Arizona Technology Report Arizona Technology Council: The Voice of the Technology Industry
In This Issue Strategic Plan…Page 2 SciTech Festival…Page 4 Help for Startups…Page 7
Who We Are The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona’s premier trade association for science and technology companies.
Phoenix Office
One Renaissance Square 2 N. Central Ave., Suite 750 Phoenix, Arizona 85004 Phone: 602-343-8324 Fax: 602-343-8330 info@aztechcouncil.org
Tucson Office
The University of Arizona Science and Technology Park 9040 S. Rita Road, Suite 1150 (near I-10 and Rita Road) Tucson, Arizona 85747 Phone: 520-829-3440 Fax: 520-829-3441 tucson@aztechcouncil.org
President’s Message A new year always brings the promise of a fresh start. When it comes to the technology community in Arizona, this spirit of renewal promises plenty of good news to look forward to in nearly all of the state’s tech sectors in 2013. This is not to say 2012 was a bad year for technology. By December, the jobless rate in the state dropped to 7.9 percent. But keep in mind the employment picture isn’t like that for the rest of the economy. The unemployment rate for technology is typically half, so even in bad times the workers in this segment have options. I’m optimistic the situation should be Steven G. Zylstra, even better this year President and CEO, Arizona Technology Council as the economy picks up steam. Positive indicators already are evident. What had been a sluggish semiconductor industry already is showing signs of rebounding. At the same time, the software and biotechnology clusters are growing.
Management and Staff Steven G. Zylstra
Leigh Goldstein
Don Ruedy
President and CEO
Managing Director, Programs and Events
Executive Emeritus, Tucson Office
Don Rodriguez
Doug Reid
Editor
Director, Arizona Innovation Institute
Deborah Zack Director, Membership Services
Merry Lake Merrell
Ron Schott
Director, Marketing and Communication
Executive Emeritus
Phillip Huebner
Anne Rody
Alex Rodriguez
Director, Arizona Science and Engineering Fair
Director, Tucson Office
Director, Finance and Administration
Justin Williams Executive Emeritus, Tucson Office
aztechcouncil.org
Feb. – May 2O13 aztechcouncil.org
And as things heat up, there will be an even tighter supply of workers, so tech workers can expect plenty of options to consider. The only sector that I expect to see struggle is renewable energy. As you recall, there was a glut of cheaper solar products when Chinese manufacturers dumped them onto the global market. The world’s inventory of those products will have to shrink to the point where replacements are needed, which in turn will signal a recovery era for the state’s renewable energy industry. Two upcoming events show Arizona is already working on keeping technology hot well into the future. This month marks the return of a statewide event that showcases the value of technology while planting the seeds of inspiration for young people who will get their chance to make up our next tech workforce. The second annual Arizona SciTech Festival launches Feb. 9 for a fiveweek celebration marked by events expected to again attract entire families throughout the state. (Look for details inside this section.) As the Festival winds down, another annual event returns to serve the state’s aerospace and defense industry. The Second Annual Aerospace, Aviation, Defense and Manufacturing Requirements Day on March 14 in Scottsdale offers the chance for manufacturers and service providers to connect with defense contractors who are looking for subcontractors to help meet the military’s needs. The result will be Arizona’s A&D sector gets the chance to get through a period threatened by the risk of budget cuts. This is just a sample of what to expect in a new year with a reviving economy. And there are no resolutions to keep — just plenty of solutions to expect.
Jeremy Babendure, Ph.D. Director, Arizona SciTech Festival
Arizona Technology Report
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