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Foreign-affairs columnist John C. Bersia, who works part-time for the Orlando Sentinel, is the special assistant to the president for global perspectives at the University of Central Florida. He was impressed with NETPark during his tour.
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COUNTY DURHAM, ENGLAND -- Cocooned in Prime Minister Tony Blair's parliamentary district, amid the predictably lush landscapes and quaint settings of northeastern England, lies the unexpected: NETPark, a science-and-research complex.
Taken by itself, NETPark might appear to be just another fledgling advanced-technology center, hardly unique, indeed, a mere shadow of similar projects in other countries.
But in its broader context -- that of a regional strategy, which is itself part of a larger national plan involving nine development agencies designed to enable England to compete more effectively in today's rapidly shrinking, increasingly interdependent world -- NETPark is much more. It symbolizes the fundamental awareness that success in the global economy is an option only for those who aggressively pursue it.
How does one know when a strategy, especially a regional one, meets the global test?
That is the multibillion-dollar question every community wants answered. And there is no shortage of creative people who dangle their favorite prescriptions. As a result, seemingly bold economic-development initiatives are legion. Unfortunately, too many of them are long on style and short on substance, delivering at best debatable results.
In light of that, I wanted to know why this region appeared different. What lurked behind its "Passionate People, Passionate Places" theme? In short, did substance accompany the sizzle?
Bear in mind that I was not simply interested in being presented with a laundry list of accomplishments and statistics, such as jobs created, new investment, the presence of foreign companies and so on -- as critical as those details are.
Rather, I was looking for what I consider to be the necessary strategy to sustain such results during the long term, one that results from the combination of a "fighting spirit" and comprehensive planning, one that is proactive, innovative and focused. I was not disappointed.
The fighting spirit comes easily in this part of England. It is home to Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limits of the Roman Empire, and to more castles than in any other part of the country, thanks to historical battles between the English and the Scots.
In the 21st century, though, the fighting spirit emanates from a different source: pure necessity, namely, the revitalization of an ailing industrial region.
As for the planning, it starts with a mission that properly emphasizes prosperity, sustainability and quality of life. It continues with a realistic assessment of current and potential strengths. Instead of trying to reach in all directions, this region decided that its future beckons from a manageable cluster: health care and health science, energy and the environment, and process industries, such as chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
From that point, the strategy seeks to build the region in key ways. Some, such as welcoming new businesses and growing others through assistance and economic incentives, are common in many parts of the world. But others, such as a sweeping focus on learning, education, training and entrepreneurship, are refreshingly bold, not to mention vital to global competitiveness.
Perhaps most important, the view here is truly toward the long term. This region and the rest of England clearly are positioning themselves for a rapid, rough romp through the global economy, not merely to complete the ride but to arrive first.
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