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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

Basic Infrastructure

TransportationUtilities

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

Realized potential.

Economic resilience.

Improved quality of life.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Julie Lenzer Kirkjkirk@eda.gov

Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

U.S. Department of CommerceEconomic Development Administration

THANK YOU!