Academic research and development, one of the few bright spots in Wisconsinâ??s economic landscape, doesnâ??t need to be a political football.
Political games abound in the absence of clear strategic direction, and thatâ??s what happened with the idea that the University of Wisconsin System should spread dollars for fresh water technology to all four-year campuses in the state.
The idea that fresh water technology should be proliferated, rather than focused, demonstrated a lack of understanding of the concept of clusters that grew out of the four economic summits early in this decade.