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Louisiana’s Water Innovation Cluster
Is it ready for global competition?
State of the Coast ConferenceMarch 20, 2014
Stephen PicouNOLAVibe
Horizon Initiative Water CommitteeGreater New Orleans Foundation/Idea Village Water
Challenge
Water Clusters are a national and global trend
Where are we now?Who should coordinate/lead?
What would happen?
US EPA January 2011 Press Conference with Lisa Jackson Water Technology Innovation Cluster initiative (WTIC) Support, convening, sharing of technology and
resources WTIC led by Sally Gutierrez of EPA, Cincinnati Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA):
Enables federal agencies to conduct joint research with non-federal partners and protect intellectual property
No funding but exchange of personnel, equipment & in-kind services (via Cooperative Research & Development Agreements)
Partnered with SBA on EPA SBIR program funding ($4m)
“A regional technology cluster is a geographic concentration of interconnected firms—businesses, suppliers, service providers—and supporting institutions such as local government, business chambers, universities, investors, and others that work together in an organized manner to promote economic growth and technological innovation.” EPA, 2011
Water Technology Innovation ClusterFormal and Informal
Trending toward Formal via government-led: Regional clustering of government, academia
and business Communication & connector Resource sharing & support Reduce duplication of efforts
Branded and promoted Global marketing
Entrepreneurial/Business Accelerator Competition model Capital and investment connector
watercluster.org
Kinrot Ventures, Israel, 1993
“Worldwide leading seed investor in water and cleantech technologies”
2nd only to Silicon Valley in intensity of technology development
Recycle 72% of sewer and waste water World’s largest desal systems Global aspirations Entrepreneurial competition, incubator
program Founded by Israeli government Acquired by Hutcheson-Whampoa, Hong Kong,
2012
Water park Picture
Water Innovation Clusters
New Orleans Sept 28-Oct 1, 2014
Louisiana’s Water Cluster?
Strengths and Issues: Coastal & environmental restoration & adaptation
LED “home to…41 percent of all U.S. firm headquarters with capabilities related to Gulf Coast restoration and water resource management”
Resilience & disaster management Adaptation Flood & stormwater management Infrastructure & built environment Preparation & response strategies
Education & research Industry: monitoring & flow technologies Food: fisheries & agriculture Public health Maritime Cultural and environmental tourism
Louisiana’s Water Cluster: Who Should Lead?
Entities contributing to a de facto cluster: State of the Coast Federal, state and local government agencies
CPRA LED
LSU, Tulane, UNO, ULL, Nicholls, McNeese
NGOs Water Institute of the Gulf CRCL GNO Inc.
What if?
http://issuu.com/nolavibe
