Governor Napolitano: Innovation as key to state’s economic success

In the future economy our success will depend on innovation – producing new and better products and services that will put Arizona on the cutting edge. And with a new model for economic development efforts in Arizona, we are taking our own innovative approach in leading our state into this new economy.

Our future, and the future of our state’s economy, is captured in these kinds of words: Science. Discovery. Collaboration. Knowledge. And since we now compete worldwide, we must apply those concepts worldwide.

We must also understand that government can’t do it alone, and neither can business.

In October I unveiled a new, unified economic development model for Arizona. It is an inclusive structure that will draw together the private sector, business and economic development entities, educational institutions and government.

This new structure includes a new entity: AERO, the Arizona Economic Resource Organization. It’s an umbrella that will serve to coordinate and guide key efforts of the economic development community, including the work of the Commerce and Economic Development Commission (CEDC), the Governor’s Council on Innovation and Technology, the Arizona Department of Commerce, the Greater Arizona Development Authority, Science Foundation Arizona and the Arizona Global Network.

AERO is not for profit; it will raise the money it needs to streamline, unify and enhance Arizona’s economic development efforts. Rather than competing with one another, Arizona companies will work together to ensure Arizona’s position in the global marketplace.

This new model takes the work begun when I first took office and brings it to the next level.

To grow innovation, we must graduate students who are ready for the knowledge-based economy. That’s the overarching reason for my constant and continued emphasis on fostering excellence in K-12 education and building a university and community college system that not only trains our workforce, but also is a true economic player by virtue of excellent research and scientific discovery.

I will continue the work I began when I took office to ensure that we have the infrastructure and partnerships necessary to enable Arizona to compete globally. It is our job and our responsibility to work collaboratively and think innovatively about the strategies that will set up Arizona for success in the future.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office at 1-800-253-0883 and ask to speak to Constituent Services, or visit my Web site at www.azgovernor.gov for more news in state government.

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