Interview with Louisiana's Chief Innovation Officer, Josh Fleig, Discusses Economic Development
Louisiana Economic Development (LED) is setting its sights on a future-focused, innovation-driven economy, as reflected in its ambitious goals. This shift is spearheaded by Josh Fleig, the state's first Chief Innovation Officer, who brings a wealth of experience in technology and pioneering companies.
Josh Fleig, who has a lifelong passion for driving economic change, is tasked with building a cohesive innovation strategy for Louisiana. His role encompasses supporting startups, commercializing research, shaping forward-looking policy, and promoting Louisiana's innovation story nationally.
Fleig's strategic priorities include strengthening Louisiana's startup ecosystem, leading innovation policy, partnering with academia to commercialize research, and enhancing the state's image as a leader in innovation. He also engages with high-profile industry forums and collaborations to advance energy and technology innovation statewide.
One of the challenges faced by Fleig and the team is changing the perception that Louisiana is only about legacy industries like oil, gas, agriculture, and tourism. To overcome this, they have highlighted real wins such as companies investing in energy innovation, startups growing in Louisiana, and higher education institutions commercializing research.
The LED has realigned its department to move at the speed of business, removing bureaucratic barriers to speed. Louisiana is leveraging its legacy industries as a foundation for innovation, particularly in the field of petrochemicals, leading to advancements in battery technology, hydrogen, and carbon capture.
Examples of Louisiana's efforts to position itself as a living lab for energy innovation include projects like H2theFuture and Louisiana State University's Future Use of Energy in Louisiana program (FUEL). The announcement of Meta's AI hyperscale data center in Northeast Louisiana is a significant milestone for LED.
In addition to driving innovation across Louisiana, Fleig's primary responsibility is to create tools like grants, incentives, and investment capital to help businesses and institutions turn ideas into economic growth. LED aims to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Louisiana by providing better access to coaching, capital, and customers.
LED's future goals include leading in innovation policy, partnering with higher education to commercialize research, and telling Louisiana's story better on a national stage. Fleig's career has been centered around design thinking, with experience in teaching, interaction design, and software development.
In conclusion, Fleig's background combines technology leadership with a mission to catalyse Louisiana's transition to a diverse, innovation-driven economy through startups, policy, research commercialization, and strategic storytelling. His vision and strategies are poised to make Louisiana a hub for innovation and technology in the United States.
- Josh Fleig is building a cohesive innovation strategy for Louisiana, which includes strengthening the state's startup ecosystem, leading in innovation policy, partnering with academia to commercialize research, and enhancing Louisiana's image as a leader in innovation.
- One of the challenges faced by Fleig and the team is changing the perception that Louisiana is only about legacy industries, so they have highlighted real wins such as companies investing in energy innovation, startups growing in Louisiana, and higher education institutions commercializing research.
- In addition to driving innovation across Louisiana, Fleig's primary responsibility is to create tools like grants, incentives, and investment capital to help businesses and institutions turn ideas into economic growth, aiming to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Louisiana by providing better access to coaching, capital, and customers.
