Debra M Amidon

ENTOVATION International Ltd.
T: 978-988-7995
E-mail:
URL:

Massachusetts –
The GlobalCommonwealth /

Proposal:To engage economic development leadership in strategy formulation for the Commonwealth with an international context, world-class examples for benchlearning, modern intangible (IC) performance measures and the foundation for global positioning in a networked Knowledge-based Economy, Society and Infrastructure.

Vision / Massachusetts becomes the Knowledge Innovation Zone (KIZ) demonstration site for New England, the nation and around the globe.
Project Scope / To (re)position Massachusettsas the premier Knowledge Innovation Zone activity within the region and the nation, and set the stage for the IC Commonwealth to become the hub of the international knowledge community.
Elevator Pitch /

Being creative does not necessarily mean you are innovative.
Being innovative does not necessarily mean that you have an innovation strategy.
Only by considering the Commonwealth as a ‘zone of innovation’ can true strategic intent be realized.
Massachusetts needs a tri-level economic development strategy: local, national and international.
The new administration has 3 years to position the Commonwealth on the world stage.
All needs to be done in an international context.

Premise
R&D is NOT innovation.
Strategic Planning is NOT innovation strategy.
The Commonwealth knowledge innovation strategy must be comprehensive, cohesive and compelling.
A State-wide strategy must leverage and coalesce (NOT duplicate) existing resource initiatives and competencies.
Concentration of activity should provide demonstrable impact within the state, the region and abroad.
Other countries – specifically developing and transitional economies – have benefited from investments from the UN, The World Bank and even Federal Direct Investments (FDI) by US-based corporations.
Massachusetts is considered a leader in many of the new ranking systems; but other countries are gaining considerable ground.
Knowledge innovation® places the focus on the human being - within which true insight and imagination resides - as well as an action-oriented agenda.
Any strategy must establish a common base for learning from the progress of one another – our competencies, projects and aspirations. This is best accomplished via a blended facilitation approach (i.e., on-the-ground sessions and virtual facilitation).
Efforts must result in a common language, shared vision and initiatives based upon the flow of knowledge based upon new performance indicators of intellectual capital.
3 Laws of Knowledge Dynamics / Evidence…
Knowledge and IC / Knowledge – in the form of Intellectual Capital (IC) - is a multiplier of economic wealth. / Dallas Federal Reserve; BusinessWeek Cover Story; UNESCO Reports; Chicago IP Zone; Gateway Cities; IFIT, Global Intangible Tracker

1nnovation

/ Innovation Value is created when knowledge moves from origin to the point of highest need or opportunity. / Intel’s Innovation Value Institute; IBM’s Institute for Business Value; Boston Consulting Group Innovation Study; IBM Innovation Outlook; ii2007; EU Innovation Scorecard

Collaborative Advantage

/ Collaboration for mutual leverage provides best utilization of tangible and intangible resources. / IBM CEO Study; UN Global ICT Alliance; IADB Report; The Global Forum; Netweaver; 3-D; Netsphere; Forrester Report; Global e-Cities
Rationale / This is a defining moment in the evolution of the world. In the Knowledge Economy, our most valuable resource is the knowledge we can create and apply for the benefit of an enterprise, the vitality of a nation’s economy and the advancement of society. Innovation (and the ability to measure its performance) is the one competence needed for the future. We have an unprecedented opportunity to learn from the progress of one another – industrialized and developing nations alike. Significant monies are being allocated to study and revitalize geographic areas to provide sustainability in a Knowledge Economy. This comparative synthesis of initiatives to-date provides a timely, compelling snapshot of the language, cultural imperatives and performance indicators.
Research Methodology

We have examined hundreds of examples of Knowledge Innovation Zones worldwide from 40+ countries –
We have developed the Triple Knowledge Lens (TKL) – a confluence of the Knowledge-based Economy (Commerce and Business), the Knowledge-based Society (Communities and Culture) and the Knowledge-based Infrastructure (Organizations, Technology and Environment).
We have developed the 15 Value Capital Drivers for Intellectual Capital – including the primary, secondary and tertiary variables.
We have developed the P7 KIZ Assessment Blueprint for implementation.
We have created a Proof-of-Concept across the Ministries of Egypt.
We have developed optional ways to create awareness or full KIZ assessment through a Tour of the KIZ World, KIZ Executive Briefings, and the 12-week engagement process.
All can be applied initially within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (or New England) based upon the Gateway Studies with subsequent activity throughout the United States and a global Platform of a Prototyping Arena for KIZ worldwide – ideally based within the Commonwealth.

Problem/
Opportunity / We have witnessed a rapid evolution of the concept from techno-poles into digital and intelligent cities as a path to more viable and vibrant economic development strategies. The leadership of each area has launched learning efforts – contrasting best practices from other regions of the world. Most initiatives are only an incremental improvement of current economic development strategies and few take full advantage of the real advantages afforded a knowledge innovation strategy. There is now a critical mass of resource material (e.g., articles, websites, books) on the topic to produce a definitive report on the state-of-the-art to serve as a foundation for future. Standards will emerge quickly and they should be based upon the most solid foundations we can build.
Tri-level Strategy / I. Statewide P7Assessment / II. US Innovation Colloquium / III. World Knowledge Innovation® Congress
Abstract / Perform the P7 KIZ Blueprint Assessment across the Gateway Cities with other locations that chose to participate. Analysis should include cross-border initiatives, such as Knowledge Corridor and dovetail with Mass Insight’s 2015. / Provide a national Map and dialogue of KIZ initiatives across the nation to extend the national reach and hubs of expertise to dovetail with the initiatives of the NGA Innovation Task Force and the Council on Competitiveness. / Invite 40 nations and their delegations to Boston for a major BCEC event – a world Knowledge Innovation® Congress – to provide the state-of-innovation In their respective countries, vote on resolutions and initiate joint strategies.
Signals / Several Reports have recently been issued.
Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in most indexes.
Although there has been considerable reference in MA reports to the Knowledge (or Innovation) Economy, little of substance has been documented as to the new intangible (IC) indicators of success.
We need to rediscover the Massachusetts Miracle.
MA has the highest concentration of IC in the world.
Many have learned from the visible success of MA; how does the Commonwealth remain in the lead?! / There are MANY State initiatives underway (e.g., PA Keystone Innovation Zones, NC Research Technology Park 50-year vision, Smart Cities of San Diego and more)
There is an NGA Innovation Task Force.
There is a Council on Competitiveness Initiative.
What has NOT been done is a systematic analysis according to modern indicators across the nation.
The true Intellectual Capital of the nation has yet to be harnessed amidst US-bashing.
The USA needs to be in ‘learning’ mode - collaborative technology platform. / Considerable progress has been made in developing and transitional economies. The US has a great deal to learn.
Other countries are more sophisticated in documenting IC or intangible wealth variables (e.g., Sweden, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands).
Countries for industrialized nations (e.g., Ireland) are attracting US-based companies; and others (e.g., EMEA region) are attracting FDIs.
China and India have already adopted Knowledge innovation® as a cornerstone of their economic development.
We need to practice the art of ‘Collaborative Advantage.’
Impact / Understanding of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the region, a common language and shared vision of the implications for the Knowledge Economy for the State and an integrated plan for action of how best to position the Commonwealth worldwide. / Provides a systematic view of the innovation and entrepreneurship activities across the nation as well as the leading studies, initiatives and experts who might be instrumental in the success of the Commonwealth. / Ensures a global positioning in the topic of the decade – a Knowledge-based Economy. Extends the national success into the global context while – simultaneously – learning from the progress of other global initiatives.
Timetable
1 May 2009 / Initial Funding / Public announcement and invitation for participation.

1 September 2009

/ 12-week KIZ Assessment / Launch and implementation of 30 state-wide executives

1 March 2010

/ National KIZ Invitation / Launch and implementation of 30 nation-wide initiatives
1 November 2010 / National KIZ Assessment Colloquium / Invitation Colloquium of leading initiatives across the nation.
May/June 2011 / Worldwide Knowledge Innovation® Congress / Convening 40 countries from across the globe to deliver their State-of-Innovation Addresses.
Funds Requested
This project will initially take an initial investment for launching the initial P7 KIZ Assessment across the Commonwealth.