Colorado’s Tech Week begins today, a massive effort by companies and organizations to tout technology and innovation in Colorado.
Formerly the Governor’s Technology Summit, a one-day event that drew speakers such as Bill Gates in previous years, Tech Week will encompass nearly 30 events from Denver to Grand Junction.
Many of the events are open to the public. A full schedule is available at www.coloradotechweek.com.
Among ideas and technologies being discussed and showcased are nanotechnology, radio frequency identification, biotechnology and sources of venture capital. Meg Whitman, eBay Inc. chief executive, will give the keynote address Thursday night at the Colorado Convention Center.
“It’s a fantastic new approach to highlight and understand technology in Colorado and how it plays a role in our economic future,” said Brian Vogt, executive director of the state Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “Almost every element of Colorado’s economy depends on technology in so many ways.”
There are an estimated 80,000 information technology workers in the state, according to the Colorado Software and Internet Association (CSIA).
Vogt’s office helped organize and promote Tech Week, although individual companies and business groups are sponsoring each of the events. Vogt said the department’s cost for Tech Week is less than $30,000, which came from private sponsors.
Gov. Bill Owens will kick off the week of seminars, showcases and receptions with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast today at the Brown Palace Hotel. Trade-mission representatives from Canada and Northern Ireland will be mixing with state officials and businesses. “Northern Ireland is doing a good job going out and promoting their tech community,” said Jim Reis, president and chief executive of the World Trade Center. “We’ve spent a lot of time trying to build a relationship with Northern Ireland. It’s a good match, they’re all small business and we’re all small business.”
Whitman will speak at the CSIA DEMOGala, a showcase of 28 companies leading the state in technology and innovation at Thursday night’s event. Robotics, biotech, software and aerospace companies will display their latest developments at the convention center.
“Clearly the technology industry in Colorado is important and significant, but oftentimes it’s overlooked because it doesn’t have a lot of large corporations,” said Su Hawk, president of CSIA. “We’re not always waving a flag telling the world to look at us. These are companies that are highly successful and focused in a very specific marketplace.”
Staff writer Kimberly S. Johnson can be reached at 303-820-1088 or kjohnson@denverpost.com.
