State and Local Tech-based ED RoundUp

Chicago

Chicago CivicNet recently named 22 firms as finalists for an endeavor to build and operate a network connecting 1,600 public buildings in Chicago with fiber optic cable. CivicNet, an initiative of the City of Chicago and the Mayor's Council of Technology Advisors, saw more than 60 companies respond to the Request for Information issued by the City in November 2001. A finalist competing for CivicNet's Request for Proposals (issued in December) will win $25 million a year for the next 10 years to build the digital network that, being extended to private homes and businesses, would mean considerable additional revenue. A listing of the finalists, who must submit proposals by March 29, is available at:

http://www.chicagocivicnet.net/

New York

Numerous business and academic leaders recently joined Gov. George Pataki to announce up to $150 million in private sector support for a Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics in Buffalo. Plans for the center call for a 150,000-square-foot building to house drug design research space, computational and three dimensional visualization facilities, product commercialization space and workforce training facilities. Researchers will work side-by-side to identify key research areas and will translate their research into opportunities to attract high-tech and biotech firms to Western New York. A press release on the center is available at: http://www.nystar.state.ny.us/press/archives/press45.htm

Philadelphia

The Farber Family Foundation recently awarded a $10 million gift to Thomas Jefferson University <http://www.tju.edu> in Philadelphia to establish the Farber Institute for Neurosciences. Initially, the institute will focus its efforts on basic and clinical research in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and other neurodegenerative disorders. The institute's researchers will continue to build on already-established Jefferson strengths in many of these fields while establishing new and revitalized research programs in others. The institute also will help attract additional neurosciences faculty and postdoctoral fellows to TJU and will eventually be home to two endowed chairs for senior investigators in the neurosciences.

Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Technology Council recently announced the establishment of a network for entrepreneurs whose mission includes meeting the needs of its 1,800-company membership, which constitute start-up organizations with 50 employees or fewer. The Entrepreneurs Network will create a regional structure for informal peer-to-peer support among those who have started their own companies. The network will accomplish this by fostering the creation of a web of small subgroups, comprised entirely of entrepreneurs, who will meet on a regular basis to share best practices, identify common concerns and formulate methods to address growth issues. More information on the Pittsburgh Technology Council is available at: http://www.pghtech.org/