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FWIW, have you ever read any of the literature on the development and diffusion of innovations? (e.g., Rogers, Moore, Saxenian, agglomeration economies, etc.)

Building a tech sector in DC is hard because the tech sector that spun off the military is centered more in NoVA. DC's business sector is mostly based on manipulation of political access, which because it is based on personal relationships, doesn't lend itself to computerization.

In DC proper, we have weaker computing engineering academic departments, limited low cost rental buildings, a minimal financing infrastructure, and a general business sector that isn't focused on bringing innovation to "market" in either the public or private sector.

So if you want to build a tech sector, I'd focus on the "infrastructure" that supports tech development, especially the university side, along with space and financing.

For now, space wise, even though it's not well located, just rent out St. E's East campus space for next to nothing, and similarly with space that might be cobbled from AFRH, which has an advantage in that it is close to CUA which does have a computing engineering program.

Build from there.

At least a critical mass of poor businesses has the ability to generate forward momentum without a lot of opportunity costs.

by Richard Layman on Jul 16, 2012 2:39 pm • link • report