Luncheon to examine innovation progress

The Public Policy Forum will present a panel discussion to examine metropolitan Milwaukee’s progress in building an economy that can thrive in the digital age.

The luncheon, to be held Sept. 28 at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, will unveil a new report, “Cultivating Innovation: Is Metro Milwaukee Prepared for the New Knowledge-based Economy.”

The report will assess metro Milwaukee’s strengths and weaknesses by measuring how the region stacks up with 10 other U.S. metro areas in 20 economic and demographic indicators.

The report and luncheon will be presented as southeastern Wisconsin prepares to meet the demands of Foxconn Technology Group’s plans to build a large plant to manufacture liquid crystal display panels. The company said it could hire as many as 13,000 employees.

The panel will discuss the Public Policy Forum’s new report and the region’s capability to meet the demands of the new Foxconn plant.

The panelists will include: Michael Lovell, president, Marquette University; Elmer Moore, executive director, Scale Up Milwaukee; Pat O’Brien, president, Milwaukee 7; and Tom Still, president, Wisconsin Technology Council.

The panel discussion will be moderated by Steve Jagler, business editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The public is invited to attend the luncheon. For additional information, visit