Dr. C.D. Mote Jr., University of Maryland at College Park president, and Michael Daniels, sector vice president, SAIC and developers of the Potomac Index will present the new measurement. The Greater Washington Board of Trade's Potomac Conference, a cross-section of regional leaders, commissioned the Potomac Index to measure the region's progress based on five components of success in the new economy-- innovation, education, inclusion, quality of life and regionalism. The index is intended as a tool for connecting the region and prompting action.

Other high tech regions–-Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin and Chicago--have developed indices, Board of Trade spokeswoman Mary Anne Reynolds says. These serve as catalysts for action in those communities. The Potomac Index, she hopes, can do the same.