COINS: an Economic Development Tool for Education, Economic and Workforce

Development in Open Source Economic Development

Betsey Merkel
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)

Purpose
This paper will 1) explore the evidence of COINS occurring in 1Open Source
Economic Development samples and 2) discuss a proposed informed method of
implementation, 2I-Open Civic Forums, to link and leverage innovation to place
based assets, strengthening regional education, economic and workforce
development.

Our current situation

Unprecedented economic shifts have left many Universities, Colleges and
Libraries unprepared for rapid change. Left with insufficient and diminished public
and private endowments, enrollment, and industry networks, it is important for
Colleges, Universities and Libraries to define their role in Open Source Economic
Development, a networked approach to regional economic development.

1
Open Source Economic Development is a networked approach to linking and leveraging
innovation with civic, business, government and academic resources and assets in
education, economic, and workforce development.
2
I-Open Civic Forums create the open, neutral spaces for civic entrepreneurs to advance
new conversations focused on the powerful topics affecting economic development in
communities and their regions today. Civic Forums model collaborative leadership, build
networks, and accelerate “Strategic Doing” – a simple, but disciplined process of moving
ideas to action quickly.
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The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open) 4415 Euclid Ave 3rd Fl
Cleveland, Ohio 44103 USA
Thesis statement
Communities and their regions have an opportunity to integrate higher levels
of organization, process, and tools to deepen access and strengthen legacy assets
residing in Colleges, Universities and Libraries, hubs of innovation and key to
regional economic sustainability.

By adopting an integrated approach to collaborative innovation networks

(COINS) in Open Source Economic Development, communities and their regions
can identify, strengthen and accelerate innovation to advance regional education,
economic and workforce development.

The purpose of this thought paper is to identify collaborative innovation

network (COINS) activity in Open Source Economic Development (OSED), suggest
future opportunities for application, and draft an informed plan of action to
strengthen the critical role Colleges, Universities and Libraries play in regional
economic development.

The paper will report examples occurring in Open Source Economic

Development in these papers
o “Open Source Economic Development: Accelerating Innovation
Through Collaboration,” Ed Morrison, Purdue Center for Regional
Development, April 2009
o “Civic Forums as an Economic Development Tool,” The Institute for
Open Economic Networks (I-Open) Co-Founders and Directors Betsey
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The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open) 4415 Euclid Ave 3rd Fl
Cleveland, Ohio 44103 USA
 Merkel, Ed Morrison, Susan Altshuler, and Dennis Coughlin,
September 2007 updated July 2009
o Re-Employment Networks, prepared for the Re-Employment Summit,
Baltimore January 2009, Ed Morrison, Purdue Center for Regional
Development, The University of Akron, The Institute for Open
Economic Networks (I-Open), Center for Innovation and Regional
Economic Development
o A New Workforce Development System for a Green Economy, Ed
Morrison, Purdue Center for Regional Development, Tim Gavigan,
Center for Education Innovation and Regional Economic Development
• Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) reports
o North Central Indiana WIRED Network, Purdue University, Quarterly
Narrative Progress Report Q1, 2009
o North Central Indiana WIRED Network, Purdue University, Quarterly
Narrative Progress Report Q4, 2009
• We will also draw from The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
• Research interviews
• Collaborative communities and Web 2.0 tools

Conclusion

Communities and their regions have an unprecedented opportunity to share

legacy assets residing in Colleges, Universities and Libraries and together serve as
economic drivers in regional, national and global education, economic and
workforce development systems.

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Distributed under Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open) 4415 Euclid Ave 3rd Fl
Cleveland, Ohio 44103 USA
 This thought paper offers an overview of examples of collaborative
innovation networks (COINS) in Open Source Economic Development. This
evidence will inform a proposed accelerated model of I-Open Civic Forums, an
economic development tool for Universities, Colleges and Libraries, and offer an
opportunity for the continued study of collaborative innovation networks (COINS)
in communities and their regions.

The implications of such an advanced design will enable Colleges,

Universities and Libraries to realize their role as economic drivers in local, national
and global prosperity, sustainability and security.

Respectfully submitted by:

Betsey Merkel, Co- Founder and Director,

The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open)
E-mail betseymerkel@gmail.com
Ph 216-246-2447
Websites
http://i-open.org
http://i-open-2.near-time.net/overview/welcome

Copyright 2009 I-Open. 4

Distributed under Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
The Institute for Open Economic Networks (I-Open) 4415 Euclid Ave 3rd Fl
Cleveland, Ohio 44103 USA