ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -- Building on what they're calling the opportunity of lifetime, some of the Midwest's top institutions are joining together to help develop talent to make St. Louis the geospatial center of the world.
Enterprise Holdings' Andy Taylor is providing initial investment to launch the Taylor Geospatial Institute to develop talent for the new National Geospatial Intelligence Agency western headquarters in north St. Louis as well as the companies in its orbit.
"We're hoping this becomes another industry that brings a lot of people from out of town, that creates a lot of interest among students here, who decide to stay here after they graduate," Taylor tells KMOX News.
The Taylor Geospatial Institute is a collaboration among Saint Louis University, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Missouri S&T, Washington University, Harris Stowe State University, UMSL, and the Danforth Plant Science Center.
The institute is hoped to draw the best scientists, foster new research, and provide tools like big data analytics and computing resources.
"Basically, they are going to be lining up the best minds they possibly can, start dividing up work, opening doors for students, and working closely with the NGA staff here in town," Taylor says.
"By having the collaboration of bringing together literally 5,000 or more facility, 100,000 or more students, to develop talent in this area, to attract students and retain students, to attract and grow businesses, we think will be transformational for our region," SLU President Dr. Fred Pestello says.
The former NGA Director who made the decision in 2016 to locate its headquarters in St. Louis City is pleased with what's happened since.
"Truth be known, I was making some assumptions about, would the city come together, would the region come together, would the academic institutions come together? Now, I (did) bet they would," Robert Cardillo tells KMOX, adding, "This is what I was hoping for."
Cardillo says the geospatial -- or location technology -- scene is becoming less driven by government labs and more by private sector R&D.
"Remember, when I joined the geospatial profession, the government owned it, operated it, and locked it up. We kept it private. Classified," he explains. "Today, the innovation -- yes NGA is still innovating -- but most of it is happening out here where we are. So, NGA has to avail itself to that."
That means to keep up with, say, the latest Russian troop movements in Ukraine, NGA needs constant collaboration with nearby start-ups. Those firms may also find applications for their tech ranging from better crop yields, to more efficient package deliveries, to self-driving cars.
"This research institute firmly plants the flag that St. Louis is where this exciting new industry is taking place," Greater St. Louis, Inc. CEO Jason Hall says. "Just think back a few decades ago, when St. Louis said 'we want to be the leaders in aviation,' and it attracted a young Scottish immigrant to start the McDonnell Douglas company here, which became Boeing. 15,000 families still depend on that decision."
Cardillo agrees: the long-term halo effect could be huge.
"I think it's bigger than once in a lifetime," he says. "This could be a once in a century kind of opportunity. You think of St. Louis' proud past, and some of the realities of the darker sides of that past, the city now has a chance to reimagine, reinvent itself."