Innovation
on the Map
West Virginia Regional Innovation Cluster
In an innovation economy, several factors come together to
drive economic growth: knowledge, technology, entrepreneurship,
innovation and collaboration. TechConnect West Virginia, acting
as a catalyst for driving innovation, cultivating entrepreneurship
and creating greater prosperity and economic diversity across
the state, has identified a strong foundation for success in the
Mountain State. Beginning in the north in Morgantown, this
foundation runs south along I-79 to Charleston and west along
I-64 to Huntington as evidenced on the accompanying map.
The assets in this region make it a prime location for
innovation-based economic development to flourish. This map,
which illustrates West Virginia’s innovation economy, includes
the state’s colleges and universities, technology parks, research
laboratories, private sector firms, federal anchor facilities,
economic development organizations, entrepreneurial resource
providers and sources of risk capital and investment. These
entities are crucial to innovation-based growth and demonstrate
cluster development.
Anne Barth
68
west virginia executive