About Us | Press Releases | 2004 | July 21

BIO IT COALITION JOINS TEAM TO PROMOTE REGIONAL INNOVATION: PARTNERSHIP TO CREATE SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE BIO IT SECTOR

The BIO IT Coalition recently partnered with George Mason University, University of Maryland University College and the Montgomery County Department for Economic Development to submit a grant proposal to the National Science Foundation. The proposed program, entitled "Bridging Barriers to Innovation (BBI)", was developed in response to the National Science Foundation's Partnership for Innovation RFP. The proposed program is designed to: 1) encourage innovation throughout the local and regional community; 2) increase academia's response to workforce needs; and 3) sustain innovation in both the short and long-term. The Bridging Barriers to Innovation approach is unique because of its regional focus and because it empowers large numbers of innovators through education and cooperation.

By encouraging innovation through education at a macro-level - the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area - Bridging Barriers to Innovation will set a new precedent for successful economic development. BBI's program framework supports existing state and local-based economic development efforts in the region, while at the same time it is not dependant on them for its own success. The program will operate as a force multiplier, building innovative capacity by leveraging and focusing existing state/local relationships, initiatives and resources. Because the Bridging Barriers to Innovation model leverages existing expertise and resources within a region, its structure can be adapted to encourage innovation in other industry and geographic areas.

The National Science Foundation will announce grant awards for its Partnership for Innovation initiative this Fall.