Americas

Washington State's governor, Gary Locke, is currently promoting Bio21, a plan that would pledge $250 million to the further development of their biotech industry. Locke hopes to have matching funds from private donors like Microsoft and Amgen, but has yet to reveal all sources of funding.

The Wisconsin Department of Commerce maintains an updated database of their medical devices cluster as well as planned cluster development in other related fields. A recent article in a state newspaper, highlighted the case of the Marshfield area within the state that was adopting planned growth in the medical field as early as 20 years ago.

Saskatoon's technology cluster is one of the bigger agricultural and food biotechnology clusters in the world. It has more than 20 years of history within the province of Saskatchewan, with a reputation for introducing "world firsts" into the market establishing itself as Canada's centre for plant and animal genome science.

The Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) provides a website that includes data and insight into Ottawa's economic development.

Nicaragua and the IMF have released an 80 page document outlining the necessary steps for Nicaragua to build a strong economy. This strategy addresses many systemic issues, including corruption, education, and fiscal reforms. Contained within this document is the clear intention of the government to utilize a cluster development strategy.

US cluster expert, and TCI Member, Stu Rosenfeld has forwarded a draft of white paper prepared for the presidents of 10 state community college systems. Summary follows.

Ruth Rayman, Executive Director of the Canadian Photonics Consortium (CPC) in Ottawa has offered the wider TCI network the opportunity to share ideas on cluster activity relevant to the photonics/optics industry.

Even though the growth of the wireless industry has slowed due to the economic recession and accounting scandals in the US over the past few years, Calgary's wireless cluster represents a stable environment for investment.

In June of 2002, the International Biotechnology Convention & Exhibition was held in Toronto, Canada, and highlighted Life science biotechnology in Cuba. It provided information on the West Havana scientific biopole - Cuba's bioregion.

Ivannia Mora from INCAE, a non-profit organization devoted to teaching and research in the fields of business and economics in Latin America interviewed Emiliano Duch (Competitiveness Group) for the INCAE journal after the XIII International Congress of INCAE (20th of September) in Guatemala.