, better use of technology to drive innovation and more. Report authors: Robert D. Atkinson, Daniel Castro, Scott M. Andes, Stephen Ezell, Darrene Hackler and Richard Bennett.

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