City Council Futures July 13, 2015 Innovation Ecosystem
How did we get here? Historical Perspective: Fort Collins today stands, with its ideal climate, its substantial business blocks, beautiful buildings, its wide streets bordered with shade trees, not only as one of the most attractive - but because of its unrivaled location, rapidly developing industries, and importance as a market center and shipping point, as one of the most important and prosperous cities of the state. The metropolis of Northern Colorado. - Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, 1907 2
Foundational Pillars 1870: Colorado Agricultural College founded 1935: Municipal Electrical Utility, wholly owned by citizens, created by public vote. 1991: New Belgium kicks off wave of microbrewery development in NoCo 2007/ 2015: Woodward Governor selects Fort Collins for Int l HQ & Manufacturing facility 1876: Doctrine of Prior Appropriation created; origin of Water Law in the Western U.S. 1977: Hewlett Packard opens facility on Harmony Road 1998: Otterbox founded with a focus on mobile devices, tech, and design 3
University & Colorado State If you want to build a great City, create a If you want to build a great City, create a great university, and great wait 200 years. university, and wait 200 years. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan 4
Per 100,000 Per 100,000 Per 100,000 Innovation: How do we know? % 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Education Attainment: Bachelors or Higher USA 15 Largest Fort Collins 250k-1M University 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Business Starts USA 15 Largest Fort Collins 250k- 1M University 120 100 Patents Issued in 2013 Fort Collins 60 50 Arts & Entertainment Establishments Fort Collins 80 40 60 40 20 0 USA 15 Largest 250k- 1M University 30 20 10 0 USA 15 Largest 250k- 1M University 5
Why here? Additional Accolades #2 U.S. Metro Area for High Tech Startup Density #4 Best Place for Business/Life #1 Best Place to Live Fort Collins named the City of the 2010s in Smithsonian Exhibit on Innovation & Invention #1 Healthiest City 6
Fort Collins Innovation Ecosystem What does it look like? 7
Mapping Community Connections 8
The 3 C s: City Involvement & Support Convene 2004: Economic Vitality & Sustainability Action Group 2007/2008: Formation of FortZED 2006-2015: Brought together industry stakeholders; catalyzed Clusters Catalyze 2006: City begins Industry Cluster $ support 2009: City builds RMI building 2015: City matches State funding for CSU Ventures AI Grants Collaborate 2012: City partners with CSU on Powerhouse Engines Campus 2014: City supports first annual Fort Collins Startup Week 2015: City contributes $ to SBDC 9
Triple Helix & a Co-Creator Community UNIVERSITY BUSINESS GOVERNMENT 10
Ripple Effect BEERS BIKES BANDS 11
Moving Forward Innovation is messy and complex, and fostering an innovative environment is never easy, but the need for innovative solutions has never been greater because of the major challenges we encounter in our world today - Lloyd Minor, Provost, Johns Hopkins University 12
Key Questions Key Visioning & Operational Questions How would Council like EHO to track innovation in our community? How does Council want EHO to update/interface with them on Innovation moving forward? Where in the ecosystem can we break down silos & create efficiencies? How do we measure innovative spirit and collaboration? In 25/50 years, what will we wish we had built/formed/catalyzed NOW? Can a community become a supplier to major manufacturing firms? 13
Next Steps Potential Next Steps & Future Initiatives Clarify & Understand: Conduct Innovation Asset Map: identify areas of strategic investment, & explore opportunities to collaborate with CSU/ encourage their leadership in this space. Discuss & Act: I2P Community Fabrication Facility; largest public makerspace in the U.S. Carnegie Creative Center: ensure impactful programming. Southeast Community Center: identify ways for the facility to enhance the Innovation Ecosystem. 14