TechConnect - The Nano Issue

004

Southern Exposure

can afford to fight the war between the North and South. We must work together to drive innovation in technology, no matter which camp is the originator.

Who in our state didn’t share the pride proud when The University of Arizona served as mission control for the Phoenix Mars Mission? Principal Investigator Peter Smith concluded: “Not only did we find water ice, as expected, but the soil chemistry and minerals we observed leads us to believe this site had a wetter and warmer climate in the recent past—the last few million years—and could again in the future.” Such accomplishments were part of the reason the mission was named winner of the Innovator of the Year/Academia Award at last year’s Governor’s Celebration of Innovation, the signature event of the Council.

Incidentally, another GCOI winner from Tucson was Raytheon Missile Systems, which was named Innovator of the Year/Large Company for its working with a number of small businesses and universities in Arizona to develop intellectual property and associated patents.

The southern Arizona influence is very much part of our decision-making at the Council. Sitting on our board are officials from The University of Arizona, Tucson Embedded Systems, Raytheon, SEBRA Medical Technologies and Solstice Capital.

Additionally, you’ll discover in this edition of TechConnect how the region has played a key role in nanotechnology R&D in this state. As you can see, we should all be looking south when it comes to our futures. But the world should know there is only one Arizona when it comes to innovation.

bout once a week while most of you
are just out of bed with that first cup of
coffee, I’m hitting the highway. Before
the day is over, I’ve put more than a few hundreds
miles on my car, made several new friends and
learned much more about what makes this an
exciting place to live. My destination? Tucson.

Yes, I’ve heard those often-told stories about Tucson vs. Phoenix—make that southern Arizona vs. Phoenix—and how one is destined to remain in the shadow of the other. I’m here to tell you that was then and this is now. Consider:

• Tucson is 8.35 times more concentrated in the aerospace product and parts manufacturing industry than the average of all metropolitan statistical areas across the United States.

• The region generates more than $6 billion in revenues annually and is building on more than

100 current bioscience companies.

• There are about 35 established solar companies in the region, offering services that include manufacturing, installation and distribution.

The region’s contributions to the technology industry are so important that we even have a branch office of the Arizona Technology Council there. Justin Williams is director of our Tucson regional office at The University of Arizona Science and Technology Park. He works tirelessly with me to develop programs and provide support to our growing membership base in the area. With engineering and business degrees from The University of the Arizona, Justin knows first-hand how vital the region is when it comes to technology.

That feeling is shared by the more than 90 member companies the Council has there. (Just a year ago, that membership roster numbered fewer than 15.) Whether we meet with them in their offices or at one of our events, we can’t help but share their excitement about their latest developments.

With shrinking budgets and competition for new contracts fiercer than ever, we no longer

I credit our partners at Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities with gathering those statistics. The numbers tell us southern Arizona takes the back seat to no one.