ICAP LAUnch
Building future innovation clusters in Washington State
Developing stronger industry ecosystems
Washington state and our businesses, both large and small, can better compete and win new markets through stronger collaboration.
We believe Washington state has the potential to strengthen existing industries and develop new, high-growth, high-value industries. This can be done faster and smarter through dense innovation networks and organized innovation clusters.
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Innovation clusters are globally recognized as engines of innovation that can benefit Washington state for the long-term, creating genuine value for members, participants and stakeholders.
We believe that it is critical to support underserved communities in exploring how this innovative economic development model can support regional and rural economic development across the state.
A call for emerging ecosystems and future innovation cluster leaders
ICAP Launch is a pilot program funded through a planning grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to support the development of industry ecosystems and potential innovation clusters in Washington state.
Through a series of workshops and technical assistance, Commerce will support industry and community leaders, economic development organizations, and business networks to:
- Learn and implement strategies and techniques to convene industry ecosystem partners and drive collaboration
- Begin building an innovation cluster strategy based on global best practices
- Prepare to apply for future Innovation Cluster Accelerator cohorts as well as better position your network to pursue project funding opportunities.
What is ICAP Launch?
CLUSTER STRATEGY WORKSHOPS
Learn and implement strategies and techniques to connect industry ecosystem partners and facilitate collaboration
1:1 CLUSTER SUPPORT
Begin development of an industry-led innovation cluster strategy based on global best practices
FUNDING STRATEGY
Prepare to apply for future Innovation Cluster Accelerator cohorts as well as better position your network to pursue public and private funding opportunities
CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDING
(Cohort 1 only) $$$ to augment administration and operations expenses
Underserved communities – Cohort 1
WHO: Organizations located in underserved communities (rural areas and / or Persistent Poverty Communities ), supporting communities and industries that may not have naturally occurring ecosystems nor current capacity for local innovation cluster leadership.
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Potential and emerging innovation clusters – Cohort 2
WHO: Potential and emerging regional clusters with incomplete ecosystems that will benefit from support to develop early stage cluster strategy for future Innovation Cluster Accelerator application rounds. These might include priority sectors that we need to invest in now to accelerate economic development in industries of strategic significance such as semiconductors, agriculture, emerging clean technologies, and others.