by Rob White
I was recently challenged to describe why innovation is so important. And more specifically, why does this matter to Davis and its efforts around strengthening its economic prosperity and quality of life.
These are excellent questions. And though I can quickly come up with many singular answers, let me quote three paragraphs from a study done by Collaborative Economics in September 2008, titled “The Innovation Driven Economic Development Model” (page 9).
An innovative economy is at the core of regional vitality and quality of life. Without an innovative economy, any gains in social inclusion, livable community, and collaborative governance are short-lived. An innovative economy is the engine that produces economic opportunity and community revenues that make possible career mobility, investment in educational systems, development of community infrastructure and amenities, investments in environmental preservation, and other critical assets for regional vitality and quality of life.
An innovative economy alone cannot produce regional vitality and quality of life if other factors are not in place (e.g., if residents do not have the skills to participate in the growth of higher level job opportunities, if the natural environment is seriously degraded). However, it is not possible to sustain regional vitality and quality of life over the long term without an innovative economy (i.e., if residents lack economic opportunity, if communities lack revenues, if the natural environment is not viewed as an indispensable economic asset).
An innovative economy helps create the conditions for a healthy community. As Benjamin M. Friedamin observes in his book The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth, “Economic growth-meaning a rising standard of living for the majority of citizens-more often than not fosters greater opportunity, tolerance of diversity, social mobility, commitment to fairness, and dedication to democracy.” In contrast, when an economy stagnates, “the resulting frustration generates intolerance, ungenerosity, and resistance to greater openness of individual opportunity.”
There are a few themes that are very important to Davis that are called out as specific outcomes from an innovation-based economic development approach… environmental preservation, social inclusion, livable communities, quality of life, and enhanced revenues. A subtle and less obvious point is that when innovation is a substantial driver, we begin to work collaboratively and from a place of abundance.
And that is probably my single best answer to why we should care about innovation in Davis. Because we are blessed with an abundance of incredibly diverse circumstances and a resource base that is the envy of many other communities across the globe. We need to move the conversation away from cataloguing the outcomes of the economic downturn and missed opportunities and invest our time in building upon the efforts we have started as a community to address our resource needs.
We have much work to do, but we are starting at the front of the line and we can lead the region to a new place of prosperity if we so choose. We have an inventive, creative, and industrious community… let’s put our collective efforts together and create success by being innovative in how we approach our opportunities.
I invite you to get involved and put your good ideas to work. Some options include joining us at a future DSIDE meeting, following and posting on twitter (#InnovateDavis), emailing Kemble Pope at the Davis Chamber of Commerce, or emailing me. But don’t expect this work to be carried forward by just a few of us. Innovation-based efforts require many minds and hands to be implemented with any real impact – like a barn-raising in an Amish community, it takes many levels of talent and work. It’s important to be part of the conversation, but also plan on being part of the physical effort to accomplish the shared goals. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you on innovative approaches to creating a vibrant economy.
Phote caption: a recent visit by some Davis folks to HackerLab in Sac. It pictures (L to R) Catherine Hawe, Laura McCollough (both research assistants to Centaur Group, Davis), Eric Ullrich and Gina Lujan (both of HackerLab). Hidden behind Laura (middle) is Sarah Worley.
Rob White is the city of Davis Chief Innovation Officer (CIO), this is the weekly column that will feature himself and others from the city of Davis on issues of economic development.
Be interested to see what benefits the community gains, in real dollars, compared to expenses in the efforts. Hope it’s at least 10 – 1 in favor of the real economic benefits.