Editor's Note: 2004 Opens with TBED Top Priority for States

If the first full week of the 2004 state legislative season is any indicator of the year's tone and tempo for tech-based economic development initiatives (TBED), then we're in for quite a ride.

Of the 18 governors presenting their State of the State or Budget Addresses between Jan. 6-14, all but four – Alaska, California, Vermont and Virginia – used the speech to highlight the importance of making future investments in science and technology to encourage economic growth. The supportive tone covered the political spectrum, with both conservative and progressive leaders touching on issues important to the TBED community. SSTI has highlighted excerpts from selected states in our first 2004 installment in the annual series, Tech Talkin' Govs.

The saying goes that talk is cheap. Even in a tight fiscal environment, however, many governors outlined a slew of requests for new initiatives or increased funding for programs fostering research, innovation and entrepreneurship. In this issue, Idaho, New York, and North Dakota are highlighted in more depth, as is the creation of a major new program in Michigan and progress in South Dakota.

Couple the 18 governors' speeches with the release of reports in Oklahoma, Maryland and Minnesota recommending their states make strong additional commitments to TBED activities, and the reader may get a sense of the frenetic pace at which tech-based economic development has moved to the lead of the agendas for state government. Each of these states will be covered next week.

Additionally, governors of Kansas and Washington hinted at big things to come in their budget requests. Not to be outdone or forgotten, news reports suggest more is in store for the research and tech commercialization efforts in Florida and South Carolina.

On top of what is already being investing in TBED, the year could see an additional multibillion commitment by the states to improving their competitive positions in the global knowledge economy.