PURSUING INNOVATION

Benchmarking Milwaukee’s transition to a

knowledge-based economy

Public Policy Forum

moving the region forward

Metro Milwaukee Innovation Index 2010

ABOUT THE PUBLIC POLICY FORUM

Milwaukee-based Public Policy Forum

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which was established in 1913 as a local governmentwatchdog

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is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the effectivenessof government and the development of southeastern Wisconsin through objective research of regional public policy issues.

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was undertaken to provide citizens, business leaders and policymakers in the Mil-

waukee region with information that will allow them to gauge the region’s success and pro-

gress in pursuing innovation as a key component of economic growth. We hope that policy-

makers and community leaders will use the report’s findings to inform discussions during up-

coming policy debates, budget deliberations, and civic gatherings regarding economic devel-opment programs and strategies in our region.

Report authors would like to thank the Forum’s Economic Development Committee, consisting

of 18 Public Policy Forum members and Trustees, for originating the idea of an Innovation In-dex and providing guidance during the research process. In addition, we would like to thank

David Linz, Southeast Regional Director, Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network and Ryan Horton

for their assistance.Finally, we wish to thank the Helen Bader Foundation for its grant to the Forum for economicdevelopment research that made this report possible.