4 December 2020
Geospatial {technology|innovation}– tech-enabled earth mapping and aerial tracking analytics– {has|has actually} long {been part of|belonged to|become part of} {global|worldwide|international} intelligence operations, and is {increasingly|progressively|significantly} being {used|utilized} in {industries|markets} from defense to {transportation|transport} logistics, {agriculture|farming}, and {health care|healthcare} {delivery|shipment}. You {might|may} be {surprised|amazed|shocked} to {learn|discover|find out} that {more and more|increasingly more|a growing number of} of this {technology|innovation} is being {developed|established} in St. Louis, which is {already|currently} seeing {keen|eager} interest from tech accelerators and incubators– with {venture capital|equity capital} funds likely {soon|quickly} on the hotfoot.
Where it’s at
Historically {known as|referred to as|called} the “{Gateway|Entrance} City” (to the American West), St. Louis {may|might} in {fact|truth|reality} be the {Gateway|Entrance} to {Industry|Market} 4.0. According to Andy Dearing, {Project|Job|Task} Lead for the GeoFutures {Initiative|Effort}, {a strategic|a tactical} {planning|preparation} {initiative|effort} that supports the {region|area}’s geospatial {industry|market}, and President of Spatial STL Advisors, {a strategic|a tactical} consultancy, the longstanding {presence|existence} of the U.S. National Geospatial Intelligence {Agency|Company|Firm}‘s Western {headquarters|head office} (NGA West) and its {affordable|inexpensive|economical|budget-friendly|cost effective|budget friendly} {cost|expense} of living are competitive {advantages|benefits} to St. Louis {startups|start-ups} as they {discover|find} scalable market applications for what {has|has actually} long been a {{government|federal government}, defense and {surveillance|monitoring|security}|{government|federal government}, {surveillance|monitoring|security} and defense|defense, {government|federal government} and {surveillance|monitoring|security}|defense, {surveillance|monitoring|security} and {government|federal government}|{surveillance|monitoring|security}, {government|federal government} and defense|{surveillance|monitoring|security}, defense and {government|federal government}} {technology|innovation}.
“As {companies|business} {have|have actually} {come to|concerned|pertained to} {learn|discover|find out} the increasing {value|worth} in {knowing|understanding} not {just|simply} where things are {but|however} to where they are moving and how they {relate to|associate with|connect to} other {data|information} points, {the use of|using|making use of} geospatial {technology|innovation} {has|has actually} increased {dramatically|significantly|drastically|considerably},” {explains|discusses|describes} Dearing. “From location-based applications like Uber, Lyft, and Google Maps to mapping the condition of crops, geospatial {technology|innovation} is {increasingly|progressively|significantly} {used|utilized} in some {way|method} by {nearly|almost} every {major|significant} corporation.”
{A recent|A current} {baseline|standard} {study|research study} {conducted|carried out|performed} by {research|research study} {firm|company} TEconomy Partners {found|discovered} that in the St. Louis {region|area}, geospatial {technology|innovation} {accounted for|represented} over 27,000 {jobs|tasks} and {nearly|almost} $5 billion in {economic|financial} {impact|effect}. That {same|exact same|very same} {study|research study} {identified|determined|recognized} over 350 {{businesses|companies|services|organizations} and {organizations|companies}|{organizations|companies} and {businesses|companies|services|organizations}} {working in|operating in} the geospatial sector.
NGA West is {currently|presently} {building|developing|constructing} {a new|a brand-new}, $1.75 billion {headquarters|head offices} {just|simply} north of the city’s Downtown district, {a project|a job|a task} due for {completion|conclusion} in the next {few|couple of} years. Dearing {says|states} the {facility|center} is being {intentionally|deliberately|purposefully} {constructed|built} with {space|area} {dedicated|devoted|committed} to promoting interaction {between|in between} NGA {employees|workers|staff members} and the {{private|personal} and {academic|scholastic}|{academic|scholastic} and {private|personal}} sectors, {designed|developed|created} to {kickstart|start} {new|brand-new} {startup|start-up} {growth|development}.
Geospatial: The New Necessary
While geospatial {technology|innovation} {aligns|lines up} with {nearly|almost} every other {commercial|industrial|business} sector, {a strategic|a tactical} roadmap that GeoFutures {recently|just recently} {developed|established} for the St. Louis geospatial sector calls out {a few|a couple of} {specific|particular} {industries|markets} that are {already|currently} {thriving|flourishing|prospering|growing} in the {region|area} and actively {deploying|releasing} geospatial {technology|innovation}: {national|nationwide} defense, {transportation|transport} logistics, {agriculture|farming} {technology|innovation} and {precision|accuracy} farming, and {health care|healthcare} {delivery|shipment}.
There are {also|likewise} {promising|appealing} {new|brand-new} applications and {areas|locations} for {collaboration|partnership|cooperation} in {fintech, {insurance|insurance coverage}, and retail|fintech, retail, and {insurance|insurance coverage}|{insurance|insurance coverage}, fintech, and retail|{insurance|insurance coverage}, retail, and fintech|retail, fintech, and {insurance|insurance coverage}|retail, {insurance|insurance coverage}, and fintech}.
Health {research|research study} is making increasing {use|usage} of geospatial {technology|innovation}, where {many|numerous|lots of} St. Louis-based {research|research study} {institutions|organizations}– {including|consisting of} Washington University and GeoSLU, the geospatial center at St. Louis University– {have|have actually} led groundbreaking efforts to track the spread of covid-19.
From efforts {including|consisting of} {overall|general|total} mapping and the tracking of {data|information} shared {via|through|by means of} {social media|social networks}, to {gauging|evaluating|assessing|determining} the {effectiveness|efficiency} of mask {mandates|requireds}, Dearing {says|states}, GeoSLU {has|has actually} {employed|utilized|used} geospatial {technology|innovation} to {help|assist} {inform|notify} health {officials|authorities} and {the public|the general public} about the spread of the {virus|infection}. In the {near future|future}, geospatial {technology|innovation} can be {used|utilized} to {develop|establish} the most {efficient|effective} {methods|techniques|approaches} of vaccine {delivery|shipment} and for tracking the {efficacy|effectiveness} of the vaccine itself.
{Additionally|Furthermore|In addition}, Dearing notes, NGA {recently|just recently} {announced|revealed} {a partnership|a collaboration} with tech incubator T-REX to {establish|develop} Moonshot Labs, a non-profit {development|advancement} {facility|center} for {innovation|development} and entrepreneurism, that will advance efforts {between|in between} NGA, {industry|market} and {academia|academic community} in the {region|area}.
Other {initiatives|efforts} {include|consist of} the {formation|development} of the St. Louis {Area|Location} Working Group– {an organization|a company} {established|developed} in {partnership|collaboration} with the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence {Foundation|Structure} (USGIF) that {includes|consists of} leaders from {business|company|service|organization}, {academia|academic community}, and {government|federal government} that {meets|satisfies|fulfills} {regularly|routinely|frequently} to {develop|establish} {strategies|techniques|methods} to grow the sector in the {region|area}– to the {creation|development|production} of the GeoFutures {Initiative|Effort}– {a strategic|a tactical} roadmap to {guide|direct|assist} the next {decade|years} of {growth|development} in St. Louis’ geospatial sector.
All {point to|indicate} what Dearing {describes as|refers to as} an “{unprecedented|unmatched|extraordinary}” level of public-private {collaboration|partnership|cooperation} {focused on|concentrated on} {the present|today} and future of the geospatial sector {across|throughout} the St. Louis {region|area}.
“All this is to {say|state} that not {only|just} is the {startup|start-up} and existing geospatial sector in St. Louis strong, {but|however} it is prepared to grow {exponentially|significantly|tremendously|greatly} in the coming years,” he {says|states}.
{Make way|Give way} for VC
{Venture capital|Equity capital} funds are {becoming|ending up being} {increasingly|progressively|significantly} {interested in|thinking about} geospatial, seeing the {technology|innovation}’s increasing market {potential|capacity} and St. Louis as the center for its {development|advancement}.
St. Louis-based Arch Grants, which {provides|offers|supplies} equity {free|totally free|complimentary} {investments|financial investments} {along with|together with|in addition to} {additional|extra} resources to {help|assist} early-stage {startups|start-ups} grow and scale, {recently|just recently} {committed|dedicated|devoted} to {adding|including} a group of geospatial {startups|start-ups} to its {annual|yearly} {cohorts|accomplices|mates|friends|associates}.
NGA and the Missouri {Technology|Innovation} Corporation {recently|just recently} {announced|revealed} the {creation|development|production} of {a new|a brand-new} accelerator {focused on|concentrated on} geospatial {technology|innovation}. The accelerator will be {operated|run} by Capital Innovators and will drive {research|research study} and {development|advancement} and commercialization of geospatial {technologies|innovations} and applications.
Technology {innovation|development} center T-REX {has|has actually} {created|produced|developed} the {first|very first} in the {nation|country} geospatial {innovation|development} center, Geosaurus Geospatial {Innovation|Development} Center powered by Bayer. In addition to Geosaurus, {located|situated} on the {4th|fourth} {floor|flooring} of T-REX, NGA {recently|just recently} {announced|revealed} {a new|a brand-new} geospatial {technology|innovation} {lab|laboratory} of its own, {located|situated} on the 3rd {floor|flooring} of T-REX. Moonshot Labs, will advance efforts {between|in between} NGA, {industry|market}, and {academia|academic community} in the {region|area}.
Dearing {says|states} other {venture capital|equity capital} {firms|companies} {are in|remain in} the {process|procedure} of {developing|establishing} geospatial {technology|innovation} funds, which will be {announced|revealed} in the {near future|future}.
Future pitch
In addition to growing the size and scope of existing {companies|business}, Dearing {says|states} the city is {firmly|securely|strongly} {committed|dedicated|devoted} to {attracting|drawing in|bring in} {new|brand-new} geospatial {technology|innovation} {firms|companies} to St. Louis.
The city’s {economic|financial} {development|advancement} {teams|groups} {have|have actually} {identified|determined|recognized} {various|different|numerous} types and sizes of {real estate|realty|property} {space|area} to {assist|help} {firms|companies} of any size {find|discover} the {ideal|perfect} {location|place|area}.
St. Louis can {also|likewise} accommodate {needs|requirements} for so-called SCIF {space|area}: {sensitive|delicate} compartmented {information|info|details} {facility|center}, which is {required|needed} for some geospatial tech work. Dearing {says|states} that St. Louis is actively {developing|establishing} SCIF {space|area} {across|throughout} the {region|area} to {meet|satisfy|fulfill} growing future {needs|requirements}.
{Additionally|Furthermore|In addition}, {nearly|almost} all of the {region|area}’s {institutions|organizations} of {higher|greater} {learning|knowing} {have|have actually} {developed|established} or are {developing|establishing} {programming|programs|shows} {related|associated} to geospatial. This {means|implies|indicates|suggests} that {businesses|companies|services|organizations} {looking for|searching for|trying to find} {workers|employees} will {find|discover} both {a trained|a qualified|a skilled|an experienced} {workforce|labor force} and {major|significant} {institutions|organizations} {ready|prepared|all set} to {collaborate|work together|team up}.
There are {also|likewise} existing {innovation|development} {hubs|centers} like T-REX and Cortex, which are {already|currently} {home|house} to geospatial {firms|companies} and {organizations|companies}, {ready|prepared|all set} to {assist|help} {entrepreneurs|business owners} and {established|recognized} {firms|companies} to {gain|acquire|get} {a foothold|a grip} in the fast-growing geospatial {ecosystem|community|environment}
The city {also|likewise} {offers|provides|uses} training programs, {including|consisting of} LaunchCode and {Gateway|Entrance} Global, to train future {workers|employees} in coding, {data|information} analysis, and other {skills|abilities} that geospatial {firms|companies} will {require|need}.
{{Finally|Lastly}, Dearing {explains|discusses|describes}, the St. Louis geospatial {community|neighborhood} {has|has actually} {declared|stated} it {a priority|a concern|a top priority} to put racial equity at the center of its {economic|financial} {growth|development} {plans|strategies}.
| Dearing {explains|discusses|describes}, the St. Louis geospatial {community|neighborhood} {has|has actually} {declared|stated} it {a priority|a concern|a top priority} to put racial equity at the center of its {economic|financial} {growth|development} {plans|strategies}.
}”We {have|have actually} made inclusive {growth|development} and racial equity core {components|elements|parts} of our efforts to grow the geospatial sector here, in order to {ensure|guarantee|make sure} that {everyone|everybody} in our {community|neighborhood} can {take part in|participate in} {growth|development} and {prosperity|success},” he {says|states}.
{Rising|Increasing} tide
The city’s {business|company|service|organization} {attraction|tourist attraction|destination} {organization|company}, AllianceSTL, {has|has actually} {created|produced|developed} an {easy-to-use|user friendly} {webpage|website|web page} on its geospatial sector that {provides|offers|supplies} {additional|extra} {information|info|details} and contact {information|info|details} for {anyone|anybody} {interested in|thinking about} {locating|finding} a geospatial {business|company|service|organization} in St. Louis.
“On top of our strengths in the geospatial sector, we boast {an affordable|an inexpensive|an economical|a budget-friendly|a cost effective|a budget friendly} {cost|expense} of living, access to {amenities|facilities|features}, and {welcoming|inviting} {community|neighborhood} that make St. Louis {a great|a fantastic|a terrific|an excellent} {place|location} for geospatial tech {firms|companies} to {start up|launch}, {stand out|stand apart|stick out}, and {stay|remain}. There is {a very|an extremely|a really} {supportive|helpful|encouraging} {community|neighborhood} here that {wants to|wishes to} see {a rising|an increasing} tide lift all boats {and that|which} is {ready|prepared|all set} to {help out|assist} with access to {talent|skill}, {space|area}, and even {investment|financial investment} {support|assistance},” Dearing {says|states}.
“Our {region|area} {speaks with|talks with|talks to|speaks to|consults with} one voice on geospatial {issues|problems|concerns}, and we are {working together|collaborating|interacting} to {ensure|guarantee} we {meet|satisfy|fulfill} the {needs|requirements} of any geospatial {firm|company} {looking to|wanting to|seeking to|aiming to} {set up shop|start a business} here.”
Source: investableuniverse.com