— This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Lisa Johnson, CEO of BioForward Wisconsin.
The Madison-based organization leads the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub initiative, which this week received official Regional Technology Hub designation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
It’s one of 31 such efforts selected by federal officials, putting it in the running for up to $70 million in funding in the next phase of the program. The Wisconsin-based effort is centered around personalized medicine, drawing on the state’s health care, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing industries.
“That’s from the strength we have in biosciences, biotech, but then you get into the health area with diagnostics and digital health and [medical] devices, and all combined, it’s biohealth,” she said. “And it really differentiates us from many other places.”
Johnson says the designation sends a message to the rest of the country that Wisconsin excels in these areas, and recognizes the potential for the state to become a global center of expertise in precision medicine.
Of the designees, up to 10 will be chosen for between $40 million and $70 million, Johnson explained.
“That’s what we’re vying for … We would go after different areas,” she said. “Workforce will continue to be a focus if we do get that phase two. Education would be a focus. We would also go after the entrepreneurial startup space.”
In the coming months, the Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub will be working on an application for that second phase while using its $350,000 strategy planning grant on workforce initiatives. That application is due Feb. 29, giving the team about four months to put it together.
“It’s very creative, that’s what I like … It’s an experiment,” she said. “Can this really help ignite other areas of the country? Let’s give other areas of the country a chance, because we’ve always funded the coasts. And that excites me.”
Listen to the show here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-lisa-johnson-bioforward-wisconsin-4/
See the full list of WisBusiness.com podcasts: https://www.wisbusiness.com/category/podcast/
See more on the Tech Hub designation: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisconsin-lands-one-of-31-regional-technology-hubs/
— In the latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show,” Ben Kvalo of Midwest Games talks about the rise of the video gaming industry in Wisconsin
An upcoming panel discussion on that topic featuring Kvalo will kick off the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, being held Nov. 8-9 by the Wisconsin Technology Council.
Kvalo has worked on video games for major companies including Netflix, Blizzard and 2K, and recently returned to Wisconsin from the West Coast.
“Ultimately, there’s a lot of opportunity in Wisconsin to grow in these areas, and with the experience that I’ve been able to gain over the last quite a few years, has led me to want to bring some of that back,” said Kvalo, the founder and CEO of Midwest Games.
He sees potential for pairing Wisconsin’s “humble, hardworking” mindset with the “glitz and glamor” of the modern entertainment industry.
“Especially the video game space, which is so technical,” he said. “And there’s so many incredible technical people in Wisconsin and the Midwest.”
The show also includes other Early Stage Symposium highlights, and previews more upcoming events from the Tech Council.
Watch the show here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-the-show-with-ben-kvalo-of-midwest-games/
See more on the ESS: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/early-stage-symposium/
— Northwestern Mutual is putting another $75 million into its Impact Investing Fund, bringing its total size to $175 million.
The Milwaukee-based financial services business yesterday announced the move, which is aimed at boosting the influence of the investment fund. It was launched in 2021 with a goal of reducing the racial wealth gap by supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Since that time, the fund has made 16 investments that have led to the creation of about 350 new jobs, according to the announcement.
“With this added commitment, we will be able to support even more positive social impact and businesses as they grow their footprint and workforce in their local communities,” said Ray Manista, executive vice president, chief legal and compliance officer, and secretary for Northwestern Mutual.
Earlier this month, the company announced the latest cohort of its Black Founder Accelerator program, which is administered in partnership with startup accelerator gener8tor. Both this program and the investment fund are part of its Sustained Action for Racial Equity initiative.
See more on the accelerator program: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/black-founder-accelerator-participants-developing-fintech-startups-in-milwaukee/
— Gov. Tony Evers has appointed 30 members to a task force focused on AI and workforce issues, which is set to have its first meeting on Monday.
Evers yesterday announced the appointments to the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence, which includes state agency leaders, higher education officials, business executives, tech experts and others.
“These task force members represent a range of fields that are a critical part of the important work we have to do to better understand and prepare for AI,” Evers said in a statement.
See the full list of members here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3778ed4
— UW-Platteville is eliminating 111 positions — about 12% of the campus workforce — to help make up for a structural deficit, Chancellor Tammy Evetovich told university staff in an email.
“I realize that these decisions are much more than numbers and budgets. They affect our people,” Evetovich wrote.
Sixty employees will be laid off and 31 open positions have been cut.
On top of that, 32 employees took advantage of an early retirement incentive program. Twenty of those positions won’t be refilled.
Evetovich said through various changes, including layoffs, the university has reduced its fiscal year 2025 deficit by more than $9 million and will have a balanced budget in the coming year.
“While these changes are hard, please know they were informed by data and made strategically
to focus on preserving student facing services and programs, eliminating duplicative functions,
and adjusting employee categories to better align with enrollment changes over the last decade,” Evetovich wrote.
The announcement comes after both UW-Platteville and UW-Parkside had both previously announced they were considering layoffs and furloughs to address structural deficits and enrollment declines.
Meanwhile, UW-Oshkosh recently laid off 1-in-6 employees, UW-Platteville Richland has closed its doors, and both UW-Milwaukee Washington County and UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac plan to end in-person instruction next year.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has pushed the Universities of Wisconsin to eliminate DEI positions in order to get more funding, including employee pay raises. The Rochester Republican has also offered the possibility of giving the Legislature back position authority in exchange for the raises.
See the email:
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— UW Health has established a new clinic for patients going into surgery that’s meant to reduce complications from anesthesia and procedures.
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#TOP STORIES#
# Wisconsin business leaders see AI’s potential. Are companies ready?
# Prank you very much! Wisconsin native’s company sells gag gift boxes
# Harley-Davidson profits down 22% as shipments, sales shrink
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Dairy insights summit to address food waste
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=956&yr=2023
– Good things come from Wisconsin’s ‘valley’
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=953&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– WisDOT starts $4 million highway project in Kenosha County
# ECONOMY
– Strike on Great Lakes shipping artery impacting steel, salt for roads
# EDUCATION
– UW-Platteville eliminating 111 positions to balance budget
– Wisconsin homeschooling doesn’t require a teaching license, background check
# ENVIRONMENT
– UW-Madison students work to improve impaired Koshkonong Creek
– Women take shot at waterfowl hunting during workshop
# FINANCIAL SERVICES
– Tim Sheehy joins Johnson Financial Group board
# FOOD AND BEVERAGE
– Starbucks to close high-profile coffee shop in downtown Milwaukee
– The Buzz: Diablo’s Taqueria is opening in the Fox River Mall
# HEALTH CARE
– Peggy Troy to retire as Children’s Wisconsin CEO
– Children’s Wisconsin president and CEO Peggy Troy to retire at end of 2024
# MANUFACTURING
– Harley sees ‘customers sitting on the sidelines’ amid higher interest rates, uncertainty
– LiveWire planning big Q4 to meet its guidance
# NONPROFIT
– Textile Arts Center aims to serve quilters, weavers, knitters and more
# POLITICS
– Organic dairy industry gets boost from new legislation
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=955&yr=2023
– RNC host committee has raised nearly $15 million locally for 2024 convention
# REAL ESTATE
– Another Milwaukee commission approves second shot for New Land Enterprises apartment plans
– Kwik Trip and housing plans progress in this Lake Country community
– Aug Prep planning $25 million in renovations to former Cardinal Stritch campus
# TECHNOLOGY
– Rockwell, Microsoft expand partnership with generative AI
# TOURISM
– Iron Horse Hotel emerging from Chapter 11. Hotel continues to operate
– Kalahari Resorts begins work on massive water park resort on East Coast
– Chocolate and cast iron: Here are our highlights from the 2023 Kohler Food and Wine festival
# UTILITIES
– New community solar project allows low-income households to soak up the benefits
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
UW Health: Innovative adult Pre-Anesthesia Clinic opens at East Madison Hospital
