Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Forbes: Milwaukee an 'up-and coming' tech center

The Business Journal of Milwaukee

Citing the advanced technology and workplaces of Rockwell Automation Inc. and Johnson Controls Inc., a survey from a public policy professor at George Mason University ranked the city of Milwaukee fifth on a list of the 'top 10 up-and-coming tech cities' as reported in Forbes magazine.

In its report, Forbes said that Philip Auerswald surveyed innovation trends and technologies, including advanced materials, polymers and plastics and cell microbiology, to determine a list of future technology centers. Milwaukee ranked among both big and small cities on the list.

Columbus, Ohio, topped the sometimes curious list, citing the city's $4 billion research institute that oversees seven major laboratories for different federal agencies. Santa Fe, N.M., ranked second, while Palm Beach County, Fla., and Houston were third and fourth, respectively.

Milwaukee made the list because of the advanced products produced by Milwaukee-based industrial automation systems manufacturer Rockwell (NYSE: ROK). Such products are being used to increase manufacturing efficiency. Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) of Glendale was also noted as an adopter and producer of energy-efficient facility management systems. The systems are helping to lead worldwide growth of the company, which Forbes said would grow 35 percent to 190,000 within three to four years.

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