Washington’s Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) program was honored with a 2012 Council of State Governments Innovation Award this month, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce (WSDOC).
IPZs help accelerate the formation of regional innovation zones by partnering industry, research institutions, workforce development and government agencies to create commercially-viable products and jobs.
“For our Innovation Partnership Zones to be recognized nationally is a true achievement,” WSDOC Director Rogers Weed said in a press release. “It shows our unique partnerships can lead the way to 21st-century jobs.”
Washington state is home to 15 zones representing industry clusters such as bio-medical manufacturing, global health, alternative energy and viticulture. The Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) is currently working with Clark County to achieve Southwest Washington’s first IPZ status for its growing mobile technology industry.
