Mass Insight Corp, a public policy and communications firm that organizes public-private initiatives to support economic growth in Massachusetts, recently issued a new report, titled "An Economy at Risk," making the case for a Massachusetts economic development strategy organized around higher education and science and technology. Massachusetts, with its mix of world-class universities and technology industries, has long proved the benefits of industry-university connections. But a lack of a coordinated science and technology strategy, including targeted investment to expand the alliances among the University of Massachusetts, the state's private universities and industry, has demonstrated lost opportunities. Drawing from the experiences of Massachusetts, the author discusses the importance of strategic alliances among New England's business and higher education sectors to meet the demands of New England's emerging "innovation economy."