Summer 2O18 • aztechcouncil.org
IN THIS ISSUE 2 Impact of an Industry
Arizona Technology Report
Arizona Technology Council: The Voice of the Technology Industry
President’s Message
It’s not often that you get a front row seat to history. Make that the driver’s seat. That’s what has been happening in 4 Vote TechSmart Arizona, which has turned into a highWork is a year-round effort to profile technology proving ground for prepare Legislature endorsements autonomous, or “self-driving,” vehicles. 6 Breaking the Mold Consider some of the companies that Students take the lead at national have turned our roads into their labs STEM conference — Google, Ford, General Motors, Intel 7 It Takes a Team and Uber — and you can understand Annual Report reflects combined why everyone up to Gov. Doug Ducey is Steven G. Zylstra, efforts to make things happen President and CEO, Arizona excited about the role our state is playing Technology Council in a frontier far different from our Wild West heritage. All of this activity offers economic activity that benefits all of Arizona, whether you are The Arizona Technology Council is Arizona’s premier trade association for directly involved in the research, part of the new vehicle supply chain developing or a citizen science and technology companies. who benefits from the added tax revenue generated. Recent proof that this is serious business with big dollars at stake was the announcement Phoenix Office by Google spinoff Waymo that it will launch an autonomous taxi service in Phoenix later this 2800 N. Central Ave., Suite 1530 year before expanding into other U.S. markets. The company has ordered up to 62,000 specially Phoenix, AZ 85004 Phone: 602-343-8324 • Fax: 602-343-8330 modified Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans for this nationwide initiative, joining the 600 other info@aztechcouncil.org Pacifica Hybrids already in its fleet. When you think about it, it wasn’t that long ago when Arizonans even heard of Waymo. The Tucson Office company began its testing here in 2016 then removed drivers from behind the wheel in 2017. The University of Arizona Science and There have been so many other landmarks along the way. Uber was another pioneer as its Technology Park 9040 S. Rita Rd., Ste. 1150 (near I-10 & Rita Rd.) fleet of vehicles logged countless miles on Phoenix area streets during testing. While the fatal Tucson, AZ 85747 accident involving a bicyclist in Tempe suspended the company’s testing here, Uber is committed Phone: 520-382-3281 • Fax: 520-382-3299 to resuming testing in the United States. tucson@aztechcouncil.org Traditional automakers are even claiming a part of the action here. GM operates an IT Innovation Center in Chandler. Ford is checking its own vehicles at its test track MANAGEMENT AND STAFF near Wittmann. Steven G. Zylstra President + CEO To help gain additional traction, partnerships have been formed. Even before Leigh Goldstein COO + Vice President, Programs + Events Waymo began its tests, Uber and The University of Arizona began working to Linda Surovick Director, Finance + Administration Lauren Witte Director, Marketing + Communication support research and development of state-of-the-art lenses and sensors, which help Deborah Zack Senior Director, Membership Services autonomous vehicles navigate. Waymo partnered with Intel’s Center of Excellence in Meredith Orr Director, Membership Services Laura DeGeorge Executive Assistant to President + CEO Autonomous Vehicles to design, build, and test its vehicles. Jeff Sales Executive Director, Southern Arizona Regional Office Others are making progress on a more intimate scale. Arizona-based Local Jamie Neilson Operations Manager, Southern Arizona Regional Office Motors has been working on Olli, even tapping into IBM Watson to make the shuttle Don Rodriguez Editor Ron Schott Executive Emeritus, Phoenix “friendlier” to meet the needs of a variety of passengers. From its offices in Tucson Don Ruedy Executive Emeritus, Tucson and China, TuSimple is working on perfecting autonomous big tractor trailers. Justin Williams Executive Emeritus, Tucson When you consider more than 5,000 students graduate annually from Arizona ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL FOUNDATION State University with an engineering degree and 76 million autonomous vehicles Jeremy Babendure, Ph.D., Executive Director are forecast to be sold by 2035, according to Greater Phoenix Economic Council, it Kelly Green, Director, Arizona Operations appears the Phoenix area and rest of the state are driven to share this new success Bruce Jones, National Systems Manager Kindra Maples, CSO Systems Coordinator since we can supply the talent to fuel this promising industry. Dynamic snapshot of state tech scene features latest data analysis
WHO WE ARE
Marisa Ostos, Director, Arizona SciTech Festival Jasper Pena, IT Support Kaci Fankhauser, AmeriCorps VISTA Kal Mannis, AZ Rural and International Initiatives Sabrina Foy, Accounting Assistant
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ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY REPORT
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