SSTI Digest

Attendees at SSTI's 11th annual conference will be fortunate to participate in plenary sessions led off by keynote addresses highlighting two of the most critical elements of TBED — successful entrepreneurship and engaged institutions of higher learning.  Our opening plenary session provides the opportunity to hear from Kevin Plank, chairman and chief executive officer of Under Armour Inc. Call it an enterprising hunch, a brilliant brainstorm or a stroke of pure genius, Mr. Plank started Under Armour in 1995, when he was special teams captain for the University of Maryland football team. Tired of repeatedly changing the cotton T-shirt under his jersey as it became wet and heavy during the course of a game, he set out to develop a next-generation shirt that would remain drier and lighter and consistently perform under the most extreme conditions. A few tireless years later, Mr. Plank oversaw the company's November 2005 IPO, the first to double on opening day in five years, and the December 2006 move from the NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange. In 2006, he was the distinguished recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year national…

SSTI's annual conference is as much a community homecoming as it a unique professional development opportunity. With our latest addition to the schedule, SSTI is making it even more of both! By attending SSTI's annual conference this year, you have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be present for the inaugural-year announcement of SSTI's Excellence in TBED Award winners. The Award recognizes the longstanding achievements made by the TBED community in promoting research, entrepreneurial development, a skilled workforce, and innovation in existing companies. The celebration will be held following lunch on Oct. 18. Strong evidence of the need for a recognition program for the TBED community was provided by the breadth and sheer number of applications SSTI received for the first-ever awards in six categories: Expanding the research infrastructure Commercializing research Building entrepreneurial capacity Increasing access to capital Enhancing the S&T workforce Improving the competitiveness of existing industries Conference participants are certain to be impressed with how the initiatives gained momentum, achieved…

It isn't every conference you consider attending that offers so much content in such a dynamic and fun location - so much that this one warrants extending your stay in Baltimore to play over the weekend. Our conference site is strategically located at the center of the Baltimore's exciting Inner Harbor. The active waterfront is beautiful, offering dozens of options to satisfy all of your cravings — dining, tourist attractions, arts, nightlife, shopping and convenient walking tours. The Inner Harbor is just one of the reasons Baltimore is a perennial destination city. Don't just take our word for it, though. Check it out here:  http://www.ssticonference.org/Conf07/amenities.htm

A fun-filled evening of music, drinks and scrumptious hor d'oeurves awaits participants of SSTI's conference with the opening reception at the Marine Mammal Pavilion of the world-famous National Aquarium in Baltimore. This festive event is possible due to the generosity of Team Maryland, a group of 21 Maryland organizations supporting technology-based economic development in their state and region: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) University System of Maryland (USM) Forest City Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins Battelle Wexford Science & Technology, LLC ANGLE Technology Group Greater Baltimore Committee Greater Baltimore Technology Council The Johns Hopkins University Maryland Chamber of Commerce Maryland Economic Development Association Maryland Economic Development Corporation Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA) Regional Visioning Group Research Parks Maryland Tech Council of Maryland Toucan Capital Corp. University of Maryland University of Maryland, Baltimore University of Maryland, Baltimore County Just…

SSTI's annual conference is the field's most stimulating and rewarding professional development event of the year. We hope you are planning on joining us in Baltimore, Oct. 18-19. You can expect: In-depth examinations of some of the best state and regional approaches to cultivate a bright economic future Unparalleled networking with the right people within the tech-based economic development community Stimulating dialogue and thought-provoking exchange between great thinkers, old friends and new peers from across the country Renewed energy and personal resolve to address the challenges of strengthening your state or local economy A great social networking opportunity enjoying the vibrancy of all Baltimore has to offer If you have come before, you know that each year's agenda provides the newest perspectives, thinking and approaches to dealing with common problems, new issues and the latest trends and challenges facing your efforts to transform your regional economy. Register today to attend SSTI's 11th Annual Conference, Transforming Regional Economies, at: http://www.ssticonference.org/

In addition to the 21-member Team Maryland, led by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and the University System of Maryland, SSTI's 11th annual conference is made possible by the support of its national partners. SSTI extends its appreciation and thanks to the generous support received by the following exemplary organizations: Greater Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce ASME Center for Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer GSP Consulting Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) MEP Utah National Centers of Excellence NorTech The Trent Lott National Center of Excellence for Economic Development & Entrepreneurship Ben Franklin Technology Partners Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Oak Ridge National Laboratory SZD Whiteboard  WestCAMP Descriptions of all local and national partners, including links to their individual websites for more information, are available at: http://www.ssticonference.org/Conf07/partners.htm …

You can bring the whole team to SSTI's 11th Annual conference in Baltimore, Oct. 18-19. Members receive a $100 discount on up to seven conference registrations. Multiple attendees from the same organization allow broader coverage of more of the 19 concurrent breakout sessions, greater networking opportunities with more of the field's top thinkers and practitioners, and super savings on registrations. We encourage you to check out the brochure or the conference website soon to see what we have in store for this year's exceptional conference: http://www.ssticonference.org Join today and while supplies last, we will send you a copy of A Resource Guide for Technology-based Economic Development. The resource guide provides a starting point for transferring the collective wisdom of top TBED professionals from the past two decades to current practitioners. Each of the three main sections can serve separately or together as required reading before your next staff meeting, retreat or brainstorming session to help refine your approaches to transforming regional economies. Additional member benefits include: Funding…

Linda Burger was named technology manager of the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

The Tech Council of Maryland/MdBio has appointed Dr. Richard Zakour to lead MdBio and the MdBio Foundation as executive director.

SSTI is wrapping up the conference brochure for our 11th annual conference, Transforming Regional Economies, a mailing that goes to more than 12,000 TBED practitioners. Your organization could be included if you become a conference partner by August 17. Contact Noelle Sheets, director of membership services, to discuss which partnership opportunity best fits your marketing strategy. SSTI’s annual conference provides the opportunity to place your organization at the center of the most dynamic and influential community of tech-based economic development professionals, reinforce your brand, and build relationships in 2007 and beyond. Your organization will enjoy outstanding exposure. In all the right company. As an SSTI conference partner, you have the chance to showcase your organization with the decision makers responsible for crafting and implementing local and state-level policies and programs that directly contribute to the nation's competitiveness. No other event brings together the nation’s top players in the TBED community. Take advantage of our annual conference’s…

Sen. Patrick Hogan announced he would step down from the Maryland State Senate to become vice chancellor for government relations for the University System of Maryland.

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation has awarded more than $500,000 to seven start-up technology companies. The program, TEDCO’s Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF), is designed to help businesses transfer technology from Maryland universities and federal laboratories into the marketplace. The grants range between $70,000 and $75,000.   TEDCO reports that MTTF has provided funding to 71 companies. With a total investment of $4,078,793, these companies have gone on to receive downstream funding from angel and venture investors, federal awards and other resources exceeding $152.4 million.   You can learn firsthand about this program and other TEDCO initiatives underway at SSTI’s 11th Annual Conference, Transforming Regional Economies, Oct. 18-19, 2007. Register and learn more about the conference at http://www.ssticonference.org/conference07.htm.