Knowledge Regions (Dr. Heike Mayer)

The Knowledge Regions Initiative explores the urban and regional development implications of emerging innovative and entrepreneurial industries. For more information about the Knowledge Regions activities, please contact Dr. Heike Mayer (heikem@vt.edu; 703-706-8122).

Ongoing Projects

Evolution of Second-Tier High-Tech Regions

Dr. Heike Mayer examines the emergence of so-called “second-tier” high-technology regions in the United States. These emerging high-technology regions are challenging traditional technology corridors such as Silicon Valley and Boston’s Route 128. We are currently conducting case study research on Portland, Kansas City, Boise, and Phoenix. Common to these regions is the fact that even though they lack a world-class research university, they have been able to root high-tech activity through leveraging innovative firms, entrepreneurs and regional assets such as quality of life, talent pools, etc. We examine the position of these regions in the global production networks and visualize entrepreneurial genealogies. Additionally, we examine the ways in which local universities are responding to opportunities emerging from high-technology growth.

This research is supported through grants and fellowships from the Smith Richardson Foundation and The Brookings Institution.

More information about the case studies is available here:

• Boise
• Portland
• Kansas City
• Phoenix/Tucson

Visualizing Entrepreneurial Genealogies

In this project, we examine entrepreneurial genealogies and visualize family relationships between major firms and startup companies in a region. The Silicon Forest Universe poster was created in 2002. Currently data is collected to visualize startup dynamics in Portland, Boise, Phoenix, Kansas City, and Seattle.

Links:
Portland’s Silicon Forest Universe poster
TechBoise Universe Poster

Women and Minority Entrepreneurship

Over the last decades, the number of women and minority-owned businesses has increased substantially and they are among the fastest growing groups of entrepreneurs. However, women and minority entrepreneurs still face challenges. This research examines the opportunities and challenges as well as the economic geography of women-owned and minority owned businesses. Specifically, we examine women-owned high-tech firms in four U.S. regions (Silicon Valley, Portland, Washington D.C., and Boston).

The research is sponsored through grants from the Kauffman Foundation and the Small Business Administration.

Publications:
Mayer, H. (Accepted for publication) Segmentation and Segregation Patterns of Women-Owned High-Tech Firms in Four Metropolitan Regions in the United States. Regional Studies.

Mayer, H., Hackler, D., and McFarland, C. (Forthcoming, Fall 2007 or Winter 2008). Skills, Capital and Connections, too: A Regional Social Environment Perspective of Women Entrepreneurs. Canadian Journal of Regional Science.

Past Projects

Investing in Innovation

This report was released by the National Governors Association and the Pew Center on the States in July 2007. We examined how states are investing in research and development and found that states are pro-actively investing in research that solves pressing social problems (such as climate change) and grows their local economies. The report suggests six guidelines states should follow in designing R&D investment funds that work.

Fostering Emerging Technology Sectors in Arlington, Virginia

Heike Mayer examined the potential to foster emerging technology sectors in Arlington, Virginia. A separate report examined the economic development implications of the homeland security industry.

Signs of Life: The Growth of Biotech Centers in the U.S.

This study examined the biotech industry in the 51 largest U.S. metropolitan regions.
We found that only 9 regions capture significant biotech research and commercialization activity. The study was conducted by Joseph Cortright, Impresa Inc., and Heike Mayer for the Brookings Institution.

High Tech Specialization: A Comparison of High Technology Centers

Joseph Cortright and Heike Mayer examined 14 high tech regions and found that each region specializes in certain industry segments.