Turn Detroit into Drone Valley?

The popular recipe for creating the “next” Silicon Valley goes something like this:

• Build a big, beautiful, fully equipped technology park;
• Mix in R&D labs and university centers;
• Provide incentives to attract scientists, firms and users;
• Interconnect the industry through consortia and specialized suppliers;
• Protect intellectual property and tech transfer; and,
• Establish a favorable business environment and regulations.

Except … this approach to innovation clusters hasn’t really worked. Some have even dismissed these government-driven efforts as “modern-day snake oil.” Yet policymakers are always searching for the next Silicon Valley because of the critical link between tech innovation, economic growth and social opportunity.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/turn-detroit-into-drone-valley-107853.html#ixzz34vYTWHg8