The University of Maryland in College Park will develop analytical mapping tools that identify innovation and entrepreneurial networks, and help spot opportunities for new business collaborations. The project, funded by part of a $500,000 grant from U.S. Department of Commerce, is based on research conducted by a Maryland doctoral candidate in urban and regional planning.
The project will focus on the state of Maryland and adapt the work of Scott Dempwolf identifying and visualizing networks of economic activity. Using Dempolf’s model, the project will capture data on innovation activity, such as federal research contracts and patent applications. The data will then be subjected to social network analysis, as refined by Dempwolf to more accurately reflect activity in smaller towns and cities that might otherwise be missed.
Dempwolf found in his research that traditional networking tools can identify the major clusters of innovation and entrepreneurship, but miss similar networks — and thus good business opportunities — outside the major urban areas. Current federal policy, Dempwolf notes, is based on building regional innovation clusters around urban centers.
In his dissertation, Dempworth focused on the state of Pennsylvania and found, as expected, well developed innovation and entrepreneurial networks around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. But he also found high levels of activity throughout the state, where inventors and firms outside the urban centers compensate by engaging in more extensive networking.
The research indicates, says Dempwolf, that “innovation is not just a big city game. It’s everywhere and more interconnected than we ever imagined.”
Read more: Report: Tech Industry Clusters Help Build Regional Economies
Photo: C.J. Sorg/Flickr
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