For the last 5 years, one of the best representations of the technology scene here in Portland, OR (the “Silicon Forest” as it’s colloquially known) has been a large poster depicting some 370 area companies, designed as a map of the universe.
The project, originally part of a dissertation on how the Portland’s technology community grew despite the absence of major research universities (like Stanford or MIT) is a fascinating visual representation. Centering with the Portland tech “big bang” of Techtronix and Intel, the poster plays with the celestial body metaphor, showing spin-offs from Techtronix and Intel as planetoids and independent start-ups as comets, and traces the roots of the technology scene in Portland all the way back to the 1940’s.
Well, after several years of surveys and work, we’re happy to note the poster has been updated to show nearly a half-decade of expansion to the Portland technology community. The “Silicon Forest Universe 2.0″ poster now features almost 900 technology companies (including AboutUs), venture capital firms and other support companies and their place in the Silicon Forest continuum. The universe metaphor has been expanded to show failed companies (black holes) as well as smaller orbiting relationships between the various companies.
Compiled using online surveys submitted to Portland-based technology companies, this poster is a collaboration between Virginia Tech University and Portland State University’s Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies.
The Silicon Forest 2.0 poster is based on research by Dr. Heike Mayer of Virginia Tech’s National Capital Region Urban Affairs and Planning Program (Dr. Mayer developed the original poster as part of her dissertation research) and was designed by Stuart Armstrong. The project was financially supported by sponsorships from OVP Venture Partners, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department, Co-operations, and Greenlight Greater Portland.
The poster can be ordered online for $15, and more information can be found at the project’s home page.
{ 2 comments }
You might also note that Portland tech folks are free to drop by our office and take a peek at our copy.
Thanks. I love this poster. I first saw it on May 7th at WikiWednesday.
Comments on this entry are closed.