Recipient Organization
PRAXIS STRATEGY GROUP
100 NORTH 3RD STREET
GRAND FORKS,ND 58203
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
A growing number of economists and policymakers contend that finding new ways to connect to the markets, and technological innovation of metropolitan areas, will be a critical challenge for rural companies and communities who now face thin local markets and thin networks of firms and support institutions, e.g. finance. This research will lead to the commercialization of two possible service delivery models: a training program for identifying, creating and sustaining a market presence in metropolitan areas with a particular emphasis on issues related to information technologies; and direct or liaison services to individual businesses, business networks and business development organizations that 1) serve as a focal point for the entry of rural-produced products into metro markets, and 2) facilitate the acquisition of information about technology advances occurring in metro areas for rural companies.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
This research will look at how functional rural-urban linkages may be created and sustained to facilitate trade and technology transfer between rural and metro areas. More specifically, the project will determine the feasibility of developing organizational mechanisms and/or practices for creating trade and technology linkages within metropolitan economies that will benefit rural businesses and communities by integrating them more fully with the informational economy.
Project Methods
The research includes an examination of existing practices that could serve as the basis for creating a service delivery system for enabling rural companies and communities to proactively develop these linkages in metropolitan areas; including business-to-business linkages, business network and cluster linkages, civic-oriented rural-urban linkages, and technology liaison centers.