Silicon shire explained

In 2012 the Eugene, Oregon, metro area of the United States was dubbed the Silicon Shire.[1] [2] [3] [4] Like many regions that have taken on Silicon-themed names,[5] the Silicon Shire is home to a thriving technology sector.[6] [7] [8] [9] In 2015, the region's rapid growth led to Eugene being named one of "The Next Top 10 Cities For Tech Jobs" by Fast Company magazine.[10]

There are more than 400 companies in the Silicon Shire region, employing more than 4,570 people with an annual payroll of about $296 million.[11] Key factors in the region's growth are the presence of higher education, a high quality of life, a low cost environment, and technological advancements.[12] The region is home to the largest game developer cluster in Oregon,[13] and also is the location of Symantec's third largest site in the world.[14] In addition to technology, the region also boasts a significant healthcare sector as well as food processing, craft breweries, and small-scale agriculture.[15] Regional companies have developed partnerships with local school districts to advance STEM education in the region.[16]

In 2013, companies from the region organized an event at the University of Oregon which gave students and faculty a chance to mingle with representatives from local tech firms.[17] In early 2015, companies from the region partnered with an international advocacy group for mobile app developers to host an event featuring speakers including Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Peter Defazio.[11] [18] Later that year, Alaska Airlines obtained a federal Small Community Air Service Development grant to establish a direct route connecting the region to Silicon Valley.[19]

In 2016, the City of Eugene, the Eugene Water and Electric Board, and the Lane Council of Governments partnered to construct a municipally-owned fiber network called EUGNet.[20] [21] The development of this network and the region's well established tech sector were key factors that led to Eugene being named a "Gigabit City" by the Mozilla Foundation in early 2017.[22] [23] [24] Mozilla offered $150,000 in grants to regional organizations to fund a range of technology projects focused on making technology in the region more inclusive and engaging.[25]

In early 2018, the Silicon Shire region was featured in an article in WIRED Magazine.[26]

See also

Notes and References

  1. KMTR Silicon Shire. 24 January 2014. YouTube.
  2. Web site: Eugene's Silicon Shire: The tech (and beer) are better here. Goodreads. 11 November 2013.
  3. Web site: OEN Talks with Silicon Shire Visionary Cale Bruckner. Oregon Entrepreneurs Network. 19 September 2012.
  4. Web site: EUGENE 2.0. ETHOS Magazine. 15 April 2015.
  5. Web site: Silicon America: A Map of Tech Hubs in the United States. StateTech Magazine. 8 November 2013.
  6. Web site: Silicon Shire: 'Eugene is a real hub for tech companies'. Sinclair Broadcast Group. KVAL. 11 February 2013.
  7. Web site: Tech firms take off. The Register-Guard. 2 February 2014.
  8. Web site: Eugene-Springfield companies network on Silicon Shire website. 10 December 2012. Oregon Business.
  9. Web site: City Club of Eugene: What You Need To Know About The Tech Industry In Eugene. KLCC Radio. 4 December 2017.
  10. Web site: The Next Top 10 Cities For Tech Jobs. 13 July 2015. Fast Company.
  11. Web site: App developers meeting today on UO campus. The Register-Guard. 25 August 2015.
  12. Web site: State Representative Nancy Nathason - September-October 2014. Oregon Legislature.
  13. Web site: Building a gaming community fueled by Oregon talent. 21 June 2017. Portland Business Journal.
  14. Web site: Relocation. Travel Lane County.
  15. Web site: Heart of the Silicon Shire. Business in Focus. 19 September 2014.
  16. Web site: Application Narrative. Oregon Department of Education. 12 March 2014.
  17. Web site: Silicon Shire connects faculty and students with local tech industry. University of Oregon. 28 February 2013.
  18. Web site: Eugene Startup Community Draws Widespread Praise. The ACT Blog. 10 September 2015.
  19. Web site: Connecting the Silicon Shire to the Silicon Valley. City of Eugene, OR. 10 November 2015.
  20. Web site: City of Eugene Community Broadband Strategic Plan. EUGnet.org. 27 August 2013.
  21. Web site: High Speed Broadband Fiber. City of Eugene, OR. 17 March 2017.
  22. Web site: Mozilla selects Eugene as next Gigabit City. Lane Workforce Partnership. 14 March 2017.
  23. Web site: A Public-Private Partnership for Gigabit Innovation and Internet Health. The Mozilla Blog. 14 March 2017.
  24. Web site: Eugene's "Silicon Shire" : No Orcs Here. Community Networks Blog. 24 March 2017.
  25. Web site: 'Gigabit City' title to speed collaboration in Eugene. The Register-Guard. 15 March 2017.
  26. Web site: Everyone Hates Silicon Valley, Except Its Imitators. WIRED Magazine. 3 February 2018.

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