Good comments on the last post. So here are my discussion points around Atlanta’s version of RTP. Keep the comments coming – all are welcome…
- Tech folks – yes, your school is at the heart of the innovation infrastructure of the State. Yes, you’ve graduated many of the state’s great entrepreneurs (e.g. Chris Klaus, Tom Noonan, etc.). But guess what? – that university over in Athens has produced its share of great entrepreneurs, too (e.g. Jeff Arnold, Reggie Bradford, etc.) and there are some amazing things happening there – great example is the work Dr. Scott Shamp is doing with the New Media Institute within the Grady School of Journalism. And let’s not forget the work being done in pure science and medicine there – IMHO, UGA has the edge when it comes to commercializing life sciences IP. Check the attitude toward UGA football and basketball at the door – they may be red, we may be gold, but we’re all trying to make more green.
- UGA folks – same goes for you. Yes, you’re the flagship university of the state, but Tech has better resources to manage commercialization efforts in nearly every technology field (Stephen Fleming and VentureLab) and while ATDC has a state wide mission, it’s housed within Georgia Tech for a reason. You complement Tech’s technology prowess with amazing resources in the creative fields of study – can you imagine what we could do if we connected some of that artistic acumen with the technology acumen at Tech? Wow.
- Emory folks – we Bulldogs and Jackets need your help. You’ve partnered with Tech in building one of the world’s most well respected Bio-Medical Engineering programs. You’ve partnered with UGA across a number of disciplines including journalism, medicine and business. We need you to step up and bridge the divide. All three schools have great business programs, but the Goizueta school is probably the best candidate to coordinate those business programs (and the city’s business interests).
- State of GA – aside from the ever important funding formula, you need to take a greater role in encouraging inter-university cooperation. Provide the GRA and other organizations with the proper resources and incentives to build cooperative efforts among the research universities of the State. Direct the marketing resources of the state to build up the idea of Atlanta’s RTP. Oh yeah, and pass SB 80 this coming session so more venture capital stays in the State and is invested in Georgia based deals.
- Entrepreneurs – none of these recommendations are meaningful without companies out there connecting university resources that can work together to help you make progress. You represent reality instead of theory. We need more success stories that come out of that kind of cooperation. You are the only group truly suited to make that happen.
- RTP in NC – help show us the way. The entire region needs stimulus along these lines – you’ve built the blueprint. Share that blueprint with your Southeastern brethren – I can guarantee it will pay dividends to North Carolina and the region as a whole. Strength in Atlanta leads to better deals, more VC money in the region, and more vibrancy everywhere south of DC and East of Texas.
Comments are welcome… Stay tuned…
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