Arkansas Innovation Council Takes Flight at Inaugural Summit
On February 19, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and Winrock’s Innovate Arkansas took an important step to expand Arkansas’ knowledge-based economy with the launch of the Arkansas Innovation Council. This new initiative will tap into the combined insights and innovation of the state’s established industry leaders and its burgeoning startup community. Comprised of key leaders from Arkansas businesses, research universities, philanthropic organizations and state agencies, the council gathered for the first time to begin mapping the future of innovation in Arkansas.
Today we held the Arkansas Innovation Council’s first meeting. I enjoyed talking with such a diverse and knowledgeable group of leaders who are working hard to figure out new ways to grow business in Arkansas. pic.twitter.com/hc14UtInew
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) February 19, 2019
Gov. Hutchinson, who chairs the council, kicked off the summit by thanking members for their commitment and an audience of entrepreneurship influencers for their support. But he wasted no time in setting the stage for results by outlining his vision for the council.
“I was asked very astutely by [Tyson Foods President and CEO] Noel White, ‘What’s the goal? What are we trying to accomplish here?’” Hutchinson began.
Hutchinson explained the complementary roles of the state’s large technology-focused companies and its startup community before focusing on two specific goals: better supporting those companies to ensure they have the talent and resources they need for the future, and better supporting the entrepreneurial technology community in Arkansas.
.@AsaHutchinson announces Arkansas Innovation Council, a focused & sustained partnership of business & industry leaders & investors to grow Arkansas’s economy through innovation & technology. #InnovateArkansas .@WinrockIntl .@WaltonFamilyFdn .@ArkansasEDC pic.twitter.com/S519FKwKBU
— AgCouncilofAr (@AgCouncilofAr) February 19, 2019
While acknowledging past and ongoing efforts that have set the stage for continued innovation, Hutchinson stressed, “My goal is for us to determine what the gaps are for the future and what we can do better as a state. How can we help each other achieve our mutual goals? This council will require a focused and sustained partnership in order to identify gaps and the new ideas, initiatives to help us establish a strategic plan with specific recommendations.”
Arkansas has a well-diversified economy, which makes the state resilient to shocks. Gov. Hutchinson expressed his goal to add technology companies as a new pillar to Arkansas’ economic diversity.
David Sanders, Director of Innovate Arkansas at Winrock International, spoke about Innovation in Arkansas and elaborated on the interrelationship between established industry leaders and Arkansas’ entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The council will focus on innovation in industry sectors in which Arkansas leads nationally and globally, as well as those that are crucial to the lives of its citizens: retail and retail technology; transportation, distribution, and logistics; agriculture, food processing, forestry and natural resources; healthcare and biosciences; financial services; data sciences, advanced analytics and software development; and energy and power electronics.
Council member Ross DeVol, a Walton Fellow with the Walton Family Foundation, shared research and insights on the current status of the knowledge-based economy, including challenges that Arkansas must address as well as unique opportunities for innovation and growth.
Add one year of college #education to the region’s #workforce and GDP per capita jumps 17.4% – @DevolRoss, Walton Fellow, @WaltonFamilyFdn at #Arkansas Innovation Council Summit. @innovateAR @ArkansasEDC https://t.co/DAQ0Yx6YaO pic.twitter.com/M7Vmj0ETch
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
We must reach young females, specifically by 4th grade, to make sure they know there are opportunities in #STEM for them – @DevolRoss, Walton Fellow, @WaltonFamilyFdn, at Arkansas Innovation Council Summit. #education #empowergirls @innovateAR https://t.co/DAQ0Yx6YaO pic.twitter.com/ezrBtUh6Qm
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
Stan Green, of Winrock’s Innovate Arkansas team, moderated a panel to explore the components of a thriving, knowledge-based economy, featuring:
-
- Richard Brown, Dean, College of Engineering, University of Utah
- Mark Mason, Prinicipal and Founder, Affirma Consulting
- Elliott Parker, Managing Director, Corporate Innovation, High Alpha Venture Studio
- Cam Patterson, Chancellor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- April Seggebruch, Co-Founder, Movista
What was the key to creating Utah’s thriving knowledge-based economy?
“Government, higher education and industry have worked together – Dr. Richard Brown, Dean, College of Engineering, @UUtah.@innovateAR @ArkansasEDC https://t.co/DAQ0Yx6YaO pic.twitter.com/va9K4LNvn3
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
“We would not be here today without the support of the State of Arkansas…I may be the biggest advocate for those programs.” April Seggebruch, co founder, Movista. @innovateAR @ArkansasEDC https://t.co/DAQ0Yx6YaO pic.twitter.com/pyWUCXhrpu
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
“I’m confident I can attract and retain high quality employees in #Arkansas because of the quality of graduates…We have an incredibly good recruiting pipeline that we were able to establish in a matter of months” – Mark Mason, Affirma Consulting. @innovateAR @ArkansasEDC pic.twitter.com/WhrzOHjj8D
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
“We want to be able and ready partners for industry to partner with us…a tumultuous licensing process for example is a barrier to private sector partnerships – @drcampatterson @uamshealth #medtech #healthtech
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
Elliott Parker @highalpha on partnerships with corporations + #startups: #Entrepreneurship drives the economy…We live in an era of decentralized R&D. For established corporations to succeed, they must manage broadly distributed assets — not by pulling all R&D in-house. pic.twitter.com/x9RVERAAVB
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
Gov. Hutchinson returned to the stage to deliver the keynote of the Summit, in which he elaborated on the key points of his welcome address: success of past efforts, his vision for the future of Arkansas’ knowledge-based economy and the objectives of the Arkansas Innovation Council.
“In 2014 only 223 girls were studying #computerscience in high school. Today, there are 2484 girls studying computer science” – Gov. @AsaHutchinson. #STEM #education #girlsintech
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
What are the gaps for the future? What do we need to do better? What are the new ideas and initiatives that will help us establish a strategic plan with specific recommendations as to what more we can do as a state – Gov. @AsaHutchinson. https://t.co/DAQ0Yx6YaO pic.twitter.com/7VDtGZ2SuH
— Winrock Intl (@WinrockIntl) February 19, 2019
The founding members of the Arkansas Innovation Council are:
Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, President, University of Arkansas System
Albert Braunfisch, Chairman, MSpark
Amy Callahan, Cofounder, Collective Bias
Ross DeVol, Walton Fellow, Walton Family Foundation
William T. Dillard, III, Executive Vice President, Dillard’s Inc.
George Dunklin, Jr., Dunklin Farms
Richard Howe, CEO, Inuvo
Doug McMillon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Walmart Inc.
Judy McReynolds, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, ArcBest Corporation
Jeffrey W. Nolan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Loutre Land and Timber Company
Dr. Cam Patterson, Chancellor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mike Preston, Executive Director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission
John Rutledge, President, First Security Bank, Little Rock
Cheryl Schluterman, Interim President, Arkansas Development Finance Authority
Josh Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Metova, Inc.
Warren Stephens, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephens, Inc.
Dr. Chuck Welch, President, Arkansas State University System
Troy Wells, President and CEO, Baptist Health
Noel White, President and CEO, Tyson Foods Inc.