Three new players push Mid-Tenn tech industries

Advocates of science, technology and education are sprouting all over

Email | Print By Milt Capps

Sam Lynch, BioMimetic

At least three new organizations have formed to help push high-tech and other economic development in Middle Tennessee.

The new Middle Tennessee Technology Corridor, spearheaded by executives associated with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, is conducting its first full strategic-planning retreat on Monday in Murfreesboro. MTTC plans to launch an array of programs designed to improve the attractiveness of the region for high-tech employers.

The group has been meeting informally for months to explore the region's high-tech resources. It has attracted participation from representatives of Vanderbilt University, the University of Tennessee Space Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority, Middle Tennessee State University, state economic-development agencies, and the chambers of commerce of Nashville, Tullahoma, Huntsville, Rutherford County and others.

BioTN Foundation Inc. is the second and newest not-for-profit entrant in the movement to strengthen the local economy and its workforce, with a focus on the needs of the current and future life-sciences sector.

BioTN was chartered in January by Sam Lynch, founder of BioMimetic Therapeutics in Franklin. A BioMimetic spokesperson this morning confirmed for NashvillePost.com the formation of the group, but said that announcement of details would be weeks away. Similarly, a spokesman for the Tennessee Biotechnology Association, a statewide nonprofit group, recently declined to comment when asked about BioTN.

A third entity, the Knowledge Quest Institute is the newly formed educational initiative of Williamson Works Inc., the nonprofit economic-development organization that augments the economic-development agency of Williamson County government. Its mission is focused on providing customized workforce training, other adult education and preparation of K-12 students for the "knowledge-based" economy and that sector's better-paying jobs.

In addition to educational programs, KQI plans to mobilize stakeholders to address important issues and help develop grants and other funding to support further initiatives. Williamson County economic development head Bob Iannacone has not returned a telephone call for this story.

KQI, BioTN, Willliamson County economic development and Williamson Works all have the same 389 Nichol Mill Lane address at Cool Springs Life Sciences Center in Franklin.