SSTI Digest

Coinciding with a plethora of state-of-the-state addresses delivered over the past week, several governors have released budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. The following states’ budgets include crucial TBED investments and reductions in programs. California Upon declaring a fiscal emergency and calling a special legislative session to address the current-year budget deficit of $3.3 billion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled his fiscal year 2008-09 budget recommendation to lawmakers alongside the proposed budget stabilization plan aimed at reducing the deficit. The proposal calls for 10 percent reductions to nearly all general fund departments and programs, boards, commissions and elected officials, with limited exceptions. Gov. Schwarzenegger’s fiscal year 2008-09 budget does include funding for the Science and Math Teacher Initiative. Under the governor’s proposal, the workload budget includes an ongoing $2.7 million for California State University and $1.1 million for the University of California to continue its efforts to address the shortage of math…

SSTI’s eighth annual Tech Talkin’ Govs series highlights new and expanded TBED proposals from governors’ state-of-the-state, budget and inaugural addresses. With mounting budget deficits spanning the nation, this year’s anticipated overarching theme is proposals aimed at mending states’ finances with less focus on the introduction of new initiatives. The first installment of the series includes excerpts from California and New York.   California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, State-of-the-State Address, Jan. 8, 2007 “California leads the nation in biotechnology ... nanotechnology ... medical technology ... information technology. And we will soon be recognized as the leader in clean technology.   “Worldwide, clean-tech investments are up by 50 percent in the first nine months alone last year… so I have asked myself, what must we do in this chamber to help fulfill this future? ...   “... Let me tell you about some of the ideas of our legislative leaders. Speaker Nunez has made research into alternative energy and transportation fuels a top priority this year. Speaker Nunez, I…

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has selected Brian McGowan to replace Yoland Benson as deputy secretary for economic development in California's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency. McGowan, San Bernardino County's economic development administrator, will start his new position in January. Gov. Schwarzenegger also has appointed Teresa Takai as the state's first Cabinet-level chief information officer.

Christopher Hansen will succeed William Archey as AeA's next president and CEO. Hansen will start on Nov. 15, overlapping with Archey until February 2008 to ensure a smooth transition.

Dr. Daryush Ila was chosen to serve as executive director of the Alabama EPSCoR Steering Committee. Ila heads the Alabama A&M University Research Institute.

Last year, nearly 17 million international passengers passed through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Many of those passengers were businesspeople who rely on convenient access to international flights to keep their companies in touch with partners, customers, divisions and markets all over the world. International flights out of LAX have played a key role in positioning the Los Angeles region as the largest manufacturing center in the U.S. and as a national high-tech leader. In fact, a recent report from the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) estimates that an average daily transoceanic flight out of LAX sustains 3,120 direct and indirect jobs, generates $156 million in wages, and adds $623 million to the region's economic output.   That same report, however, finds that Los Angeles' competitive advantage in access to international flights is now in danger of disappearing, as other large airports expand their overseas offerings and a handful of up-and-coming international gateways begin to offer daily international flights. Between 2000 and 2006, LAX - the country's second largest international gateway - experienced a…

California California lawmakers reached a budget agreement last week, preserving brief funding for an initiative aimed at supporting high-tech research and innovation. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled the $95 million Research and Innovation Initiative in January to provide funding to several university-based projects focused on clean energy, biotechnology and nanotechnology research and commercialization (see the Jan. 8, 2007 issue of the Digest).   The fiscal year 2007-08 state budget includes $70 million in lease revenue bond funding for the Energy Biosciences Institute and the Helios Project at the University of California (UC). UC Berkeley will receive $40 million for the Energy Biosciences Institute to focus on the development of alternative fuel, and $30 million is allocated for the Helios Project, an initiative by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to create sustainable, carbon neutral sources of energy. Lawmakers also approved $6 million for UC labor research programs.   Not included in the budget is $15 million in operating funds for the California Institutes for Science and Innovation…

Richard Murphy was named interim president of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Arlene Chiu announced she will resign as interim chief scientific officer of CIRM, effective Oct. 31.

Victor Hwang, the immediate past president of Larta Institute, has co-founded T2 Venture Capital.

William Archey, CEO of AeA, announced he will retire in 2008.

J.D. Stack replaces Oleg Kaganovich as the new CEO of the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance.

As renewable energy and environmental technologies emerge as some of the promising industries for high-tech economic development, more cities are seeking new ways to boost clean technology research and businesses. Austin, San Jose, Berkeley, Pasadena and Boston have been singled out for their efforts to promote cleantech industries by SustainLane Government, a nonprofit Internet-based organization that provides current practices and news about municipal sustainability. These cities have all found novel approaches to assisting start-ups and commercializing research in one of the fastest-growing industries for venture capital investment.   SustainLane defines cleantech industries as those involving energy generation, management and efficiency, wind and air related technologies, advanced transportation, and green building technologies. The group's concept of an ideal model for cleantech development combines three elements: Availability of angel and venture capital for all stages of business development, along with access to networks of investors, entrepreneurs, researchers and business leaders; Industry collaboration and partnerships…