1. Cultivating Regional Growth
and Competitiveness through an Innovation-
Driven Business Ecosystem
Kansas State University
UEDA Annual Conference
October 21 – 24, 2012
Chattanooga, TN

2. How can rural American companies compete in
the global innovation economy?
Public Domain http://minimediaguy.org/2007/02/21/the-amish-approach-to-new-media/
Overcome Critical Mass Challenges
with Critical Connection Strategies

3. AMI spans Research to Commercialization
• Develop new products
ESTD Agent
• Develop new processes and
Market Need
technologies
• Develop the means to bring products
to market more rapidly
• Develop the means to produce Technological
Feasibility
Business
Viability
products more efficiently.
Technology Product & Process
Research Development Development Commercialization

4. AMI spans Economic Development Strategies
Spur new business
Intermediary
•
Innovation
• Improve business competitiveness Market Need
• Vet opportunities
• Foster open innovation
• Develop and leverage networks Technological
Feasibility
Business
Viability
Start Organic Regional
New Incubate Recruit Growth Innovation

5. Kansas
Livestock
Foundation
TEXAS
AMI Phosphorus Recovery AMANA FARMS
Technology Development TCFA

6. KOIN Tools and Techniques
• Developing a sense of regionalism
• Using what you have (but seeing it in a new
way)
• Proactively weaving connections

7. Competition Coopetition
http://minutemantri.wordpress.com/
“Cooperation … comes when it is in the best interests of all those involved.”
“Collaborating is ultimately about relationships, and relationships do not thrive
based on a rational calculus of costs and benefits but rather because of genuine
caring and mutual vulnerability.”
Peter Senge, The Necessary Revolution

8. Developing a Broader Understanding
of Region
• Workflow
– Shows where
people in the
region work
through the
world

9. Regional Analysis - Interdependencies
• Workflow
– Shows
where
people in
the region
work
through the
world

10. Understanding what you have:
LQ Bursts as a Measure of Region Clusters

11. Regional Analysis – Where to Start?
• Focus on traded
industries
• What do we:
• Preserve ?
• Extend ?
• Combine ?
• Assess innovation
readiness
• Need to redefine
clusters in rural
regions
• Visualization can
reshape the
discussion
AMI.NCRPC.ORG

12. Access to Business Detail

13. Connecting Through Competencies
Business Profiles/Clusters not Based on Final Product/Service
Technical Business User
Capabilities Expertise Understanding
Repeatable R & D Ready Access to Programmatic
and/or highest markets and system for gathering
First Tier
quality production capital, capable of and using new user
capabilities serving new markets information
Capable of either Competent using Collects existing
high production or standard business customer data to
Second Tier
high precision methods and serving occasionally
production existing market improves offerings
Struggles with Struggles with
Assumes customer
production, hangs on forecasting and
Third Tier actions are random
to outdated resource
or unchanging
technologies management

14. Mapping Potential Industry
Mapping Social Connections
Connections

15. Regional Patent Networks
• Expert Finding
• Network
Building
• Broadening
networks by
looking for out
of area
inventors with
local
connections

16. ESTD Agent: Helping to develop new
Accelerating Innovation through
products and Weaving
Network technologies
MFG. MFG.
Market Need
Cos. Cos.
Technological Business
Feasibility Viability
Eco Dev
Innovation
Agents
Sources
MFG.
Cos.

17. Great Plains
Industrial Park
Development
• Collaboratively develop a three year
strategic marketing plan
• Virtually extend market research and
business development functions of
staff
• Build networks to accelerate the
search for opportunities
• Build recruiting team to respond to
prospect opportunities
• Explore feasibility of non-traditional
strategies to address park’s previous
mission
• Rail Reuse Plan Kansas Army
Ammunition Plant -
• Remanufacturing Opportunities Parsons, KS

18. ESTD Agent Innovation Intermediary
MFG.
Co.
Prospect
Cos.
TTCI
MFG Tier 1
Cos. Railroads

19. Next Challenge –
Project 17: Rebuilding Southeast Kansas
A Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Project
Primary Issues
 Welfare/Poverty Cycle
 Need for Leadership
 Workforce Development
 Localism vs. Regionalism
 Readiness to Work
Secondary Issues
 Brain Drain
 Drug Abuse
 Property Taxes
 Quality Housing
 Downtown Pride and
Entertainment

20. Thank You!
Brad Kramer:
bkramer@amisuccess.com
(785) 532-3722
Jeff Tucker:
jtucker@amisuccess.com
(785) 532-3421
Dale Wunderlich
dwunderlich@amisuccess.com
(785) 532-0461
Visit: www.innovateKansas.com email: innovateKansas@ksu.edu Follow: @innovateKansas
The Advanced Manufacturing Institute is supported by the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, through its University Centers Program. “The mission of EDA is to lead the federal economic development
agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the
worldwide economy.”

21. Business Profiling/Supply KTEC Technology Business Profiling and
Chain Network Development Cluster Strategy Innovation Networking
Partner: KDOC Development Partner: North Central
Partner: KTEC Regional Planning
Commission
Regional Projects
Enable “Learning by
Doing” Approach
Regional Asset Mapping Regional Manufacturing Wind Supply Chain ID and Kansas Army Ammunition
Partner: Great Plains Park/Incubator IBED Strategy Pre-profiling Assessment Plant Business
Development Inc. and Business Development Partner: South Central Redevelopment
Partner: Harvey County Kansas Economic Partner: Great Plains
Economic Development Development District Development Authority
Council

22. Ideas Info Leadership Plans
Attract
Sprout
Workforce
Grow
Local
Wealth

23. AMI Wind Industry
Manufacturing Supply
Chain Initiative
Wind Farm
Supply Chains
Additional Company
14 County Region Pre-Assessment Project Full Profiles