BioDistrict New Orleans: Center of Excellence for Creative Endeavors 

To create and sustain a competitive advantage, the New Orleans research and commercialization community must institutionalize 

the innovation process by creating an environment in 

The Growth Challenge

Consistency is the hallmark of success whether we are speaking of sports, business or innovation. The need to stay ahead of the competition requires inventiveness at the individual, community and system levels. As university research blossoms into new start-ups and those companies grow, new market demands, new capital, competition and a consistent reinvestment strategy will be required to create and maintain a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Long term economic growth also creates a need for an expanded ecosystem that includes synergy between old and new facilities, the business and political communities, all levels of education and predictable reinvestment. Maintaining this growth pattern requires us to increase the operational scale beyond the start-ups to larger companies. 

Growth will strain the entrepreneurial philosophy that has driven the early success unless there is a re-investment in recruitment, investment in new concepts, and funding sources to bridge the "valley of death" that often kills innovation. Otherwise, we will return to the days of old with disjointed islands of data, knowledge, and intelligence that can complicate the investment and innovation decision-making processes.

Reducing investors tolerance for risk is achieved by eliminating uncertainty through a transparent economic development processes and the development of an ecosystem -- both of which require significant resources. 

What are our competitors doing?

Addressing the challenge -- Center of Creative Endeavors

Sustaining an innovation and entrepreneurial culture requires communities to create environments where creative thinking is central to corporate values, actions and investments. Innovative companies require employees who seek new opportunities, accept risk, collaborate well with others and commit themselves to the organization. These companies also require communities and their political and business leadership that will work to create the kind of environment that will guide and promote innovative behavior. New Orleans is on the right path but we need to start thinking about the role of public investment to support the long term growth. 

Like other major urban areas, New Orleans has been blessed with an influx of young people interested in contributing to the community. We have witnessed an unprecedented growth of entrepreneurial spirit. Now we have to capture that energy and root it deeply into the community to enjoy the long tern economic benefits.  

Here's a link to another Krista Tippett's On Being that relates to Creative Endeavors. This podcast in an interview with Rex Jung discussing how brain imaging is helping us gain a whole new view on the differences between intelligence, creativity, and personality. He also discusses how the brain matures providing new connections between creativity and family life, aging and purpose.

On Being with Ms. Krista Tippett and Rex Jung

This week, Business Facility 2012 State Rankings Report names Louisiana as: 

#10 in Biotech Strength -- Emerging Biotech Hubs

We've have come a long way baby!

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Five years ago the word was that we were too late to the game because other states had invested early and big. We have proved that post-Katrina there is enough QUALITY science with commercialization potential at our member universities (LSU, Tulane, Xavier) to make a claim for a share of the bioscience industry. The key drivers are: quality science, education, ample skilled workforce, modern facilities, capital and good public policy. We have a healthy combination of all six and more to come.  

Other rankings:

#1 - Economic Growth Potential

#1 - Workforce Training

#1 - Digital Media

#2 - Job Growth Leadership

#5 - Best Business Climate

#10 - Lowest Cost of Labor

Rankings from a prestige magazine continue to tell the positive news about the effort to be the Center of Creative Endeavors around the biosciences. Being named #1 in Economic Growth Potential speaks to the work we have done and the prospects of a better future for New Orleans.

On our watch, let's do it right!   

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BioDistrict President and CEO James McNamara discusses the impact of the Built Environment on health, crime and economic development.

Deadly Medicine Exhibit at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans

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The traveling exhibit, sponsored locally by Tulane University School of Medicine, speaks to a number of bioethical issues facing the research community. 

Thanks to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National WWII Museum, Tulane University and Dr. Ben Sachs for their leadership for showcasing this exhibit on the horrors of deadly medicine. Click on the link below for a complete list of panel discussions and lectures regarding various topics like how modern bodies of law and regulations of research are developed in response to the Nazi atrocities; reproductive science and the state; ethics in medicine and research from a survivor.   

Click here to learn more about the Scheduled Programming 

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Science Friday's on WWNO 89.9FM 

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