Issue:
On July 13, 1999 the Milken Institute published a report
entitled, "America's High Tech Economy". The report
concluded:
"The High-tech industries are critical in gauging the
health of the U.S. economy. They are determining which
metropolitan areas are succeeding or failing. Without
growth in high-tech sectors, metros will be left
behind."
"Although high-tech is not the only development
strategy to pursue, it will be the key distinguishing
feature of metropolitan vitality as we enter the new
century"
Vision: The High Tech Business Council is a
mechanism to advance the Greater Rochester Area as one of
the top regions for technology development and
commercialization in the nation.
Mission: Provide an ongoing forum for linking
technology innovation to commercial implementation and
accelerating the growth of technology based companies in the
Rochester area.
The Council defines regional technology strategy and
navigates its implementation on a continuous basis.
- It identifies problems affecting the health and growth
of high technology commercialization and business in the
region and develops an action agenda to help resolve these
problems.
- It promotes the strengths of the technology sector in
the Greater Rochester Area.
- It assesses, analyses and studies other metropolitan
areas that have national reputations for technology
development.
- It provides network activities addressing critical,
regional technology problems.
- It facilitates partnering among and between members so
that they may achieve that which they cannot achieve
individually.
- It provides reports, alerts and electronic material
that addresses and promotes matters of importance to the
technology based businesses in the Greater Rochester Area.
- It provides a directory of technology-based businesses
in the Greater Rochester Area.
- It develops a network of regional technology-based
businesses that share experiences to help one another
improve performance and growth.
- It develops a support system for technology
development and technology business in Greater Rochester
that will trigger national recognition.
The structure of the Council is one in which principals
from technology-based businesses as well as individuals
representing research and development from both the academic
and private sectors are eligible for membership (it is a
membership-based organization). The core group developed a
set of guiding principles or bylaws and created an Advisory
Board. The first nominating committee nominated a slate of
directors to the Board which were voted on by the members
and installed, June 21st, 2001. The Executive Director of
High Tech Rochester is a member of the Council's Board of
Directors. This will provide a linkage between the overall
organization's activities and those of the Council.
