By Brad Haire
University of Georgia

Tifton, Ga. — Gov. Sonny Perdue announced here today the
creation of the state’s third center for innovation, one that
will take advantage of the area’s strong agricultural research
base.

The Georgia Center of Innovation for Agriculture will be housed
on the Tifton, Ga., campus of the University of Georgia College
of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

It will be a collaboration between UGA, Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College and Georgia Tech.

“This public-private-university partnership will foster
creativity and innovation,” Perdue said.

Economic leverage

The rich agricultural research of the Tifton area will be
leveraged in partnership with private corporations and rural
businesses to make products and services that will increase the
efficiency of Georgia’s agricultural industry and make it more
competitive in the marketplace, he said.

“We have to improve our production capabilities through
knowledge and science and facilities such as this and make sure
we keep our state and our nation competitive in the 21st-century
economy,” he said.

Georgia must continue to be a leader in developing technologies,
encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting existing industries
into the 21st century, he said.

“I believe we have to focus on those things we do well. And we
do agriculture well. But we can’t rest on those laurels,” he
said. “We have to continue doing better.”

Human capital

Education and the development of human capital will be the keys
of success for future generations of Georgians, said UGA
President Michael F. Adams.

“We can take human capital and knowledge through a place like
this innovation center and turn that into economic development,
which means real jobs for real people,” Adams said.

Georgia’s Centers of Innovation strategy began in 2003.

The Middle Georgia Aerospace Innovation Center is housed on the
Macon State College Warner Robins campus and will draw on that
area’s aerospace resources around the Warner Robins Air
Logistics Center.

Researchers from Georgia Tech, Mercer University and Macon State
will work directly with the ALC and partner with private
industry to develop new aerospace technologies.

The Savannah Maritime Logistics Innovation Center will address
national and international maritime logistics and security
issues.

Researchers from Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University and
Armstrong Atlantic State University will work with the Ports
Authority to develop new technologies for the efficient, secure
movement of freight.