News and Events > Leeds School Business Research Division

Leeds School Business Research Division

The Leeds School of Business, where internationally recognized faculty engage in cutting-edge research, serves various outreach functions and links academic programs with businesses and the community. The Leeds research arm is its Business Research Division.

For more than 85 years, the Leeds School Business Research Division (BRD) has conducted research that assists companies, associations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and state and local governmental agencies in making sound business and policy decisions.

The BRD is best recognized for its forward-looking economic research; industry support; and Colorado Business Economic Outlook, an annual forecast of the state's economy. In addition, the BRD recently released Colorado Economic Opportunities: Today, Tomorrow, and the Future. This report looked at clusters and industries that have the potential to create primary jobs in Colorado, including photonics, nanotechnology aerospace, and biosciences. It evaluated the assets of each of the state's 64 counties and identified the potential of each of these industries/clusters on a county-by-county basis.

Each quarter the BRD calculates the Colorado Business Leaders Confidence Index, a look at company expectations for the months ahead. This project supplements the annual forecast in that it provides economic updates about the Colorado economy throughout the year.

Over the years, the BRD has conducted business and economic related research that has supported broad technologies and areas of research critical to the CU system.  In 2005, the BRD was commissioned by the Colorado Institute of Technology to develop a database of organizations conducting research, providing services, or selling products related to homeland security in Colorado. Currently, the BRD is preparing a state roadmap for the development of nanotechnology as part of a cooperative effort between the Economic Development Administration, the Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Colorado Nanotech Initiative, and the University of Colorado. Another project currently underway is the compilation of information for the 2006-2007 Photonics Directory and Industry Study on behalf of the Colorado Photonics Industry Association.

For additional information about the BRD, check out the web site at http://leeds.colorado.edu/brd or call 303-492-8227.