The AMOS Project recently hosted a community leader networking event that highlighted an overview of the San Diego region and how we might be able to duplicate some of their successes here.
The event featured an eye-opening presentation from AMOS supporter, Mary Walshok, Associate Vice Chancellor at UCSD. Mary was a pioneer in setting the stage for San Diego’s success.
We share some of the notes from her conversation below beginning with an overview of the San Diego region and how it started, along with some food for thought on our regional growth opportunities.
Every region needs to be highly distinctive.
Each place is different, unique but common themes how every place needs to move = innovation and job growth.
Goal: talk about how to capture ideas and good research early to develop in the region through centers/proven concept companies.
New businesses was sparked to purchased good/services in the region.
San Diego – last decade – developed an economy/level of workforce/local of diversity that Brookings placed in diverse metro regions.
Overall in US- medium income declined by 4.7% - up 4.3% in San Diego
Small entrepreneurial businesses were a major key to success.
Advanced science and technology (ex. Nuclear) sectors offered fastest growth.
Professors got together to build research institutes they wanted to see.
Hard land use decisions – understand importance of science and technology and risky adventures.
CoE’s – seed core of regional industries – started from top down.
How can we grow current tech companies if we cannot attract new ones?
Connect was built on legacy of social involvement.
Need to create an innovation community.
Dinner talks, seminars, workshops at the same time – support groups (pro bono).
25-30 events year – quality of leadership brought the innovation economy to region.
2 points – those leaders brought San Diego’s good word elsewhere and San Diego learned others successes.
“Technology/Entrepreneur Sector”
It takes a village to raise a cluster.
Outsiders welcome – everyone who came to the region was welcomed- make it much easier, newcomers become old boys.
Building a critical mass to keep local talent in the region.
