Education Technology: Oregon By Luis Montenegro

In the state of Oregon there is a cluster that provides hardware and software, and services that focus on early childhood education. This cluster is called the Education Technology cluster. They include e-learning businesses, content testing and evaluation services, and learning management authors. Most of its members come from places like Portland Metro Area, Eugene, Salem and Southwest Washington. Its strengths include: progressiveness, a strong interest in small business, community and collaboration, an open creative atmosphere, and partnerships with Oregon universities, that are graduating a growing number of scientists and engineers. Its challenges include funding, difficult access to Oregon's K-12 education market, and finding qualified executives. Its key initiatives are to create a strong mentoring program between established education technology firms and smaller firms that want to grow, participating in opportunities that bring the education technology community together with potential customers that consist of parents, teachers, school districts, and universities, create relationships with associations, nonprofit sector groups, and private sector agencies that are passionate about education and technology, sponsor workshops that identify and apply for funding sources, finding and recruiting talent, and creating relationships with education communities in the state. Hopefully with this cluster taking action, education will continue to improve as time goes on.

http://www.oregonbusinessplan.org/industry-clusters/about-oregons-industry-clusters/education-technology-and-services/