In the fall of 2008 the Port of Bellingham engaged TAG to map research and development activities in sciences and technology in Whatcom County. We developed a comprehensive directory that identifies the expertise and subject areas of researchers, faculty, and associates at local colleges and private industry. In addition to identifying areas of expertise in R&D we also looked to identify interest levels in collaborating on projects with industry.

The study from the directory results, completed in May 2009, show very strong innovative capacity in Northwest Washington. What did we learn? Whatcom County is home to a wealth of technology and scientific expertise in our four-year university and three independent community and technical colleges. Not surprisingly, Western Washington University has the highest number of faculty in science and technology with 177 staff employed at the College of Sciences and Technology and Huxley College. Bellingham Technical College has 49 faculty in areas of science and technology, followed by Whatcom Community College with 45, of which a majority is involved in mathematics instruction. Northwest Indian College currently employs 12 faculty in areas of environmental sciences, mathematics and computer technology.

The diverse private R&D activities in Whatcom County are equally impressive, with numerous internationally successful companies with very active R&D. Examples include companies such as Absorption Corp, Alpha Technologies, Allsop, Aluminum Chambered Boats, Blue Sea Systems, Cascade Dafo, and Contemporary Design Co. Other local companies involved in research include Homax Products, Samson Rope Technologies and QM Bearings, and others too numerous to list. There was a notably strong interest in renewable energy, clean technology and sustainability as areas of collaboration from both academic researchers and private industry.

TAG recently wrote a column that references opportunities to leverage our local R&D resources in a recent column in the Bellingham Business Journal which you can access here>>