Moderator: Russ Wilcox
Suppose you were the CEO of
Massachusetts, and you wanted to maximize the economy. What’s your plan?
Massachusetts, and you wanted to maximize the economy. What’s your plan?
I recently asked this question to a
group of entrepreneurs at the unConference, a gathering of leading figures in
the Boston start-up community which is held annually in the Hynes Convention
Center under the auspices of the Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC).
group of entrepreneurs at the unConference, a gathering of leading figures in
the Boston start-up community which is held annually in the Hynes Convention
Center under the auspices of the Mass Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC).
We started by reviewing the big
picture: Massachusetts has population of 6.6 million. That is on
par with a Switzerland, Denmark or Singapore. We have 3.3 million
workers, and 250,000 unemployed seeking work. Our per capita income is
$53K which is near the top in the nation and 25% above the national
average. Our 2012 Gross State Product is $400 billion. About 2/3 of
our economy is the utilities, transport, housing, retail, government and so
forth that just follows along from the general care and feeding of a population
our size. About 1/3 of the economy or $125 billion is really
unique. That’s our edge.
picture: Massachusetts has population of 6.6 million. That is on
par with a Switzerland, Denmark or Singapore. We have 3.3 million
workers, and 250,000 unemployed seeking work. Our per capita income is
$53K which is near the top in the nation and 25% above the national
average. Our 2012 Gross State Product is $400 billion. About 2/3 of
our economy is the utilities, transport, housing, retail, government and so
forth that just follows along from the general care and feeding of a population
our size. About 1/3 of the economy or $125 billion is really
unique. That’s our edge.
The unique portion comes down to
knowledge and innovation sectors. These are manufacturing, professional
and technical services, finance, publishing, education and healthcare. We
also get a 3% kick from tourism to the Berkshires, historic Boston, Cape Cod
and the Islands. In terms of our advanced manufacturing, we have 6
commodities that we export over $1 billion per year: optics and
instrument (which includes medical devices), electronics, computers,
pharmaceuticals, plastics, and organic chemicals. And we do half a
billion in seafood exports. Also, our exports would probably be a
lot higher if they measured services rather than just goods.
knowledge and innovation sectors. These are manufacturing, professional
and technical services, finance, publishing, education and healthcare. We
also get a 3% kick from tourism to the Berkshires, historic Boston, Cape Cod
and the Islands. In terms of our advanced manufacturing, we have 6
commodities that we export over $1 billion per year: optics and
instrument (which includes medical devices), electronics, computers,
pharmaceuticals, plastics, and organic chemicals. And we do half a
billion in seafood exports. Also, our exports would probably be a
lot higher if they measured services rather than just goods.
Three factoids: our inventory
of houses available for sale is at a ten-year low. Our population of
retirees over 65 is 13% now and will be 20% by 2030. Our public school
kids already test #1 in the nation.
of houses available for sale is at a ten-year low. Our population of
retirees over 65 is 13% now and will be 20% by 2030. Our public school
kids already test #1 in the nation.
So what’s changing with our
knowledge economy? Greg Bialecki is our Massachusetts Secretary of
Housing and Economic Development and his team publishes an annual report on
this, and they noted 3 key trends: 1) Rise of new sectors,
particularly robots and big data, where we now have over 100 companies in
each field; 2) the VC industry seems to be changing – the early part of the
funnel has shifted toward a hodgepodge of angels, grants and corporate deals –
and the IPO window remains nearly closed; and 3) while we are strong at
innovation, our rivals are catching up and our advantage is fading on key
measures: other U.S. states have been expanding their population base,
attracting R&D dollars, and importing out of state talent faster than
Massachusetts in recent years.
knowledge economy? Greg Bialecki is our Massachusetts Secretary of
Housing and Economic Development and his team publishes an annual report on
this, and they noted 3 key trends: 1) Rise of new sectors,
particularly robots and big data, where we now have over 100 companies in
each field; 2) the VC industry seems to be changing – the early part of the
funnel has shifted toward a hodgepodge of angels, grants and corporate deals –
and the IPO window remains nearly closed; and 3) while we are strong at
innovation, our rivals are catching up and our advantage is fading on key
measures: other U.S. states have been expanding their population base,
attracting R&D dollars, and importing out of state talent faster than
Massachusetts in recent years.
Beyond the trends, we ought to
imagine what might be around the corner that could jump out and surprise
us. In my view, Massachusetts is at risk right now of a perfect storm,
because our three economic pillars are all at high points: 1) we rely on
U.S. defense and R&D grant budgets to spark our innovation, but no matter
how Washington budgets shake out we know those budgets are quite likely to be
reduced. Meanwhile science budgets in rival foreign countries such as
China are growing, so we face a big and sudden relative drop; 2) U.S.
healthcare and medical device spending have been growing faster than the GDP
for years – a classic warning sign that we may be in a bubble; 3) college loans
and tuitions expanded dramatically over the past decade and also far faster
than GDP, and that may be another classic bubble.
imagine what might be around the corner that could jump out and surprise
us. In my view, Massachusetts is at risk right now of a perfect storm,
because our three economic pillars are all at high points: 1) we rely on
U.S. defense and R&D grant budgets to spark our innovation, but no matter
how Washington budgets shake out we know those budgets are quite likely to be
reduced. Meanwhile science budgets in rival foreign countries such as
China are growing, so we face a big and sudden relative drop; 2) U.S.
healthcare and medical device spending have been growing faster than the GDP
for years – a classic warning sign that we may be in a bubble; 3) college loans
and tuitions expanded dramatically over the past decade and also far faster
than GDP, and that may be another classic bubble.
What does it mean? We should
be feeling urgency! We need to seize the momentum and change our
prospects. Let’s make some smart moves.
be feeling urgency! We need to seize the momentum and change our
prospects. Let’s make some smart moves.
Luckily, what entrepreneurs do well
is exactly this: use savvy to achieve a lot with a small amount of
resources. So that’s what motivated the session topic at this particular
conference. For an hour the group debated, broke apart into
smaller groups, and then came back together to share. The observations
were:
is exactly this: use savvy to achieve a lot with a small amount of
resources. So that’s what motivated the session topic at this particular
conference. For an hour the group debated, broke apart into
smaller groups, and then came back together to share. The observations
were:
·
Our three thorniest constraints to
growth are transportation, land, and young talent. Plenty of young people
do come here for learning, but many leave afterward. Cost of housing is a
major reason that talented job candidates decline to come to Boston and this
comes down to towns trying preserve their scarce land. Kendall Square is
our brightest innovation center and has attracted multiple large companies to
build new R&D offices there, but slow commutes and soaring rents show that
we are reaching the limit. It all adds up to a high cost of living in
Boston. That is our greatest barrier to attracting talent. Talent
is the key because it originates the value in our knowledge industries.
Our three thorniest constraints to
growth are transportation, land, and young talent. Plenty of young people
do come here for learning, but many leave afterward. Cost of housing is a
major reason that talented job candidates decline to come to Boston and this
comes down to towns trying preserve their scarce land. Kendall Square is
our brightest innovation center and has attracted multiple large companies to
build new R&D offices there, but slow commutes and soaring rents show that
we are reaching the limit. It all adds up to a high cost of living in
Boston. That is our greatest barrier to attracting talent. Talent
is the key because it originates the value in our knowledge industries.
·
Clusters are a good strategy –
creating walkable neighborhoods where young people can live and young companies
can thrive in an innovative and hip environment. The group was skeptical
of past efforts to create statewide clusters however. Everyone felt that
a new cluster based on innovation must still be close enough to Kendall Square
to participate in the action. Boston’s Seaport Innovation District is
adjacent to Cambridge and a good example of how to expand well. So we
ought to consider more nearby cluster locations. Allston, Watertown, and
Newton come to mind; maybe Waltham if we can extend public transport. For
economic development further north, south and west, we should consider clusters
devoted to other industries and specifically advanced manufacturing. A
good way for Massachusetts to expand its industrial base outside of knowledge
work is to build local factories for the high-value materials and components we
invent.
Clusters are a good strategy –
creating walkable neighborhoods where young people can live and young companies
can thrive in an innovative and hip environment. The group was skeptical
of past efforts to create statewide clusters however. Everyone felt that
a new cluster based on innovation must still be close enough to Kendall Square
to participate in the action. Boston’s Seaport Innovation District is
adjacent to Cambridge and a good example of how to expand well. So we
ought to consider more nearby cluster locations. Allston, Watertown, and
Newton come to mind; maybe Waltham if we can extend public transport. For
economic development further north, south and west, we should consider clusters
devoted to other industries and specifically advanced manufacturing. A
good way for Massachusetts to expand its industrial base outside of knowledge
work is to build local factories for the high-value materials and components we
invent.
·
In establishing a new cluster, the
group did not feel government should fund the whole effort, but rather act as a
spotlight by shining attention onto a specific square or couple of streets, so
that critical mass can collect and we can achieve ignition. We had
consensus that measures such as business and design competitions, hosting
connectors, funding internships, supporting STEM and coops in local schools,
and generally acting as a cheerleader DO achieve a lot, for relatively little
funding. Government, towns and regulated industries should align to
invest in each cluster with fast transit, available permitted land, nearby
housing and office space, and top-quality utility and telecom capacity.
In establishing a new cluster, the
group did not feel government should fund the whole effort, but rather act as a
spotlight by shining attention onto a specific square or couple of streets, so
that critical mass can collect and we can achieve ignition. We had
consensus that measures such as business and design competitions, hosting
connectors, funding internships, supporting STEM and coops in local schools,
and generally acting as a cheerleader DO achieve a lot, for relatively little
funding. Government, towns and regulated industries should align to
invest in each cluster with fast transit, available permitted land, nearby
housing and office space, and top-quality utility and telecom capacity.
·
Government and business need to act
in partnership to achieve the above. A good idea proposed by State
Senator Karen Spilka was to embed a few entrepreneurs into the offices of the
state government to turbocharge the collaboration.
Government and business need to act
in partnership to achieve the above. A good idea proposed by State
Senator Karen Spilka was to embed a few entrepreneurs into the offices of the
state government to turbocharge the collaboration.
As the session only lasted for one
hour and quickly become focused on igniting more clusters, we could not address
the full range of issues and possibilities for smart moves by
Massachusetts. There are a few other themes that should be added and
could be explored in a future session:
hour and quickly become focused on igniting more clusters, we could not address
the full range of issues and possibilities for smart moves by
Massachusetts. There are a few other themes that should be added and
could be explored in a future session:
·
Attracting more young skilled
graduates to stay in Massachusetts.
Attracting more young skilled
graduates to stay in Massachusetts.
·
Promoting Massachusetts as a world
center of innovation, and investing to build trade and relationships outside
the Commonwealth and outside the USA.
Promoting Massachusetts as a world
center of innovation, and investing to build trade and relationships outside
the Commonwealth and outside the USA.
·
Sustaining the highest US
performance, and going further to out-educate Singapore and Shanghai so that
our workforce is best-in-class for innovation companies.
Sustaining the highest US
performance, and going further to out-educate Singapore and Shanghai so that
our workforce is best-in-class for innovation companies.
·
In closing remarks, Senator Spilka
encouraged Boston’s entrepreneurs to meet their state representatives about
these issues, noting “In a democracy you have the chance for a lot of power,
but that power only becomes real when you exercise it.”
In closing remarks, Senator Spilka
encouraged Boston’s entrepreneurs to meet their state representatives about
these issues, noting “In a democracy you have the chance for a lot of power,
but that power only becomes real when you exercise it.”
By Russ Wilcox
