Great Plains Region Technology and Innovation Survey: All manufacturers, entrepreneurial technology developers urged to participate
MANHATTAN — The Technology Development Institute at the Kansas State University Carl R. Ice College of Engineering is conducting a survey of manufacturers and other business innovators in the Great Plains region for their perspectives on technology, innovation, and regional infrastructure for economic recovery and growth.
"COVID-19 has induced extraordinary challenges for our region's businesses, industries and markets," said Jeff Tucker, executive director of the Technology Development Institute, or TDI. "With the backing of Economic Development Administration CARES Act funding, TDI and its partners are seeking the forward-looking perspectives of frontline manufacturers and technology developers, including perspectives on how economic development networks might best support progress toward economic recovery and long-term growth."
While recent surveys have largely focused on tracking impacts of COVID-19, the Technology Development Institute and its partners wanted to complement these efforts by focusing more on industry's plans and expectations for navigating new normals and succeeding in the future. Topics include initial business responses to the pandemic, top concerns for building operational resilience, investment plans, supply chain concerns, workforce needs, regional infrastructure needs, and types of public policy and support that could best aid in economic recovery and growth.
Survey results will be used to inform private-public solutions to our economic challenges, potentially benefiting manufacturers and regional industry. "The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and the responses to it will help inform private-public solutions to economic challenges, including federal and state policies that could benefit businesses and their employees," Tucker said.
To participate in the survey, visit https://greatplainstmc.org/2020-survey and click the "Great Plains Technology and Innovation Survey" link.
Survey participants will be offered an opportunity to be one of the first to view the results, summarizing the Great Plains region's perspectives.
Collaborators on the survey include the University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and other state and regional stakeholders.
The deadline to complete the survey is Tuesday, Nov. 17. Contact Courtney Kuntz at the Technology Development Institute, cakuntz@k-state.edu, with questions.
