More chatter about region’s tech future; Philly vs. Philacon Valley

There’s much ado about the future of Philadelphia’s technology scene.

Active discussions are taking place about how Philly can become a hub of technology innovation on the popular PANMA new media listserve.

Subscribers have been debating whether or not Philadelphia can become the Silicon Valley of the East coast. There’s even a few mentions of a “Philacon Valley.”

Earlier this week, Google CEO Eric Schmidt told Technically Philly that the city met all the criteria for a tech renaissance.

Except, instead of championing Philadelphia’s long list of suburban tech companies, he suggested that tech hubs tend to grow best in urban centers.

“Do you think Schmidt understands that when you get down to brass tacks, it’s the Philly tax situation that’s keeping [Center City] tech entrepreneurship artificially suppressed,” responded one reader on the PANMA listserv.

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Google CEO Eric Schmidt weighs in on Philly’s tech future

Google CEO Eric Schmidt speaks to press at a media event at Penn Monday afternoon. Credit: Rikard Larma/Metro Philadelphia

Google’s Chief Executive Officer Eric Schmidt thinks Philly has what it takes to be a hub for technology.

Schmidt was prompted by a question from Technically Philly at a press event following Penn’s 253rd Commencement Monday afternoon where he gave the ceremonial address.

“To have a tech renaissance, you need universities, which you have here. You need good engineering programs like [Penn and Drexel]. You need a vibrant youth culture and a diverse culture. I think you have all of that criteria here,” he said.

“It’s not a suburban phenomenon. It’s an urban phenomenon. Young people want to live in urban culture.”

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If you spot Google’s CEO on the Blue Line Monday, what would you ask him?

Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt will deliver Penn's commencement address Monday.

Penn students have their fingers crossed that the clouds won’t break Monday morning.

“The temp sounds perfect, but please no rain!” said one tweet.

At least, that’s one impression left by a student on an official Twitter account dedicated to the University of Pennsylvania’s 253rd Commencement ceremony where Google CEO Eric Schmidt is scheduled to speak.

Technically Philly would love to peak at Schmidt’s prepared speech, as Google has been the center of allegations that it has a monopoly on Internet search and advertising. We’re especially interested since the Obama administration took a harder stance on monopolies when it peeled back a Bush-era antitrust policy, the Inquirer reported on Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal noted yesterday that Google may be unstoppable.

Still, it’s hard to argue that the company isn’t innovative. Just yesterday it unveiled a host of new search features. Not to mention that a few hours of Google down time sent the Twitter-verse screaming in protest.

As news-gatherers, and not news commentators, that’s where the conversation ends for Technically Philly. Instead, we pose a question to you, our readers.

If you happen to run into Schmidt – albeit with great surprise – on the Blue Line on Monday, what would you ask him?

Will GMail ever be out of beta? Have you ever rode the official Google zip line into the office? Or maybe you would ask a more hard-hitting question about those monopoly allegations. Maybe something completely off the charts.

What would you ask? We’d love to hear about it in our comments.