County to get new space for businesses
Next Wave Center could land companies working with GlobalFoundries
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » On Thursday, the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership discussed plans to launch a Next Wave Center in the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park in Malta.
The center is designed to provide short-term flex space as a landing pad for companies working with GlobalFoundries, while allowing firms to grow business relationships in Saratoga County and throughout the Capital Region.
The location, 107 Hermes Road, will feature 10,500 square feet of space over two floors for companies seeking flexible configurations for office, warehouse and light manufacturing activities.
The announcement was made during the second annual Saratoga County Prosperity Summit at Saratoga Springs City Center on Thursday morning.
Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership — the county’s designated economic development organization — worked with The United Group of Companies to secure the space for the center. The organization now plans to engage additional real estate developers and landlords to participate in the Next Wave Network, which will be marketed by the partnership to supply chain companies.
“Forward-thinking programs like this allow us to support the needs of growing companies and stimulate job growth in Saratoga County and beyond,” Michael Uccellini, president and CEO of The United Group of Companies, said in a release.
The second annual summit featured a mix of keynote speakers and panelists discussing topics ranging from Smart Cities infrastructure, to what a technology start-up needs to have in order to be successful.
he first keynote speaker, Rick Whitney, CEO of M+W Americas Inc., discussed the resurgence of U. S.based electronics manufacturing, and what that exactly means for the Capital Region now and in the future.
Whitney talked about technological developments on the horizon, such as 8K television and displays — which would basically be 3D without having to wear glasses — 5G Wireless and large area WiFi for a community-sized system.
The semiconductor industry continues to grow, Whitney said, with 5 percent year- over-year growth for the past three years. Asia has become a significant manufacturer of semiconductors. The United States still has the lead, he said, but Asia is closing the gap.
W hitney said automation is a fact in life in manufacturing.
“The U. S. has lost more jobs to automation in the last 10 years than we’ve lost to off shoring, and that’s not going to stop,” said Whitney. “But it’s not all bad news because it takes trained individuals to keep the automation running.”
Whitney’s company, M+W Americas is part of the M+W Group, which is headquartered in Germany. Whitney said M+W Americas chose Albany as its headquarters because of investments from the state and access to clients.
Whitney said he sees the investment in New York state, specifically in the Capital Region, in infrastructure, research and development, ecosystem and the educational pipeline.
For future investment, Whitney said, the state must work to build on the existing semiconductor cluster and leverage the present- day infrastructure at SUNY Poly and Global-Foundries.
In addition to Whitney, Jodi Shelton, president and co-founder of Global Semiconductor Alliance, spoke Thursday. Her organization, GSA, was the first to secure office space in the Next Wave Center.
GSA represents more than 400 member companies in 35 countries that combine for more than 75 percent of industry revenues.
“Saratoga County has become an important Northeast hub for the semiconductor industry, spurred by the rapid growth of Global Foundries and supported by the forward-thinking team at the Saratoga Partnership,” said Shelton, in a release. “This partnership provides GSA with additional opportunities to support the needs of semiconductor and supply chain companies. We look forward to delivering value on behalf of our membership.”
Marty Vanags, president of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, said the organization is thrilled to locate the Next Wave Center and launch the Next Wave Network to facilitate space that will attract jobs, companies and investment to Saratoga County.