09 Dec Report Reveals Vitality of SE Wisconsin Technology Community
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee metropolitan area is emerging as a region with a broad and diverse information technology (IT) and biomedical industry, according to a report entitled, “Southeastern Wisconsin 2004 Directory of Information and Biomedical Companies,” sponsored and released by WE Energies in conjunction with regional industry associations, eInnovate and the Wisconsin IT Leadership Association (WITLA). The directory and the accompanying research conducted by the power utility reveal that a growing sector of Wisconsin’s economy is focused on IT and health-related technologies located in the region.
The report identified 500 IT companies in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties. These firms employ 21,550 workers with a total annual payroll of about $1.2 billion per year. Additionally, the report identified 75 biomedical firms, employing 4,000 workers with a total annual payroll of $250 million.
“The catalyst for this project was the recognition that there is an incorrect perception that there is not a lot going on with technology here in Southeastern Wisconsin,” said Dave Hynek, president of WITLA.
The Community Development Department of WE Energies compiled the information. The objective of the project and research was to compile the first audit of the region’s technology industry.
“Everyone talked about the critical mass of IT companies and a smaller, but growing, sector of biomedical companies in Southeastern Wisconsin, but no one had any definitive list,” said Penny Scheuerman, Community Development Manager for WE Energies.
In addition to providing a directory of local technology companies, the report gathered trends relating to the characteristics, demographics and industry segmentation of these firms to determine which types of development plans and programs could accelerate their growth as well as further public awareness of the region’s technology companies.
“Our hope is the directory will increase the amount of business for tech companies, connect tech companies with each other and connect tech companies with a significant amount of resources available to them through universities, law and accounting firms, consulting organizations, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, local development corporations and others,” added Scheuerman.
Of the information technology companies included in the report, 18 percent provide general networking and programming services, 15 percent provide specific software products, 13 percent provide Web services and 13 percent provide customer relationship management software. Other service categories represented include manufacturing resource planning, management advisory services, Web hosting services and application service providers.
The report indicates that 43 percent of the region’s IT companies are located in Milwaukee County and 42 percent are in Waukesha County, with the balance in the other five counties.
According to Scheuerman, 2,500 directories were printed. Copies are being provided at no cost to all participating companies and organizations as well as all attendees at the Dec. 9, “eForum: The Role of Innovation & Technology in Wisconsin’s Economic Future“. Additionally, a mailing list of private and public officials that could benefit from the directory and accompanying research has been developed. The remaining directories will be distributed upon request.
For more information contact Penny Scheuerman at penny.scheuerman@we-energies.com.