New Website Offers Tools for Tech-based ED Practitioners

Areas working to encourage the growth of technology companies and build tech-based economies have a new resource to aid their cause. A new website, the Tech-based Economic Development (TBED) Resource Center (http://www.tbedresourcecenter.org), offers users the chance to learn from others’ experiences and benefit from the latest research on building a tech-based economy.

The TBED Resource Center categorizes and provides links to more than 1,300 research reports, strategic plans, best practices and impact analyses from state and federal government, university researchers and foundations. The website is a result of a cooperative project of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Technology Policy (OTP) and SSTI.

“This website will be an invaluable tool to anyone involved in economic development,” said Under Secretary Phil Bond. “Access to information on what has worked in various communities will help policy-makers and business people make efficient use of valuable time and money, and provide good ideas and contacts that others might find useful.”

The user-friendly search options allow for easy navigation of abundant topics spanning a wide field of interests. Users can search for reports based upon author, geography, topic, type or keyword and have the option of selecting multiple fields in some cases. Numerous international reports also are included, offering a globally diverse perspective in tech-based economic development.

Reports fall into one of the 35 topics available for searching, with brain drain, education, entrepreneurship, innovation, research and development and workforce among them.

To keep current with TBED trends, the website is continually updated as new reports are released.  Suggestions for additional reports to be included can be made via the website. The TBED Resource Center is available at http://www.tbedresourcecenter.org.