Contact:
Kent Patton
Kent.Patton@snoco.org
425-388-3883
Snohomish County Joins 5G Wireless Technology Partnership
State Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) Focused on Driving Economic Growth, 5G Technology Development
EVERETT, Wash., March 23, 2020 – Today, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 5G Open Innovation Lab LLC to develop a 5G ecosystem in the county through its Innovation Partner Zone (IPZ). The collaboration also includes the University of Washington and the City of Bellevue, as well as support from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories and other global technology leaders.
“Through the expansion of 5G technology, particularly at this tough moment, we can help sustain jobs, train workers, and keep our families connected to learning opportunities,” said Executive Somers. “With our residents facing a tough economic outlook and many working from home, the expansion of 5G networks in partnership with the 5G Innovation Lab will increase our connectivity and provide opportunities for innovation across all sectors of our economy.”
The technology hub will fuel development of the next-generation 5G mobile networks and technology and will provide mentorship and support to 15-20 startups every six months as well as create a pipeline of careers for people with an interest in 5G technology.
“Adding Snohomish County as a partner will strengthen and expand our ability to grow our 5G ecosystem while also providing startups access to the unique offerings of Snohomish County, including the thriving aerospace cluster and biotech hub,” said Jim Brisimitzis, managing partner of the 5G Open Innovation Lab.
“Strategic public-private partnerships like this are essential, allowing our residents and local companies to gain access to innovative technologies,” said Snohomish County Council Chair Nate Nehring. “This helps our region remain competitive in attracting investment and supporting the next wave of technology.”
Through this new agreement, Snohomish County will become a partner in developing the 5G ecosystem and gain access to 5G innovations, startups, and their leaders. In addition, Snohomish County plans to support 5G development within its Industrial Centers, including the Cascade Industrial Center, the Paine Field Manufacturing Industrial Center, and the Bothell Biomedical Device Innovation Zone. The county will focus its efforts on supporting innovative solutions in manufacturing, agriculture, and other key sectors.
About the 5G Open Innovation Lab
The 5G Open Innovation Lab (5G OI Lab) is a global ecosystem for enterprises, carriers and technology leaders working together with start-ups to fuel the development of new 5G capabilities, use cases and market categories that will transform the way we work, live and play both now and in the future. The Lab provides developers at all stages unparalleled access to open platforms, enterprises and markets needed to create, test and deploy new use cases and innovations for 5G. To learn more about the Lab and its portfolio of companies, please visit https://www.5GOILab.com or follow us on Twitter at @5GOILab.
About Snohomish County
Snohomish County is the third largest and one of the fastest growing counties in the State of Washington. Snohomish County is home to the largest manufacturing facility in the world and is one of the top tourist destinations in the region. From the waves of Puget Sound to the ice fields of Glacier Peak, Snohomish County has diverse ecosystems, while also being home to a thriving agriculture industry and dynamic urban centers. www.snohomishcountywa.gov