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International Business and Trade
Border Security Initiative:
Enhancing safety and security along the Arizona-Sonora border
Under the coordination of the Office of Economic and Policy Analysis (OEPA) and the College of Engineering, the University of Arizona is developing a number of initiatives that will address issues of border security, trade and immigration from a multiple perspectives including technology, economics, political and political-social characteristics.
The Border Security Initiative will utilize CyberPort's recommendations including a system-wide approach to cross-border trade and entry through coordination, cooperation, technology, planning and design. This effort will be undertaken with a variety of partners including universities in Arizona and other border states; academic institutions in Mexico and Canada; state and federal government agencies and private sector firms.
International Market Opportunities for Greater Phoenix:
Identifying potential global market regions
The objectives of the "International Market Opportunities Inventory" include:
- Identify complementary global market regions for Greater Phoenix
- Provide a framework for determining future candidate regions
- Coordinate Greater Phoenix's international outreach with Tucson and State of Arizona initiatives
- Increase Greater Phoenix's competitiveness in international markets.
OEPA has assessed potential market regions through an analysis of government and industry data, local infrastructure capacity and recent trends and developments.
The report is being used by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), a public-private organization responsible for attracting high quality businesses to the Phoenix region.
Technology Based Economy
Industry Cluster Development Program:
Supporting Arizona’s high tech industry clusters
The Industry Cluster Development Program provides a variety of services that promote the technology-related industry clusters that are vital to Arizona's economy. The clusters as identified by the Governor's Strategic Partnership for Economic Development (GSPED) include: Aerospace, Information Technology, Environmental Technology, Optics and Photonics, Biotechnology, Plastics and Advanced Composite Materials and Nanotechnology.
OEPA’s services include: industry analysis and capacity research, market reports, needs assessment, facilitation of relations between the clusters and the University of Arizona and support of local, regional and statewide industry recruitment initiatives.
Currently under development is the 2006 Optics & Nanotechnology Industry Analysis & Resource Directory. This report will describe the state of the optics and nanotechnology clusters in Arizona and compare the results to a 1996 study.
University of Arizona Technology Transfer Study:
Benchmarking and analyzing the technology transfer process at The University of Arizona
The Technology Transfer Study examines the technology transfer process at the University of Arizona (UA) and 29 other institutions in the United States. It serves, in part, to meet the University’s Proposition 301 mandate to measure the performance of its technology transfer activities.
The analysis establishes benchmark levels of performance for various technology transfer activities at these institutions and identifies the relative position of the UA. The report also provides a historical evaluation of improvement at the University, looking at the performance of technology transfer activities over time.
2006 Arizona Optics & Nanotechnology Industry Analysis & Resource Directory:
Measuring the growth of a key Arizona Industry
The Arizona Optics Industry Association (AOIA), founded in 1992, is a professional association representing a wide-range of businesses and organizations working in the optics industry across the state. Ten years ago, AOIA commissioned The University of Arizona's Office of Economic Development (now OEPA) to prepare the 1996 Arizona Optics Industry Resource Directory and Industry Analysis. This report provided a snapshot of the optics industry in Arizona and a listing of optics-related businesses and organizations. OEPA has recently been solicited by AOIA to create a 2006 Optics & Nanotechnology Industry Analysis & Resource Directory.
Objectives
- Describe the current state of the optics & nanotechnology industries in Arizona
- Compare the 2006 optics industry data to the previous study
- Examine industry trends and developments
- Analyze industry challenges and opportunities statewide
- Describe the core areas of expertise of The University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences and its relationship to the optics industry cluster
- Describe the core areas of expertise of The University of Arizona in nanotechnology and its relationship to the nanotechnology industry cluster
- Provide a resource directory for optics and nanotechnology-related firms and organizations across the State
Technology Research Initiative Fund Impact Study
Assessing the impact of Proposition 301
The Office of Economic and Policy Analysis (OEPA) is analyzing the economic impact of the University of Arizona’s Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) initiatives. TRIF provides Proposition 301 revenue through the Arizona Board of Regents for the following initiatives: Anyplace Access for Arizonans, BIO5 Institute, Critical Core Infrastructure, Optical Sciences and Technology Initiative, Technology Transfer Infrastructure, Water Sustainability, and Workforce Initiative: The Educator Development Plan.
Tucson Commercialization Resource Directory (TCRD)
Strengthening entrepreneurship and commercialization in Southern Arizona
The Economic Blueprint released in March 2007 by Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO) embraced seven strategies for developing a high-skilled, high wage economy in Southern Arizona. One of those strategies is to strengthen entrepreneurship and technology commercialization in our community.
In support of the Blueprint, the University of Arizona’s Office of Economic & Policy Analysis (OEPA), in cooperation with TREO and Idea Exchange, complied a directory of organizations in Southern Arizona that assist in technology innovation and commercialization. The web-based directory, www.tcrd.arizona.edu, is a one-stop resource to identify and evaluate the services currently available for small and medium-sized high technology enterprises in Tucson and Pima County. Read the overview of TCRD.
Regional Economic Development
Arizona – Sonora Regional Economic Indicators
Tracking progress towards regional economic integration of Arizona and Sonora
The Arizona – Sonora Regional Economic Indicators project, initiated in 1997, monitors the region’s progress towards economic integration and global competitiveness.The reporthelps decision-makers understand the economic changes in the Arizona-Sonora region and support policies that promote economic transformation, investment and entrepreneurship.
The indicators represent an original way of measuring the two neighboring states of Arizona and Sonora as a single economic region. Findings are presented bi-annually in the Arizona-Sonora Region Report that summarizes trends and grades the region’s relative performance using four indexes: NAFTA, Regional Economic Integration, Economic Foundation, and Human Enhancement. The Arizona – Sonora Indicators Report serves as a valuable tool for policymakers by highlighting the regions’ strengths as well as directions for improvement. Read the most current report.
The Border Infrastructure Project
Monitoring the progress of improvements
The Border Infrastructure Project is a Web-based inventory and tracking system for infrastructure projects in Arizona’s border communities – Douglas, Lukeville, Nogales, Naco and San Luis.
By accessing the project’s interactive Web site, www.azbip.org users can obtain up-to-date information on current border infrastructure projects, track their progress from planning through construction, and identify potential funding sources. The site allows users to search by keywords or selected criteria and to generate customized reports.
The project benefits border communities, government agencies, Congressional delegations, and the general public. It is a strategic initiative of the Arizona-Mexico Commission, endorsed by Governor Janet Napolitano.
Arizona-Mexico Program
Establishing a bi-national region
The Arizona-Mexico Program seeks to enhance the economic integration and competitive position of Arizona within NAFTA and global markets. The Program works in partnership with academic and public sector institutions in Arizona and Mexico.
The Program furnishes economic development professionals, decision-makers and researchers with information to increase understanding of the opportunities and challenges in developing a more powerful economic region. Program staff conducts research on complementary economic characteristics, supports post-study policy and economic development activities, and serves as liaison to the Arizona-Mexico Commission and its constituents.
Bi-national project initiatives include establishing a bi-national health services cluster, creating regional promotion and marketing materials, proposing programs to address labor shortages, improving transportation and border crossing efficiency, and providing border community development planning.
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