San Diego’s 2017 story was one of growth, innovation, global connectivity and collaboration across different communities and industries. And even in a year riddled with uncertainties, San Diegans remained committed to driving positive change – and EDC remained committed to delivering news about this change to your inbox each week.
So, we’re sharing San Diego’s top 10 ‘Good News’ stories from 2017 as a reminder of just how lucky we are to call this life-changing place home.
From all of us at EDC, we thank you for being a part of it (and a special thanks to Phil Blair at Manpower San Diego for sponsoring this Good News all year long). Here’s to 2018.
SD deploys largest IoT platform in the world San Diego might just have the smartest streetlights in the world. The city of San Diego partnered with GE to upgrade streetlights to reduce energy costs by 60 percent, as well as transform them into a connected digital network that can optimize parking and traffic, enhance public safety and track air quality. With 3,200 smart sensors, it is the largest city-based deployment of an IoT platform in the world. Read more.
Airport expands, adds new nonstop flights It was a big year for the nation’s busiest single runway commercial airport. A few highlights from San Diego International Airport:
Broke ground on new international customs inspection station to accommodate the increase in passengers on international flights, to include a baggage claim area, new technology from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and more room for waiting lines
Commuter Terminal transformed into an Innovation Lab where entrepreneurs can conceive, develop and test emerging technologies and business concepts
Cubic moves the world Cubic Transportation Systems is quite literally moving the world. This year alone, the San Diego transportation technology company netted more than $1 billion in contracts to implement next-gen payment systems for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Cubic also signed contract extensions with Transport for London, and with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in the Bay Area.
Amazon expands in San Diego. No, not HQ2 Amazon committed to growing its footprint in San Diego, with more than 100,000 square feet of office space leased from Alexandria Real Estate. While Amazon has a small office in Solana Beach, as well as distribution facilities in the region, this is its first major office/engineering presence in the region – with room for 500 employees. While this move is separate from its highly-publicized HQ2 bid, it does signal that Amazon sees viability in the San Diego market. Read more.
San Diego’s Toni Atkins tapped to lead CA State Senate State Senator Toni Atkins is set to become the California Senate President Pro Tem. She is the first woman and first openly gay legislator to hold the leadership position – and she hails from none other than San Diego. No stranger to leadership roles, Atkins previously served nearly two years as speaker of the California Assembly. Read more.
Former Google Ventures exec chooses SD as VC fund home While San Diego may not be viewed as VC heavy weight, this year proved that we can still hold our own in the VC ring. When former Google Ventures exec Bill Maris was closing on his venture fund, Section 32, he chose San Diego as its home. While local companies do command VC (82 deals totaling $903 million as of Q3 2017), there are few funds based here. Maris’ decision to operate out of San Diego brings a new type of VC ecosystem to town. Read more.
Comic-Con commits to SD through 2021 Staying true to its 1970 commitment, Comic-Con International announced it will remain in San Diego through 2021. With more than 130,000 attendees from across the world, Comic-Con is the San Diego Convention Center’s largest event and is estimated to generate $135 million regionally and $2.8 million in tax revenues for the city. Plus, it makes for some great people watching. Read more.
SD ushers in new era of precision medicine As the most patent intensive genomics market in the U.S., San Diego is leading the charge in a new era of healthcare. Kicking the year off, local genomics giant lllumina unveiled a new machine that is expected to sequence a whole genome for less than $100, in less than one hour – down from $1,000 in 2014. Also making waves in the genomics space, Edico Genome set (another) world record by processing 1,000 pediatric genomes in two hours and twenty-five minutes. Read more about the industry in the first-ever genomics study, which EDC released at BIO 2017.
Local universities expand, bolster talent pipeline San Diego universities produce a top-tier talent pipeline for employers both here and across the globe. And now more than ever, San Diego State University, UC San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University and other locals are expanding programs and campuses to accommodate increased enrollment and industry needs. This year’s university successes include:
UC San Diego broke ground on a state-of-the-art facility in East Village that will connect students to downtown’s diverse, entrepreneurial community
San Diego State University quantified its impact, highlighting $5.67 billion in economic activity and 42,000 jobs supported
Local philanthropist T. Denny Sanford donated $28 million to National University System to address critical needs in teacher education, PreK-12 instruction and nonprofit fundraising
San Diego tops the charts San Diego made its presence known in many of this year’s national rankings. From the region’s entrepreneurial culture to its quality of life, top-tier publications and organizations took notice of what San Diego brings to the table. Here are some of our favorite rankings of the year:
