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MARKET RESEARCH Stafford to lead Oregon innovation, entrepreneurship strategy Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 16, 2015 at 7:13 AM Updated Mar 16, 2015 at 9:20 AM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 16, 2015 at 7:13 AM Updated Mar 16, 2015 at 9:20 AM » Social News The state's economic development agency has appointed Heather Stafford, executive director at Sustainable Valley Technology Group, to lead Oregon's innovation strategy. Stafford has led Sustainable Valley for the past two years, assisting the growth of innovative, start-up companies. She previously worked with Oregon’s Small Business Development Centers’ statewide Grow Oregon initiative, providing market research for mid-sized traded companies. As assistant director for the agency's new Innovation & Entrepreneurship division, Stafford will be based in Portland, working with accelerators and incubators, looking at start-ups and emerging industries. "This leans on my roots of market research looking at what's happening in Oregon target markets," Stafford said. "We know we're good at semiconductors, and sports apparel and athletic equipment. I will be looking also what's on the horizon in the Internet of things, how it plays out and how we will be able to to capitalize on it." Her portfolio includes Corvallis-based Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI); Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute (OTRADI), which helps take biotech and pharmaceuticals developed in conjunction with Oregon Health Sciences University laboratories to market; and the Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center (Oregon BEST), whose effort are often associated with clean energy. She begins her new role March 30. "Not all states have done what Business Oregon is doing," she said. "It's a very positive thing to focus a whole division on growing your own (companies). Traditional economic development is about attracting and retaining companies, but Oregon is committed to a grow-your-own strategy. It's exciting to see the state moving in a more agile direction." Sustainable Valley Board Chair Jessica Gomez said Stafford's new role will be good for rural Oregon. "Heather did a lot of amazing work and has been extremely creative in helping us figure out what we need to do in order to make Sustainable Valley effective and what works in a rural region," Gomez said "She helped us figure out what things we should focus on, and how to build innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It looks much different here than Portland." Business Oregon works on the premise that for every high-tech job another five are created outside of high-tech. Stafford will explore best practices adopted by other states and how they can be implemented at a state level here. "Montana is pretty interesting — two years ago they were ranked No. 26 in the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activities," Stafford said. "They became No. 1 in a few years. I don't know how, but I'm going to find out. Right now, Oregon ranks No. 38, so there is a lot of opportunity." The challenge ahead is connecting early-stage start-ups, research and development, and encourage universities, investors and entrepreneurs, she said. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on  Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at  www.mailtribune.com/ Economic Edge .     By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 16, 2015 at 7:13 AM Updated Mar 16, 2015 at 9:20 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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