Spring 2008
The Innovative Region: Benchmarking Goes Global in New Collaboration
The Technology Alliance has partnered with the Puget Sound Regional Council and Trade Development Alliance of Seattle to launch the International Regions Benchmarking Consortium, an effort aimed at cultivating a deeper understanding of how metropolitan regions can succeed in the global economy. 
We kicked off this ambitious project by engaging eight dynamic regions from around the globe as founding members of the IRBC: Barcelona (Spain); Daejeon (South Korea); Dublin (Ireland); Fukuoka (Japan); Helsinki (Finland); Melbourne (Australia); Munich (Germany); Seattle (USA) and Stockholm (Sweden).
The consortium grew out of a belief that leaders at a regional, state and national level can benefit from a greater understanding of how their own metropolitan areas perform compared to others throughout the world that face similar issues: how to educate and retain a skilled, creative workforce; how to support the growth of new businesses; and how to ensure a high quality of life for their citizens. Instead of employing a competitive approach – in which member regions would be ranked against each other – the consortium will use benchmarking as a tool to identify effective strategies for advancing regional success.
“The goal is to create an international learning community in which we share experiences and identify innovative solutions,” explained TA executive director Susannah Malarkey. “This is an exciting new application of benchmarking that will result in collaboration on a global scale.”
Last September, representatives of the participating regions met in Seattle to determine the economic and social indicators that they will explore during the first phase of the project. Focusing on “the 3 E’s” – entrepreneurship, education and environment – consortium members agreed to collect and submit data for approximately 30 metrics. The data will be analyzed in preparation for the consortium’s inaugural conference, “The Innovative Region,” scheduled for June 1-4 in Seattle.
The conference, which is co-chaired by Dr. Lee Huntsman, president emeritus of University of Washington, and Dr. Lane Rawlins, president emeritus of Washington State University, will highlight the regions’ strengths, identify challenges to future success, and serve as a forum for discussing best practices. The event will feature keynote addresses by William H. Gates, Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel at Microsoft, in addition to presentations and panel discussions featuring business, university and government leaders from the participating regions. In addition to the founding members of the consortium, two other regions plan to participate in the conference as observers: Singapore and Vancouver (Canada). Attendance to the conference is by invitation only.
“Benchmarking greater Seattle on an international level will advance our understanding of what makes a globally competitive region and provide an opportunity to see how different regions have responded to similar challenges,” observed Malarkey. “This effort will yield important lessons for our entire state.”
The Innovative Region conference is being organized with foundational support from The Boeing Company and Microsoft. To learn more about the IRBC, visit www.internationalregions.org.
Information, Imagination & Ingenuity: The Technology Alliance’s 2008 State of Technology Luncheon, Featuring Internet Pioneer Vint Cerf
- Friday, May 9, 2008
- The Westin Seattle
- Networking and registration: 11:00 am
- Doors open: 11:30 am
- Luncheon program: 11:45 am – 1:30 pm
It was 38 years before radio reached 50 million users. Television took 13. The Internet? Four.
How will the rapidly changing online landscape continue to reshape the way we do business, connect with customers, and relate to family, friends, even total strangers halfway around the globe?
Vint Cerf, vice president and chief Internet evangelist at Google, is working on the answers. He will share his insights during a keynote conversation with Ed Lazowska, the Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science and Engineering at University of Washington – just one of the highlights of this year’s State of Technology Luncheon, the premier event for Washington’s technology community.
Alliance of Angels Reaches New Heights with 2007 Investment Activity
As the Alliance of Angels kicks off its 10th anniversary year, it already has reason to celebrate. Last year, members invested $3.9 million in a record-high 44 early stage companies in innovative, high-growth sectors.
From Innovation to Impact: How PATH Advances New Approaches to Old Problems in Global Health
Dr. Chris Elias began his presentation at the Seattle Science & Technology Discovery Series with the question facing global health organizations: “how do we take great new scientific discoveries and turn them into solutions?”
By focusing on the three “I’s”– innovate, introduce, and integrate – that make up its product introduction framework, Seattle-based PATH aims to provide the answer.
Technology Alliance Welcomes Dr. Tomas Mustelin of Amgen
At its January meeting, the Technology Alliance board was pleased to elect Dr. Tomas Mustelin, Amgen’s new Washington Site Head, to a new three-year term. Dr. Mustelin joins an impressive roster of business and research leadership from around the state, including nine members who recently renewed their commitment to the organization and its mission.
Technology Alliance Welcomes Amy Bell Rousso
The Technology Alliance is pleased to welcome program coordinator Amy Bell Rousso. Amy will provide administrative support for board and executive committee activities, assist with coordination of the Seattle Science & Technology Discovery Series, and participate in the planning and execution of events.
Prior to joining the TA team, Amy worked in client services for Seattle advertising firm Ad Mark Services. At Ad Mark, Amy fulfilled a variety of roles, from event and tradeshow coordination to advertising planning and placement. Amy earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication from University of Washington.
Important Dates
- May 6
- Alliance of Angels 10-Minute Pitch Clinic
- 2:00 – 4:30 pm
- Seattle
- More information
- May 9
- State of Technology Luncheon
- 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Seattle
- More information
- May 16
- Seattle Discovery Series: Mike Schwenk, PNNL
- 7:30 – 9:00 am
- Seattle
- More information
- Spokane Discovery Series: Suzan Kardong-Edgren, WSU
- 7:30 – 9:00 am
- Spokane
- More information
