Michigan’s new initiative to leverage its abundance of water, university R&D capabilities and environmental leadership gains national attention as it positions the state to attract some $114 billion in economic and job development.
According to excerpts from the story:
Some leaders in water-rich jurisdictions have taken to calling water the "oil of the future." Asked if water quality, availability and affordability issues might be driving corporate projects from the booming U.S. southeast back to the northland, Edward C. Fiss Jr., manager, Process & Design Group, for industrial consultant AWARE Environmental, Inc., says, "Absolutely."
In April, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. launched the Michigan Water Technologies Cluster Initiative, whose stated aim is to coordinate and leverage water abundance, university and R&D capability, manufacturing knowledge and environmental leadership.
The state sees the U.S. water technologies market as a $114-billion opportunity (part of an estimated $300-billion world market). It also acknowledges the growing government spending on water-related R&D, which was $1.5 billion in 2006 and is expected to only get bigger.
The initiative includes such corporate partners as the Siemens Water Technologies office in Holland, Mich., in an area long known for its environmental leadership when it comes to office furniture company operations.
Read the complete story here.
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