|
Dates: Proposals due by August 18, 2005, 4:00 p.m. (EDT)
The mission of EDA is to lead the Federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. Through its Research and Evaluation program, EDA will work towards fulfilling its mission by funding research and national technical assistance projects to promote competitiveness and innovation in urban and rural regions throughout the United States and its territories. By working in conjunction with its research partners, EDA will help states, local and tribal governments and community-based organizations to achieve their highest economic potential.
This project is a follow-up to the Competitiveness in Rural U.S. Regions: Learning and Research Agenda study prepared by Professor Michael E. Porter and the Institute of Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School in 2004. This study may be viewed and downloaded at EDA’s Internet website: http://www.eda.gov.
The proponent is expected to undertake both of the following two (2) comprehensive research projects and to produce the deliverables listed in the “Deliverables” section below. Due to the scope of the two (2) research projects, EDA encourages proposals from consortia of academic researchers, practitioners and/or consultants.
Research Project 1 – Further analysis of existing raw data
EDA is interested in the further analysis of existing raw data as EDA believes that there are many open issues that existing data can address. For example, with respect to the linkages between rural and neighboring metropolitan regions, the existing data is sufficient to address the specific differences in cluster composition. Ideally, the proponent will act as the depository for the unsuppressed raw data on the county level. EDA contemplates providing a budget to allow the proponent to further develop, analyze and maintain the cluster mapping data.
Research Project 2 – Rural Clusters of Innovation Project
The big gap in the understanding of rural regions is the lack of data on the quality of business environments. In conjunction with the research efforts described above, a key expectation is a major and comprehensive study on the quality of business environment similar to the Clusters of Innovation: Regional Foundations of U.S. Competitiveness (2001) project by Professor Michael E. Porter. The proponent’s study should encompass one rural region and include a regional implementation plan based on an inventory of regional assets produced during the study. The implementation segment of the project will ensure that the research undertaken will drive immediate action to develop a comprehensive economic development strategic plan for the region. Please refer to the above-mentioned Clusters of Innovation project as a model for this research project.
A team assembled by the proponent will conduct a survey and collect other data on the quality of the business environment and evolution of the region. The proponent will produce a “Rural Clusters of Innovation” report discussing the team’s learnings and key policy implications for the region studied. This report will provide EDA with a better understanding of business environments in rural regions.
In order to expand cluster initiatives throughout the country, the proponent will provide recommendations on how to package the experiences from the project into a framework with process guidelines that regions can use to pursue their own cluster studies and initiatives. This will (i) provide extensive learning on current efforts, and (ii) provide regions the basis to systematically upgrade their region’s cluster initiatives. Lastly, the proponent will provide written recommendations for additional regions of study and evaluation.
The budget for this project will come from EDA as well as groups and/or stakeholders in the selected rural region. The proponent will identify and work with local partners willing to contribute a meaningful portion to the overall cost of the project. This contribution will be reflected in the budget section of the proposal.
Completion Deadlines: Phased expectation dates with final project completion by April 15, 2006
3:01:59 PM Google It! 
|
