Happy Outcomes Not Guaranteed: The Great Lakes Megaregion
In my previous article, on the Bioscience Labor Market Analysis, I concurred with the report's findings that an emphasis on manufacturing is a factor in making the St. Louis region unique, saying, "This is can indeed be a source of competitive strength."
"Locating research and development in close proximity to production and manufacturing can build an ecosystem effect in which R&D becomes more market- and production-focused. As a result, ideation can be more focused and the product development lifecycle shortened."
Unfortunately, this happy outcome is not guaranteed. Here's why.