Weekly B-MOW: Washington Innovation Summit

I go to a lot of events. Many of them are boring. But I put my neck out a few weeks ago and said that the Washington Innovation Summit would not be. And I was right. I mean, really interesting panels, very forward thinking topics and some great keynotes. If you haven’t heard Geoffrey Moore speak on the transition in enterprise IT from “systems of record” to “systems of engagement,” then you don’t know what the next major business opportunity in the global economy will be.

Apparently, the whole day was video recorded, and will be available on the Technology Alliance website. And you can follow the audience’s questions and comments on Twitter via the hashtag #WAInnovation (including several insightful tweets from yours truly and a back and forth on how funny Bill McSherry is).

But if you want an immediate taste, I took a video of the opening panel, featuring some of the state’s economic development luminaries talking about how we continue to invest in economic development in a time of scarce public money.

Weekly FWSR: Snacks, Bosses & Competitors

Two weeks ago, we started a new feature at the Prosperity Blog: Fun With Search Referrers! And yes, I know, we start more features here than a first run movie theater, but what can we say. If it sounds like something that can help us fill blog content, we’ll take it! So, here’s the latest Fun with Search Referrers, featuring snacks, bosses, competitors and more.

The Many Economic Development Impacts of the Military

Over the last few years, Prosperity Partnership has been a leading proponent of making better connections with the military cluster here in the region. And it seems like everywhere I turn these days, that topic is a focus of conversation – whether it be the meeting we hosted here last week with the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition to try to address clean technology contracting opportunities or the success of legislation in the current state legislative session towards allowing military training to count toward civilian professional licenses.

Here’s a quick summary of some the major focuses and opportunities that our region needs to be considering.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time Of the Year (in Ideas): Big Ideas of 2010

I can’t wait for this Sunday. It’s literally my favorite day of the year. Why? Because the New York Times Magazine’s Year in Ideas issue is going to arrive at my doorstep! (I know, that’s a very nerdy reason for a day to be one’s favorite, but what can I say…I love ideas!) The NYT issue is apparently the 10th annual, but it also serves another important annual role: inspiring the creation of the Prosperity Blog’s 2nd annual “Big Ideas” post!

To quote from last year’s, we here at the Prosperity Blog have also had a good year of ideas, generating all sorts of practical proposals for improving our region’s business climate and competitiveness. But, of course, we have also had lots of impractical, sky’s-the-limit ideas that we hope someone is going to take and run with and make all our dreams come true. So, for all you good-idea-awaiting folks out there, here’s a summary…presented in Top Ten format:

There Are So Many Interesting Things About This Article

“Drone boat for military to be built in Bothell factory,” the Seattle Times reported yesterday. “Sounds like an article I should skim,” says I, while watching the Phillies and Eagles soar to victory. But then skim I did, and gladly so. Because there are at least three really important things here:

New Feature: Best Meeting of the Week

As we just mentioned, Prosperity Blog is all about regularity these days, giving you something to look forward to in your otherwise dreary days and weeks. Much like Random Economic Development Email of the Week, this new feature – Best Meeting of the Week – chronicles our adventures in the world of economic development, sharing the most interesting, exciting or unique things that the Prosperity crew is doing. This week’s B-MOW? Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

New Feature: Random Email of the Week!

In an effort to give all you loyal Prosperity Blog readers out there a few things to look forward to each week, we’re going to be rolling out a few weekly features.  And so I’m happy to introduce you to our first one: Random Economic Development Email of the Week.

Like many of you, I somehow end up on a bunch of crazy listservs and receive unexpected updates, invitations and offers. And so each week, we’ll be sharing with you one of those emails and what it inspires us to think about with regard to the region’s economic development. For our inaugural REDEW, I’m happy to present to you “Invitation for the UAS Conference-London.” And I quote: