Director Puts Focus on Tennessee Technology
Published Apr 08, 2004
Eric Cromwell, Tennessee’s first director of technology development, was a founding director of the EmergeMemphis business incubator and helped launch the FedEx Institute of Technology in Memphis before tackling technology growth statewide.
No doubt about it: Technology means jobs for Tennessee. And one newly created job, in particular, has the task of putting technology on the frontline of Tennessee’s economic future.
Eric Cromwell became the state’s first director of technology development in early 2004. Gov. Phil Bredesen’s administration is the first to create a technology development position within the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to expressly oversee this growing employment sector. Cromwell is working closely with ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber in designing and implementing the state’s technology job-growth policies and initiatives.
“Technology accounted for two-thirds of U.S. economic growth over the past 50 years, and technological innovation will continue to drive the nation’s economy,” Kisber says. “That is why this department and this administration are making the strongest possible commitment to technology growth in Tennessee.”
Unlike many states, Tennessee has the infrastructure in place to build a thriving technology business sector, according to Cromwell. He points to developing technology clusters in West, Middle and East Tennessee that focus on emerging fields like information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology.
“We have a strong research base in Tennessee, and we need to support it and grow it,” Cromwell says. “Great research is happening at the University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, schools in the Tennessee Board of Regents system and others, and we need to make sure we leverage that for job creation.
“Tennessee also has Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the largest multipurpose federal laboratory in the country, and that is a great asset to have.”
Cromwell’s appointment resulted from a joint search by ECD and the Tennessee Technology Development Corp. board. His hands-on technology development expertise and vision for supporting technology growth in all parts of the state made him their top choice.
Before taking on the state technology job, Cromwell worked with Jim Phillips, entrepreneur and technology business executive, to launch the FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis in 2003. He served as associate director of the institute, a public-private initiative established to support advanced research and higher education.
Previously, Cromwell was founding director of EmergeMemphis, the first business incubation program of Memphis Incubator Systems Inc. During his time there, the organization secured more than $5 million in funding and attracted more than 20 startup companies to join the program.
The opportunity to help build an entrepreneurial development organization in Memphis led to Cromwell’s admiration of entrepreneurs and interest in technology development.
“Entrepreneurs are an amazing group of people who are willing to risk ridicule, reputation and financial resources to truly realize the American dream to start and grow a successful business,” Cromwell says. “It was rewarding to participate in the growth of startup businesses in Memphis, and I will aggressively pursue new initiatives that help foster a strong entrepreneurial culture in Tennessee.”
Story by Kay Brookshire
Photo by Greg Emens
Current Weather Conditions In Nashville, TN (37243)
Cloudy, and 46 ° F. For more details?
Click here...
