Various media report an announcement by Google on Tuesday that the company plans to double the size of its Kirkland engineering facility, one of two Google sites in Seattle. Xconomy quotes UW CSE’s Ed Lazowska:
“’20 years ago, the tech industry here could have been described as ‘Microsoft and the 499 dwarfs.’ Now we have a really robust tech ecosystem with companies of all sizes reinforcing each other – large numbers of great startups, great mid-size companies and great major companies. Some were born here. Some chose to locate here or move here. Some are major branches of companies headquartered elsewhere. Some have been acquired but still have a major Seattle presence. Together they’re creating an incredibly vibrant region.'”