Magazines

How economic development partnerships create new opportunities for Wisconsin businesses
One of the challenges businesses face when seeking business development assistance is that they often don't know what resources are available outside of traditional financing or consulting services they may receive from their lenders, accountants or law firms. They may also view state or other public assistance as ineffective or coming with too many strings attached. However, once businesses realize the many forms and sources of
financial and technical assistance available, a whole new world of opportunity opens up.

Communities across Wisconsin share common challenges, working to boost business growth, protect environmental resources, promote public health, and sustain a high quality of life. These communities also share an invaluable resource – the University of Wisconsin System.

Educating people for career success is a vital part of UW System’s mission. Our colleges, universities, and extension networks are also working to create stronger businesses – and new jobs – to employ those UW graduates.

In an economy driven by knowledge and innovation, the University of Wisconsin System is preparing a stronger workforce to fuel business success.

Oshkosh CorporationOshkosh Corporation joined the consortium in 2000. Several areas of their product development activities have benefited including:New product...

Advanced manufacturing is a mainstream concept that represents some of the latest and most innovative technologies that are available. MSOE is no stranger to this concept. In fact, the university was an early adopter of these technologies and helped advanced manufacturing techniques become the new normal in a variety of fields.

by Sheku Kamara, Rapid Prototyping Center Director

by Tom Bray, MSOE Dean of Applied Research

Spurred by the close research and business development work between the Milwaukee region’s water technology businesses and academia, The Water Council is renovating a downtown Milwaukee warehouse into an unparalleled water research and business accelerator building. The center, scheduled to open in the summer of 2013, will be housed in a 98,000 square foot, seven-story building at 223 West Pittsburgh Avenue (recently renamed Freshwater Way) in the Reed Street Yards area of Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood. The $22 million project will be a complete refurbishment of a century-old brick and timber warehouse into first class office and research space. The building will become the workplace for approximately 200 people and a catalytic project for the redevelopment of the Reed Street Yards and Walker’s Point neighborhood.

In 2007, a group of water industry, academic, and civic leaders convened to discuss the breadth and strength of the water cluster centered in Milwaukee. From these meetings, The Water Council emerged to leverage our resources and transform the region into a World Water hub. The Water Council is transforming a region by harnessing the power of an existing international industry cluster, linking a rapidly expanding academic research community and convening some of the nation’s brightest and most energetic professionals.