Minneosta Technology Research Reports

Gain insight about issues affecting technology industries and the economy in Minnesota. Minnesota Technology, Inc. reports generate discussion among legislators and community leaders surrounding Minnesota's ability to compete with other states in the technology economy.

Future Technology: Life Sciences (1.36MB PDF)
March 2004

In a unique look at the future of Minnesota's economy, the Delphi process was employed to identify and rank 79 life science technologies according to their likelihood of emerging from research labs. In this report, Bemidji State University researchers identify what new technologies may ultimately become the products and services in the marketplace in the year 2008.

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Future Technology: Advanced Manufacturing (826KB PDF)
March 2004

Bemidji State University researchers employed the Delphi process to collect and rank opinions from experts to identify new technologies in advanced manufacturing industries. The report offers their rankings and suggests which will likely emerge from research laboratories to be sold in the marketplace by the year 2008.

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Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota
Connections: A Business Perspective (513KB PDF)
March 2004

After more than two years of shedding jobs, Minnesota's economy is finally showing the signs of an economic recovery. While job growth has remained sluggish, recent signs have pointed toward revitalized business production and investment. In particular, the high-tech services and manufacturing sectors appear poised to not only stop the job loss but also to resume growth. And although this growth is expected throughout the
state, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region, the state's hub of economic activity around hightech manufacturing and service sectors like electronics, medical technology, biosciences, and information technology, appears likely to be the primary benefi ciary of this rebound. Will Twin Cities businesses look to Greater Minnesota as they increase capacity in the form of new jobs, investment, and facilities?

Historically, the Twin Cities and “outstate” Minnesota have been closely interrelated economically, with the metro area serving as a market and distribution center for agricultural and resource-based commodities produced in rural areas. Many Twin Cities companies viewed Greater Minnesota as a viable location alternative for production and back-office activities. However, advancements in information and communications technologies have lowered the barriers for companies to establish operations in distant
locations like Asia and Latin America, thus lessening their need to keep operations close to home.

This report examines the site location preferences of Twin Cities manufacturing and technology service businesses, especially in relation to Greater Minnesota. It addresses a number of different questions, such as: How does Greater Minnesota rank among potential investment locations? What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of Greater Minnesota as an investment location? And what factors, if improved, would make Twin Cities businesses more likely to invest in Greater Minnesota?