Key Investment Areas of Strategic Importance to Arizona: ICT, SUS & BIO Explained
Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) investments are focused on three broad areas of use-driven research of strategic importance to Arizona including:
1. Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
2. Sustainable Systems (SUS)
3. Biomedical Research (BIO)
The diagram below illustrates how these three key strategic areas are linked to our five investment program catagories. In general, these strategic areas and the cooreponding programs determine the scope of SFAz's investments.
For information on the five investment programs, please visit Investment Programs >>.
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These three strategic areas are explained as follows:
1) Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Industries involved in the creation, development, and manufacturing of products and services that transmit and manipulate data into meaningful, accessible information. |
• Main areas Include: 1) Computers ; 2) Software and Data Processing;
3) Communications & Media Equipment; 4) Semiconductor & Electronic
Components; 5) Aerospace, Navigation & Control Instruments
• The ICT sector is historically a strong driver for the Arizona economy: 9.4%
private sector jobs, 7.6% gross state product, majority of Arizona foreign
exports and offers high-quality, good-paying jobs.
• Opportunity for Arizona: The ICT has new opportunities for technologies and technology convergence with industries such as the biosciences and biotechnology.
2) Sustainable Systems (SUS)
A developing and relatively new group of industries involved in the creation of new technologies, products, and processes that both advance economic development today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. |
• Main areas include: 1) Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Products; 2)
Water Management & Environmental Services; 3) Sustainable Manufacturing
(water, energy, and toxic material management); 4) Pollution Prevention &
Recycling; 5) Green Construction & Sustainable Forest Services and
Agriculture.Critical issues include maintaining our natural resource base while ensuring economic growth and an acceptable quality of life.
• Opportunity for Arizona: Arizona is a living laboratory for arid and
semi-arid lands. Arizona should be able to produce a stream of knowledge
technologies and products that address the triple bottom line: economic
prosperity and continuity, social well-being, and environmental protection
and resource conservation both local and global.
• Innovative technologies are responding to a growing global sustainable
systems market, driven by increasing need for clean energy (e.g., solar
energy), clean water, and reduced industrial pollution.
3) Biomedical Research and Biosciences (BIO)
Diverse and unique group of industries involved in biomedicine, and biological/life science technology related activity. |
• Comprised of 4 main areas: 1) Drugs & Pharmaceuticals; 2) Medical
Devices & Equipment; 3) Agricultural Feedstock and Chemicals; 4) Research, Testing, and Medical Laboratories
• SFAz is able to converge industry know-how with researchers and
resources to discover innovations that fill market gaps. Objective is converting
research to products, processes, and wealth generation.
• This is a knowledge intensive sector with potential for high wage jobs, major industry growth. Arizona is well-positioned to become an even larger southwest biomedical and biosciences center based on the presence of world-class institutions, clinical research excellence and cutting-edge enterprises.