The EastWest Exchange was a cross-regional network of business, academic, and civic leaders from the innovation ecosystems of eastern and western Massachusetts working to strengthen resiliency in the innovation processes that power the Massachusetts economy.
Global supply chain disruptions brought on by the pandemic and broader geopolitical tensions have shaped this initiative around facilitating connections among the Commonwealth's innovation assets as firms look to locally source solutions to their R&D, technology, manufacturing, and talent needs.
Headline speakers, iRobot CEO & Founder Colin Angle, U.S. Congressman Richard Neal, and Massachusetts Secretary of Housing & Economic Development laid the framework for the Exchange as an interactive discussion around opportunities for collaboration between innovation networks in eastern and western Massachusetts.
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Harvard Business School professor, Willy Shih, discussed how the U.S. - China trade war and COVID-19 pandemic have shined a light on the structure and vulnerabilities of global supply chains and how Massachusetts companies can enhance resiliency in their operations.
Willy Shih |
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Talent & Resources to Fuel Emerging Commercial Needs
UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy set the table around the strategic alignment of the rich talent and resources in western Mass with opportunities and challenges facing technology firms, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs throughout the Commonwealth. Headline speakers discussed models of successful partnerships among anchor firms, higher education, research institutions, and innovation support organizations that contribute to the region’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and culture of creative problem-solving.
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Tapping into Massachusetts' Manufacturing Hot Spot
The high-quality production capabilities and engineering expertise of regional manufacturers were showcased in this session as the localization of supply chains became an increasingly attractive approach to reducing operational risk in light of global market disruptions. This session showcased successful models of collaboration among OEMs and regional manufacturers through a real-time rocket pitch, partnership vignette, and a series of innovation profiles.
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Congressman Neal and Holyoke Community College President, Dr. Christina Royal, hosted a group of prominent Boston-based business leaders in a discussion around themes of shifting supply chains and deurbanization of workforces and the opportunities present in Western MA.
