State labels Bothell zone for biomed

Medical researchers and businesses in Bothell will be allowed to market themselves as the only biomedical-device region in the state, one of 11 state areas that Gov. Christine Gregoire named as "innovation partnership zones."

Each of the zones named last week has a unique focus, with the hope that such a designation will help those areas become more globally competitive.

The idea came up during the 2006 legislative session, when lawmakers wondered whether they could capitalize on areas where existing industry was geographically clustered.

Giving them a name, such as the "aerospace innovation partnership zone," creates something similar to the Research Triangle Park in North Carolina or Torrey Pines in California, state officials said.

"The theory was that we could create these clusters, where until now, they'd happened organically or had been driven by market," said Julie Anderson, a senior policy adviser at the state Community, Trade and Economic Development Office.

"The brand and designation is worth something alone," she said. "For Bothell, it can now claim it's the center of biomedical-device innovation in Washington, and from a development standpoint, that's a great tool to have."

Gregoire calls the zones "powerful economic engines to support our regional economies." She believes, state officials say, that by bringing together educators, business, government and the work force, something special will happen: innovation.

"Put the components together, and you ignite invention and get it to the commercial chains quickly," Anderson said.

The zone designations are good for four years, at which time the state will reevaluate how effective the branding has been. Each area is expected to meet a number of goals specific to the business it is trying to attract or promote.

During that time, the state will provide technical support to increase and improve the industry for which each zone is approved. But the designations also push private and public partners within the zones to the forefront of available state dollars for research, employee recruitment and training — something Anderson says the governor wants to increase in future years.

For Snohomish County's Workforce Development Council, the designations are a boon to promoting already booming industries.

"We'll get technical assistance and support from the state," said Mary Jane Vujovic, director of strategic initiatives for the Workforce Development Council. "This gives us a chance to bring in the economic-development tools to support that continued work. We're interested in advancing and improving what we're doing here."

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-745-7813 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com